Young leaders shaping the future of India’s audiovisual industry
Over three decades ago, when audiovisual technology was still finding its ground in India, a handful of pioneering companies laid the foundation of what we now recognize as a thriving, multifaceted AV industry. Names like Genesis IT, ACTIS, and ESCO were not just early entrants-they were the breeding grounds for a generation of professionals who would later branch out, establish their own consultancies, and create system integration companies that have since become powerhouses. These organizations seeded the talent, expertise, and drive that allowed the Indian AV market to mature from a niche service into an indispensable part of corporate, educational, entertainment, and infrastructural ecosystems.
Three decades later, the torch is changing hands. Today, the Indian AV sector witnesses a remarkable generational shift as the visionaries who built the industry begin passing leadership to a new cohort of professionals. These successors are not merely heirs; they are entrepreneurs in their own right-young, dynamic, and armed with both technical fluency and strategic vision. They come with a different outlook, one shaped by a globalized market, digital transformation, and the demand for immersive, technology-first experiences across sectors.
This leadership transition is significant not only because of the age shift but also because it reflects the changing DNA of the industry. Where the earlier generation relied on deep relationships, experiential learning, and painstaking groundwork in an industry that barely existed, today’s leaders navigate a world where AV intersects with IT, AI, cloud, and collaboration tools. Their challenges are new: rapid technological churn, customer expectations of seamless integration, and the need to balance sustainability with scalability. Yet, their opportunities are vast—India is one of the fastest-growing AV markets in the world, driven by digital transformation in education, hybrid work environments, public infrastructure, and entertainment.
In this issue, we set out to explore this very shift. We spoke with five remarkable second-generation leaders across diverse companies – Gokul Prakash from Sigma AVIT Technology Solutions, Harshan Naidu of Rhino Engineers, Mohak Gupta leading ASK Consultants, Suhas Mahashetti driving Online Instruments’ global expansion, and the Gupta brothers, Yash and Shaurya, transforming Hi-Tech Audio & Image LLP. These leaders have either taken the baton from their founders or carved their own path after being inspired by the pioneers.What unites them is a shared sense of responsibility: to honor the legacy of those who came before while steering the industry into uncharted territory.
What stood out most, however, was not just the reasons they entered the field but their bold vision for transformation. Unlike the early days, where survival and credibility were the goals, today’s leaders talk about diversification, sustainability, and global expansion.
This new generation is candid about the challenges too. The talent shortage looms large, technology cycles are shortening, and global players are entering the Indian market with aggressive strategies. Yet, they are unafraid. If anything, they see these obstacles as opportunities to differentiate themselves—by bringing sharper focus, agility, and a more global mindset.
In the pages ahead, we present these voices—young leaders who are not only inheriting an industry but also reshaping it. Their journeys, perspectives, and ambitions give us a glimpse into the future of India’s AV sector, one that promises to be more dynamic, innovative, and impactful than ever before.
Because while the pioneers may have built the stage, it is now the turn of this new generation to set it alight.
