CMI brings its data-driven evaluation framework to ET Edge's premier leadership recognition platform as the second edition arrives in Delhi on June 26, 2026
Delhi, June 2026 — Identifying the next generation of business leaders is not a matter of consensus or popularity. It requires a structured, defensible process — one that separates genuine leadership from visibility, and earned influence from inherited credibility. This is the challenge that the ET Edge 40 Under 40 – North India 2026 has set out to meet, and it is the challenge that Coherent Market Insights (CMI) has been appointed to address as the Official Research Partner for this prestigious recognition.
Building on the success of its inaugural edition, the ET Edge 40 Under 40 – North 2026 returns for its second year with a renewed perspective of shifting the spotlight from achievements alone to the journeys that shape them. Scheduled for June 26, 2026 in Taj Palace, New Delhi, the summit evolves into a more dynamic and inclusive platform bringing together not just business leaders, but also voices from entertainment, sports, arts, and the creator economy — designed to celebrate influence in its many forms and explore the journeys that shape it.
A central element of the summit is the recognition of the 40 Under 40 honourees — individuals under 40 years of age as of 31st May 2026 who have demonstrated professional achievement, organisational leadership, and meaningful industry influence. The success stories of these business leaders will also be featured in the ET Edge 40 Under 40 – North Coffee Table Book 2026.
The Research Architecture Behind the Recognition
In a landscape where leadership platforms are proliferating and the credibility of the recognizer is itself under scrutiny, the quality of methodology is not a background consideration — it is the product. CMI's appointment as Official Research Partner brings a rigorous, multi-layered evaluation framework to the heart of the selection process.
The research commenced with a comprehensive evaluation universe of more than 1,000 business leaders across North India. A structured eligibility screening was applied first — covering age, leadership experience, professional credibility, organizational scale, and geographic presence — to ensure that only credible, high-performing candidates entered the evaluation pipeline. Leaders and their organizations were also screened to exclude those with active regulatory, legal, or reputational concerns.
Shortlisted candidates were then assessed across two interconnected dimensions: organizational performance and individual leadership excellence. Organizational performance parameters — covering revenue growth, strategic partnerships, major business initiatives, and industry recognition — accounted for 45% of the final score. Leadership excellence parameters — spanning career progression, innovation impact, ethical practices, scalability, and long-term potential — carried a 55% weight, reflecting the recognition's emphasis on the person behind the performance.
Geographic and sectoral breadth were built into the framework by design. The evaluation covered major business hubs across North India, including Delhi NCR, Jaipur, Chandigarh–Mohali, Lucknow, Dehradun, and several other emerging business centers. Industries represented ranged from technology, healthcare, and BFSI to manufacturing, retail, education, real estate, and the creator economy — ensuring the recognition reflects the actual shape of North India's entrepreneurial landscape rather than concentrating recognition in any single sector or city.
The final stage involved independent jury evaluation by senior editorial professionals, industry experts, and research specialists, who validated each shortlisted profile against demonstrated leadership capability, market visibility, innovation contribution, and ethical practice.
Mr. Mohit Shrivastava to Present CMI's Methodology at the Summit
At the ET Edge 40 Under 40 – North India 2026 summit, Mr. Mohit Shrivastava, AVP – Research & Consulting at Coherent Market Insights, will take the stage to formally present CMI's research methodology — walking attendees through the evaluation design, the rationale behind its weightage structure, and the validation mechanisms that underpin the final recognition outcomes.
For business leaders, founders, and CXOs in the room, this session offers more than a behind-the-scenes look at how the list was built. It offers a window into the data-driven frameworks that power strategic decision-making across industries — from leadership assessment and market intelligence to competitive benchmarking and organizational evaluation.
Mr. Shrivastava brings to this platform the same research philosophy that guides CMI's broader consulting practice: that credible recognition must go beyond perception, and that the strongest frameworks are those that remain transparent in design, consistent in application, and defensible under scrutiny. In a world that is quick to celebrate success, that discipline matters.
A Platform Built for North India's Defining Moment
North India has long been associated with political power and administrative influence. But over the past decade, a different identity has quietly taken shape — one defined by founders building at scale, executives leading transformation across legacy industries, and creators reshaping culture and commerce simultaneously. The region is producing a new kind of leader: one who is comfortable with ambiguity, fluent in disruption, and motivated by more than just the exit.
The ET Edge 40 Under 40 – North India 2026 is designed to recognize exactly these leaders — and to do so with the rigor that such recognition demands. CMI's research partnership ensures that the platform's credibility rests on evidence, not assertion.
About ET Edge 40 Under 40 – North India 2026
The ET Edge 40 Under 40 – North Summit 2026 is a platform that brings together India's most promising young leaders -entrepreneurs, innovators, and disruptors — to celebrate influence in its many forms and explore the journeys that shape modern leadership.
About Coherent Market Insights
Coherent Market Insights (CMI) is a global market intelligence and consulting firm delivering data-driven insights across diverse industries. Headquartered in India, with a presence in the U.S. and strategic partnerships across the U.K. and Japan, CMI supports clients in over 32 countries with 300+ full-time consultants.
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