Burlington, MA – November 1, 2025:

​The New England Choice Awards (NECA) 2025 lit up Burlington with an evening dedicated to celebrating leadership, vision, and impact. Hosted at the elegant Burlington Marriott, the gala brought together a constellation of innovators, entrepreneurs, educators, and community leaders from across New England — with global business icon Indra Nooyi as the evening’s shining inspiration.

With a perfect blend of glamour, purpose, and cultural pride, the celebration honored individuals whose extraordinary achievements continue to uplift communities and ignite the spirit of excellence. It was not only a tribute to trailblazers like Indra Nooyi, but also a launchpad for the next generation of changemakers.

Dr. Manju Sheth, the visionary creator of NECA, conceptualized the show with the theme of honoring Indian Americans and those whose contributions enrich our communities. Committed to ensuring the awards would be presented through a nonprofit, she established INE Multimedia as a dedicated platform to support this mission.

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A Night of Elegance and Purpose

The event began with a red-carpet reception, where attendees from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds gathered in anticipation. The venue sparkled with sophistication, reflecting the meticulous efforts of the NECA leadership team — Dr. Manju Sheth, Upendra Mishra, Anu Chitrapu, Aditi Taylor, Mandy Deb Pant, and their dedicated support staff. Every detail, from seating arrangements to audiovisual presentation, reflected NECA’s unwavering commitment to celebrating excellence with both style and substance.

Guiding the evening with her signature grace and warmth was Dr. Manju Sheth, whose presence set a tone of heartfelt pride and inspiration. Visionary leader Upendra Mishra also played a key role in shaping the evening’s message — reminding all that true success stems from clarity of purpose and unity of vision.

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Manju Sheth’s Heartfelt Reflection

Dr. Manju Sheth, the gracious host and co-founder of NECA, opened her reflection with heartfelt pride for Indra Nooyi — the first woman CEO of PepsiCo and the first immigrant to lead a Fortune 50 company — describing her as “a role model who continues to inspire across generations.”

She expressed deep gratitude to Anantha Chandrakasan, Provost and the 17th President-elect of MIT, for making this dream a reality, calling it “a historic honor to have him present the Lifetime Achievement Award to Indra Nooyi.”

Dr. Manju Sheth also acknowledged the unwavering vision and dedication of the NECA leadership team — Anu Chitrapu, Aditi Taylor, and Mandy Deb Pant — and the “small but mighty team” whose tireless work made the evening so seamless.
Special appreciation was extended to Nitin Nohria, the first Indian American Dean of Harvard Business School, and his wife Monica, whom Dr. Sheth described as “one of the kindest people she has ever met.” She also thanked Shushil Tuli, President of Leader Bank, and his wife Alka for their steadfast support of NECA.

Dr. Manju Sheth beautifully reminded everyone that the evening was about celebrating dreamers — those who left India to pursue their aspirations and turned them into remarkable realities. She congratulated the award winners, saying that “when intentions are pure, like-minded people will join you, and dreams do come true.”

Concluding with emotion, Dr. Manju Sheth thanked her family and said her “cup runneth over with gratitude” for everyone who listened with such care and love.

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Upendra Mishra on Clarity of Purpose

The evening commenced with a warm welcome from Upendra Mishra, Publisher of India New England News and Co-founder of NECA, whose opening remarks set an inspiring and reflective tone for the night. With his characteristic humility and depth, Upendra Mishra spoke about one of the most vital qualities shared by every NECA honoree — clarity of purpose.

He emphasized that clarity in purpose, values, vision, and action forms the foundation of meaningful success. To illustrate this timeless principle, Upendra Mishra narrated the story of Arjun from the Mahabharata — the young warrior who, when asked what he saw before releasing his arrow, replied, “I see only the eye of the bird.”

Upendra Mishra reflected that this singular focus — the ability to see only what truly matters — defines great leaders and achievers. True clarity, he said, not only guides decisions but also sustains motivation, filters distractions, and aligns every aspect of one’s being toward their highest goals.

As his words resonated through the hall, Upendra Mishra’s message became the perfect prologue to an evening celebrating visionaries who have lived and led with that very sense of focus and purpose.

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Indra Nooyi: "Excellence Is a Journey"

The highlight of the evening was the presence of Indra Nooyi, former CEO and Chairman of PepsiCo, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award and participated in an inspiring fireside chat with Anantha Chandrakasan, Provost of MIT.

The conversation offered a rare window into Nooyi’s mind — where intellect meets humility, and leadership is guided by purpose, empathy, and a lifelong thirst for learning.
 

Her Grandfather’s Wisdom and the Power of Time

In her speech, Nooyi paid a heartfelt tribute to her grandfather, whose timeless lessons shaped her life.

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“He used to say, don’t waste time—every minute counts. You can’t get back lost time. Use every minute to explore, read, be curious, ask questions.”

She recalled growing up in an environment that valued discipline, curiosity, and excellence.

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“He taught me to focus on excellence, not just success. If you get good grades once, make sure it’s not luck. Understand your material, go beyond what you’re told to study, push yourself. Excellence is a journey.”

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Her grandfather also instilled in her a sense of responsibility and follow-through:

“If you commit to something, get it done—especially when someone is depending on you. The show must go on.”

Reflecting on her own path, she said, “All my life I have done what my grandfather taught me. I was insatiably curious, zoomed in and zoomed out at every topic, looked at it from every angle. I pushed myself to be better all the time and never settled for the status quo.”

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Lifelong Learning and Staying Curious

With characteristic humor and candor, Nooyi shared how her grandfather’s voice still echoes in her mind whenever she takes time to relax.

“When I binge-watch The Diplomat or The Morning Show, I can almost hear him say, ‘What the hell are you doing?’”

She added that the spirit of constant learning guided her leadership at PepsiCo and continues to shape her today through mentorship, teaching, and public service.

“I’ve used every hour, every minute to make this world a better place. Today, I’m receiving this award for a lifetime of work. And I know, somewhere in this audience, my grandfather is here, and he’s proud of me.”

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The Lesson of Resilience

She also shared an unforgettable story from 1982, when, just after giving birth via C-section, she received a call from her boss about a major deal.

“I told him, ‘I just had a baby tonight,’ and he replied, ‘Your body had a C-section, I don’t think your brain did!’”

That experience, she said, taught her two things — that her intellect was deeply valued, and that keeping the mind active fuels recovery and vitality.

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“When the brain is active, the body is active. That’s why I’ve decided to keep my brain active till my last breath.”

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Now, at 70, Nooyi says she is savoring a new kind of joy — time with her grandchildren — while continuing to inspire future generations.

“I’m still that young girl sitting on a swing, being pushed by my grandmother — wanting to do more, to give more, and to live life to the fullest. The show must go on.”

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Fireside Chat between Indra Nooyi and Dr. Anantha Chandrakasan

The evening’s most anticipated segment was the fireside chat between Indra Nooyi and Dr. Anantha Chandrakasan, MIT’s Dean of the School of Engineering and inaugural Chief Strategy Officer.
Dr. Chandrakasan opened by congratulating Nooyi on her Lifetime Achievement Award, expressing his personal gratitude:

“It’s such an honor to share this stage with you. You’ve been an incredible mentor to me and a tremendous supporter of MIT—an inspiration to us all.”

Their conversation offered rare insight into Nooyi’s personal and professional journey. When asked about the influences that shaped her early values, Nooyi fondly recalled her grandfather and father, who insisted that as long as she excelled academically, they would support her ambitions fully.
She described growing up in a traditional South Indian Brahmin household where women were expected to marry young—but her family balanced tradition and progress:

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“We had one foot on the brake and one on the accelerator,” she said with a smile. “That balance gave us structure—and motivation.”

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Nooyi also shared candid memories of her transition from India to the United States, describing the cultural shocks and challenges she faced as an international student at Yale. From learning to grocery shop to carrying heavy suitcases without wheels, she reflected humorously on her struggles as both humbling and formative.

“There was no guidance for international students back then,” she said. “We had to figure everything out—from opening a bank account to finding vegetarian food.”

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When asked about her most satisfying accomplishment at PepsiCo, Nooyi discussed her groundbreaking “Performance with Purpose” strategy. Despite early criticism, she held firm in her belief that corporations must align profits with sustainability and social responsibility.

“At first, people resisted,” she recalled. “They practiced healthy habits in their personal lives but didn’t want the company to change. I saw that their moral code of life and of livelihood were in conflict. I couldn’t accept that. You have to have conviction, talk about it with courage, and stick with your goal.”

The discussion then turned to the future of work and artificial intelligence. Reflecting on her role in MIT’s Work of the Future study, Nooyi said that AI should be viewed not as a replacement tool but as a productivity enhancer:

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“We’re in a period of confusion. I hope our education system takes the lead in defining what skills and mindsets are needed for the jobs of tomorrow. AI can empower people if we use it wisely.”

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Adding a humorous note, she recounted how she once used ChatGPT to help organize her university talk:

“They asked me to speak on broad themes, so a researcher put my past speeches into ChatGPT to write it in ‘Indra Nooyi’s own words.’ When I read it, I thought—did I really sound that profound?” she laughed.

The conversation revealed Nooyi’s unique blend of intellect, humility, and humor—qualities that have defined her leadership and inspired generations.

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As the audience rose for a standing ovation, the message was clear: true greatness lies not in achievement alone, but in purpose, authenticity, and service.

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Honoring NECA 2025 Awardees

The gala recognized eight distinguished leaders, celebrating achievements across business, education, medicine, law, community service, and the arts. Each awardee exemplified dedication, vision, and community impact:

• Indra Nooyi – Lifetime Achievement Award
  Nooyi’s visionary leadership at PepsiCo transformed global business, sustainability, and mentorship practices. She continues to inspire leaders worldwide with her example of courage, resilience, and ethical leadership.

• Dr. Anil Chandraker – Excellence in Medicine and Community Service
  Renowned for pioneering work in kidney and pancreas transplantation, Dr. Chandraker has improved countless lives while mentoring the next generation of medical professionals.

• Judge Neil Sherring – Outstanding Contributions to Law and Justice
  A trailblazer in Massachusetts law, Judge Sherring’s commitment to fairness and equity sets a benchmark in the legal community. He was the inaugural recipient of the Legal & Justice Champion Award, recognizing his lasting impact on civil justice.

• Shadaj (founded by Rajesh Godbole) – Innovation and Impact in Arts and Culture
  Shadaj preserves Indian classical music while introducing it to contemporary audiences, nurturing the next generation of artists through performances, workshops, and collaborations.

• Rajesh Godbole – Leadership and Entrepreneurship
  Rajesh Godbole exemplifies visionary entrepreneurship, creating platforms that empower artists, foster cultural engagement, and inspire innovative thinking.

• Dr. Gopala Dwarakanath, Chinmaya Boston – Community Leadership and Advocacy
  Founder of Chinmaya Mission Boston, Dr. Dwarakanath has devoted over three decades to spiritual, educational, and cultural leadership, building vibrant communities grounded in service and values.

• Sanjay Sarma – Technological Innovation and Education
  MIT professor and innovator, Sarma has revolutionized global education through technology, pioneering RFID and accessible online learning to empower learners worldwide.

• Naveen Pawar – Contributions to Business and Society
  As co-founder of Mighty Squirrel, Pawar merges entrepreneurship with social impact, demonstrating how business innovation can coexist with meaningful societal contributions.
   

Performances that Captivated

The evening featured a series of mesmerizing performances:

• Mitali Mukherjee Bapat, whose graceful performance enchanted the audience

• Divya, delivering a moving and emotive display of artistry

• Shirish Nimgaonkar, whose music left attendees spellbound

The night concluded with a lavish dinner, featuring gourmet dishes and the yummiest mithais from Gourmet India, perfectly blending celebration with cultural indulgence.

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Reflections from the Evening

Sushil Tuli, President of Leader Bank, shared:

“What a special evening at the NECA Awards! I had the honor of introducing Judge Neil Sherring — a true champion of fairness, dignity, and community service. So proud to see the Legal & Justice Champion Award launched, with Neil as the inaugural recipient. Thank you, Dr. Manju Sheth and Upendra Mishra, for your vision and leadership.”

 

Dr. Manju Sheth, Co-founder of NECA, reflected on the extraordinary night:

“Spectacular NECA / New England Choice Awards with mesmerizing trailblazers — Indra Nooyi, Anantha Chandrakasan (Provost of MIT), Rafael Reif (17th President of MIT), Dean Nitin Nohria of Harvard Business School, Sushil Tuli (President, Leader Bank) — and our exceptional category awardees. The evening also featured beautiful performances by Mitali Mukherjee Bapat, Divya, and Shirish Nimgaonkar.

The food was fabulous, with the yummiest mithais from India by Gourmet India. Heartfelt thanks to our fabulous core committee — Upendra Mishra, Aditi Taylor, Mandy Deb Pant, and Anu Chitrapu — and our superb support team: Ramakrishna Penumarthy, Sraveo, Deepa Jacob, Jaison K. Jose, Sanjay and Vasudha Kudrimoti (Fotu Duniya), Aneesha Karody, and Yogz Rana.

Thank you to all my family, friends, and well-wishers for their support. I am deeply grateful.

Special thanks to Vidhi Dalia for always making me look my best, and to Narender Chhabra and Vjyanti for your love and support.”

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A Night to Remember​

NECA 2025 was more than an awards gala — it was a symphony of excellence, integrity, and inspiration. From the powerful speeches and Indra Nooyi’s moving reflections to the fireside chat and mesmerizing performances, the event radiated pride, purpose, and unity.

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Ascend Jiva Media congratulates all the awardees and participants, celebrating every highlight of this extraordinary evening — a defining moment of vision, leadership, and lasting legacy.