Avtar Career Creators Limited and Seramount yesterday launched the Circle of Inclusive Cultures (CIC) at the Best of Best (BoB) Conference & Awards 2026 at ITC Grand Chola, Chennai. The new corporate membership community brings organisations together to share experiences, learn from peers and strengthen workplace culture through collective effort.
BoB, an annual conference, celebrates organisations recognised through Avtar and Seramount’s Best Companies for Women in India (BCWI), Most Inclusive Companies Index (MICI) and Best Companies for ESG (BCESG). This year, the conference also recognised organisations under a new benchmark, Best Companies for Workplace Wellness (BCWW). CIC builds on this longstanding work by Avtar and Seramount in workplace inclusion and benchmarking. While benchmarking helps organisations understand where they stand, CIC creates opportunities for cross- industry learning and the exchange of practical insights.
The CIC platform was virtually launched by Dr S. Vijayakumar, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Industries Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, a Chief Guest at the Best of Best Conference. Speaking about the initiative, he said, “Tamil Nadu has always believed that economic growth must create opportunities for everyone. As we expand into new sectors, women must be active participants in this growth. Government can create policies and companies can build good workplaces, but real change requires all of us to work together. The Circle of Inclusive Cultures brings organisations together to share what works, learn from one another and raise standards across industries. I appreciate Avtar for taking this important initiative
forward.”
Speaking about CIC, Dr Saundarya Rajesh, Managing Director, Avtar Career Creators Limited, said, “For over a decade, our benchmarking studies have helped organisations understand where they stand on inclusion and learn from those setting higher standards. The Circle of Inclusive Cultures complements this work by taking that learning further, creating opportunities for organisations to exchange practical insights throughout the year. After all, every organisation is at a different stage in its inclusion journey. Some have found practices that work well, while others are still figuring out what needs to change. There is much we can learn from one another.CIC is designed to make these conversations happen. Our goal is simple: to help
every participating organisation grow stronger and create a ripple effect of lasting change across industries.”
CIC will facilitate dedicated peer-learning circles for CEOs, CHROs, inclusion leaders and other key stakeholders. Membership is open to organizations regardless of their participation in Avtar and Seramount’s benchmarking studies. Welcoming the launch of CIC, Subha V. Barry, President, Seramount, said, “Think about the collective knowledge that exists across companies in India.
Some organizations have made extraordinary progress advancing women into leadership. Others have developed innovative approaches to supporting working parents. Why shouldn’t others benefit from those lessons? Yes, we compete for customers, talent, and market share. That’s business. But when it comes to creating workplaces where everyone has a fair opportunity to succeed, why should we keep our best ideas to ourselves? And let’s not just share our successes. Some of the most valuable lessons come from what didn’t work.”
The launch of Circle of Inclusive Cultures at BoB 2026 carries forward the spirit of this year’s theme for the BoB conference, ‘Culture as Capital’. Reflecting this theme, the event featured thought-provoking panel discussions and expert talks exploring diverse perspectives, from the business case for ESG and inclusion as an engine for AI-era leadership to leveraging culture as a business infrastructure.
Mr R Seshasayee, Chairman, Asian Paints; former Chairman, Infosys and IndusInd Bank; and former Executive Vice Chairman, Ashok Leyland, who was a Chief Guest at the event, presented awards to the winning companies at the evening ceremony. He said, “Culture shapes how decisions are made, how people work together and, ultimately, how businesses perform. Building such a culture calls for humane leadership and accountability. This is also why benchmarking matters as it helps organisations measure progress, and Avtar’s Best of the Best platform has been instrumental in driving this conversation. Let us turn these learnings into action and make culture count in every decision.”
Mr Singai G. Ramachandran, Chairman, StartupTN, a Guest of Honour at BoB, said, “Tamil Nadu’s industrial strength lies not only in its infrastructure or investments, but also in its people. And inclusive workplaces make the state more competitive. Every organisation must therefore invest in building a culture of trust and fairness. It is equally important to measure your progress through leading benchmarking studies such as Avtar & Seramount’s ‘Best Companies for Women in India’. By doing so, you are contributing to Tamil Nadu’s continued growth and also strengthening your own long-term success.”
The event also recognised select male leaders through the Male Ally Legacy Award (MALA). The award celebrates men who have taken the lead in creating more inclusive environments for women. This year’s award was presented to Sudhakar Dokare, Regional Director, Tata Starbucks Private Limited. Jaison Thomas, Managing Director – India, Encore Capital Group Inc., and Sibasish Guha, Head of Department – Digital Office, HDFC ERGO, were recognized as the Jury’s Choice awardees.
For the complete list of winners across all Avtar and Seramount’s benchmarking studies, visit: https://www.avtarcc.com/enrich/benchmarking/#BCWI-MICI-Year-Book
And for more information about the Circle of Inclusive Cultures, visit: https://cic.avtarcc.com/