Mumbai witnessed a day of ideas, insights and industry-wide learning as the Event and Entertainment Management Association (EEMA) hosted Inspire 2.0 at Fairmont Mumbai on 9 July 2026. Built around the theme ‘Building What’s Next’, the education and upskilling initiative brought together entrepreneurs, business leaders and experiential professionals for conversations that went beyond inspiration to focus on practical business growth, innovation and leadership.
Curated by the EEMA Education & Upskilling Taskforce, Inspire 2.0 featured four thought-provoking sessions exploring entrepreneurship, creativity, global experiences and artificial intelligence. The event also served as a platform for industry leaders to reflect on the future of India’s rapidly evolving experiential economy.
The day commenced with opening remarks by Brian Tellis and Tanaz Basrur, Chair and Co-Chair of the EEMA Education & Upskilling Taskforce, followed by a welcome address from Samit Garg, President, EEMA, who underscored the importance of continuous learning in shaping the next chapter of the industry.
Learning from Leaders
One of the most anticipated sessions featured Aman Gupta, Co-founder and CMO of boAt, in conversation with Meghaa Ghosh, Founder & CEO, Fierce Ventures. Speaking candidly about his entrepreneurial journey, Gupta shared that he never had a singular business idol or mentor. Instead, he spoke about learning through failures, building resilience the hard way, and constantly staying curious. He highlighted that while inspiration can come from many places, his admiration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi stems from his energy, conviction and ability to continuously engage with people. Aman also stressed the importance of staying connected, learning through experiences, and remaining open to every opportunity that contributes to growth.
In another engaging conversation, Lydia Buthello, Head of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC), spoke with Hrishikesh Kannan, Chief Brand Solutions Officer, FeverFM, about creating experiences that connect India with the world. She shared how NMACC has been instrumental in bringing internationally acclaimed productions to Indian audiences while simultaneously creating a global platform for Indian art, culture and storytelling. From making world-class productions more accessible to Indian audiences to celebrating India’s cultural richness through original showcases, Lydia emphasised that the country’s creative ecosystem deserves a place on the global stage.
Speaking about the session, moderator Hrishikesh Kannan noted that Inspire’s biggest strength lies in bringing together accomplished leaders whose journeys offer valuable lessons for the experiential industry.
“There is no other word to describe Inspire 2.0 but inspirational. EEMA has managed to bring together some of the finest minds under one roof. Whether it’s entrepreneurs like Aman Gupta, industry builders like Lydia Buthello, advertising legend Josy Paul or business leader Tarun Katial, there is so much for our industry to learn from their experiences.”
The conversations were further enriched by Josy Paul discussing creativity as a business growth engine alongside Paresh Chaudhry, while Tarun Katial, in conversation with Dhruv Davar, explored how artificial intelligence is rapidly evolving into a business operating system capable of driving smarter execution and decision-making.
Building an Industry That Never Stops Learning
A recurring message throughout the day was that learning has become a business necessity rather than an option.
Reflecting on Inspire’s vision, Brian Tellis, Founder, RadioActive Ventures, said the initiative was created to help professionals look beyond their own industry and learn from diverse sectors: “We need to upskill at every level. Inspire brings people who are close to our industry, but not necessarily from within it, so they can share experiences, analogies and perspectives that help us grow. It is meant to inspire us, educate us and help maximise the potential of the experiential industry.”
Harshal Kothari, Vice President – West, EEMA, and Founder of Rising Events, described Inspire as an important milestone in every entrepreneur’s growth journey: “When I started my company, I had ambition but not enough knowledge. EEMA gave me access to people who taught me, guided me and helped me grow. Today we operate across more than 36 event categories in over 40 cities because of that learning. Inspire is where step two begins—you learn from people who have built successful brands and businesses.”
Echoing the sentiment, Sagar Pingali, Executive Vice President, EEMA, and Managing Director, Catpro Events & Entertainment Limited, highlighted how Inspire continues to evolve as a platform for business owners: “The learnings here are practical and current and offer a fresh perspective on how you look at your business and how you can grow. We look forward to many more such sessions in the years ahead.”
Industry leader Aarti Mattoo, Founder Partner, Momentum Experiences & Events, also praised the initiative, noting that even experienced professionals need opportunities to refresh their thinking. “Inspire is a wonderful initiative because it brings together owners and leaders across events, weddings and experiential businesses. We all need regular doses of inspiration and learning, and collectively we inspire one another.”
Entrepreneurs Building for Entrepreneurs
For Sabbas Joseph, Co-Founder and Director of Wizcraft Group, one of EEMA’s founding members and a former President of the association, Inspire reflects the very purpose on which EEMA was built.
Looking back at EEMA’s journey, Sabbas described the organisation as one created by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs, “EEMA has always been about creating a larger entrepreneurship story that redefines India’s event, wedding, concert and tourism economy. The conversations at Inspire clearly showed us what we should do—and equally importantly, what we should avoid. If you want to understand the future, look at the youth. If you want to understand the world, start with India. Within India’s story lies the global story.”
Summing up the experience, he remarked: “I come here rich and leave ten times richer.”
Looking Ahead
As Inspire continues to establish itself as one of EEMA’s flagship education initiatives, industry leaders believe its role will only become more significant.
Ankur Kalra, General Secretary, EEMA, and Founder & Chief Experience Officer, Vibgyor Brand Services, emphasised that as technology, consumer behaviour and business models continue to evolve, continuous learning is no longer optional but essential for sustained growth: “An industry that doesn’t learn doesn’t grow, and an industry that doesn’t get inspired doesn’t go places. Inspire is an initiative EEMA is deeply committed to scaling, because staying ahead requires constant upskilling.”
With meaningful conversations, practical business lessons and an unmistakable focus on future readiness, EEMA Inspire 2.0 reinforced that the industry’s next phase of growth will be driven not just by creativity but by continuous learning, collaboration and entrepreneurial thinking.
As the event concluded, one message resonated across every session: building what’s next begins by never stopping the pursuit of knowledge.
