Bhubaneswar Hosts Debut Edition Of Corporate Icon Awards

Bhubaneswar Hosts Debut Edition Of Corporate Icon Awards

The beacons of the corporate world and some stunning creations by the best fashion designers in Odisha were feted at the 1st edition of the Corporate Icon Awards and 3rd Bhubaneswar Runway Week hosted by My City Links at Mayfair Convention in Bhubaneswar.

The band Vighnanz opened the evening with soulful renditions of a medley of Bollywood songs. Bhubaneswar-based designer Soumya Shallinee then kicked off the 3rd Bhubaneswar Runway Week with her colourful wedding collection.

The Corporate Icon Awards 2020 honoured industry leaders and path-breakers in the world of business in Odisha. These leaders were felicitated by Chief Secretary Asit Kumar Tripathy, who appreciated them for their dedication to excellence, innovation and commitment to take Odisha ahead in the corporate world.

Initiating the event, Member of Parliament Dr Amar Patnaik said, “I am amazed at the kind of ideas we have and I would like to request the Chief Secretary to take forward the brand of Odisha. With the kind of enthusiasm, energy, ideas and innovation that we have here, we can move ahead and conquer the world and I wish everyone all the best.” 

Arun Bothra, MD CRUT, and Dipti Mahapatro, GM CRUT, received the Best SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle) Award for excellence in consumer connect and for redefining public transport and the way people commute in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Puri.

Souvagya Mohapatra, Executive Director of Mayfair Hotels & Resorts, received the Corporate Icon Award 2020 for being a visionary in the hospitality industry and creating a corporate global reach.

Jagdish Prasad Naik, Chairman, DN Homes received the award for social infrastructure. He has played a vital role in shaping the realty sector in Odisha. 

Sukriti Patnaaik, Founder and Managing Director, Indulge The Salon was felicitated with the award for being a passionate lady entrepreneur who has single-handedly made Indulge one of the most sought after brands in the beauty industry.

Sudhir Ranjan Mishra, Manager Corp-Comm, Paradeep Phosphates Ltd received the award for being a vital cog in the world of corporate communication.

Asutosh Rath, DGM, Corporate Communication, NALCO was felicitated the Corporate Icon Award 2020 for CSR awareness and his leadership in the field of communication.

Sibasish Mishra, Founder and CEO, Bookingjini, received the award for his unicorn start-up.

Dr Shovan Kumar Rath, pain and palliative care consultant, was honoured with an award for his dedication and endeavour towards creating a pain-free Odisha. Incidentally, Dr Rath is the only interventional pain physician in the state.

Earlier in the evening, the 3rd Bhubaneswar Runway Week showcased the talents and upcoming trends in the world of fashion. Everybody held their breath as Mr World Rohit Khandelwal made his runway debut in Bhubaneswar. He walked the ramp for designer Parul Khaitan, who generally designs for children. This time she showcased designs for both adults and children with her theme ‘Twining’.

Another high point of the evening was the show by designer Manisha Rituparna for her brand Rituparno. A native of Sambalpur, she infused Sambalpuri motifs into contemporary cuts, giving a breath of fresh air to fashion enthusiasts. 

A breath-taking moment came at the end of the evening. Actress Anu Choudhury took to the ramp as the show stopper for Bhubaneswar-based designer Jyoshna Das’s theme ‘Carbon Neutral’. Through her designs, Jyoshna highlighted the growing concerns over global warming and climate crisis.

She said, “The garment industry is one of the largest polluters of the environment in the world. So I have always tried to use local natural fabrics and I involve local weavers and artisans throughout the entire process to make sustainable fashion. I am happy that Anu is my show stopper and this will bring some attention to the current global problem at hand.”