Jury Members Share What It Takes to Win Recognition at ACEF Asian Leaders Awards – November 2026, Mumbai

Wajinie Mahanama, Associate Vice President & Client Services Director at Mullenlowe Sri Lanka, emphasised the importance of setting a benchmark through recognition:

“Great leadership deserves to be recognised, because excellence sets the benchmark for others to follow. As a Jury Member of the Asian Leaders Awards, I look forward to recognising leaders and organisations demonstrating vision, innovation, integrity, and measurable impact. Chances to shine are not plentiful, so give your teams a chance when you can, on a regional platform., today”

Thanzyl Thajudeen, Managing Director of Mark & Comm (Pvt) Ltd, spoke about why proof matters more than polish in a crowded landscape of claims:

“Recognition matters more now than it did a decade ago, simply because there is so much noise. Everyone is claiming excellence. Very few can actually prove it. That is why awards like the Asian Leaders Awards matter. They force organisations to slow down and articulate what they actually did, not just what they say they stand for. As a Jury Member, what stands out to me is evidence over adjectives. I want to see the problem, the decision made, and the measurable outcome. Entries that lean on buzzwords rarely hold up under scrutiny. The ones that stay with me are honest about challenges and specific about results. My message to anyone considering an entry is simple. Do not wait until your work feels perfect. Submit it. Let the jury see the thinking behind it.”

Sherin Ali, Founder & Director of Thrivez and former Global Lead – CSR at WNS Global Services, brought a heart-led perspective shaped by a decade in CSR leadership:

“I’ve always believed that if you talk from the heart, it reaches the heart. That’s shaped everything I’ve done over ten years leading Global CSR at WNS Global Services, and it’s why I started Thrivez – so young people across the world feel their voice for sustainability and leadership actually counts. When I think about recognition, I don’t think about the trophy. I think about someone finally being seen for the late nights and quiet persistence no one was watching. That matters more today than ever. As a Jury Member, what stands out to me isn’t polish – it’s proof, told honestly, with numbers and heart in equal measure. If you’ve done work you’re proud of, don’t sit on it. Submit your entry. Let it be seen.”

Arti Singh, Founder & CEO – Immersive Communication Pvt. Ltd., Spoke About winning awardsmust quickly show a clear challenge, big idea, thinking and execution, and above all hard, credible results that answer: “What did this campaign do that others didn’t?:

“As a Jury Member, I look beyond how impressive a campaign sounds. A strong awards entry should help me quickly understand the challenge, the thinking, the execution and, most importantly, the impact.
The big idea should be clear and memorable. Don’t make the jury work to find it—communicate the core thought in a few simple sentences.
I should be able to understand the entire case in a few minutes. Avoid unnecessary jargon and lengthy explanations. Strong visuals are important, but they should demonstrate the thinking and idea behind the execution, rather than simply showcase production quality.
Hard, credible results are often the biggest differentiator. Numbers matter—reach, engagement, leads, sales, footfall, conversion, ROI, earned media or brand lift. Results should demonstrate not just that the campaign was executed well, but that it created a meaningful impact for the brand and the consumer.
Most importantly, I look for the “Why should this win?” factor.
At the end of the entry, I want to be able to answer one simple question:
“What did this campaign do that others didn’t?”