GCCI and Kashinath Damodar Naik Memorial Trust celebrate Anju Timblo and Sachin Lawande, whose vision and excellence have shaped business in Goa and on the global stage
The Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI), in collaboration with the Kashinath Damodar Naik Memorial Trust, continued its prestigious joint initiative with the presentation of the Kashinath Damodar Naik – Pride of Goa – Business Lifetime Achievement Award and the Kashinath Damodar Naik – Pride of Goa – Entrepreneur Award for 2025. These awards honoured distinguished Goans who, through dedication, commitment and excellence, have made significant contributions to business and industry within Goa and beyond.
Celebrating vision, leadership and impact, the Pride of Goa Awards 2025 recognised two eminent achievers; Anju Timblo and Sachin Lawande, for their remarkable contributions to business and industry.
Anju Timblo, Managing Director and CEO of Fomento Resorts and Hotels Pvt. Ltd., was conferred the Business Lifetime Achievement Award, while Sachin Lawande, President and CEO of Visteon Corporation, received the Entrepreneur Award. The awards were presented at Gomant Vidya Niketan, in the presence of an august gathering of industry leaders and dignitaries.
Anju Timblo: A Legacy of Leadership in Hospitality and Education
Anju Timblo was recognised for her outstanding leadership and long-standing contribution to strengthening and expanding Goa’s hospitality sector. A distinguished academic, she topped India in the Higher Secondary Arts Examination, secured first rank in Economics at Lady Shri Ram College, and later graduated in Law from Government Law College, Bombay, winning two Gold Medals. Timblo began her professional journey as a law teacher in Goa before assuming leadership roles in social and community initiatives, including serving as President of the All India Women’s Conference (Goa Branch). She is also the Founder and President of the Fomento Education and Charitable Societies, which run the Goa College of Hospitality & Culinary Education (affiliated to Goa University) and Dona Leonor Memorial High School (affiliated to the Goa Board).
Since 1993, Timblo has served as Managing Director and CEO of Fomento Resorts and Hotels Pvt. Ltd., leading the iconic Taj Cidade de Goa – Heritage (1982) and the world-class Taj Cidade de Goa – Horizon (2020). Together, these form Goa’s largest luxury hospitality complex with 500 keys. Under her leadership, Araqila, a luxury resort in Sindhudurg, Maharashtra, has also been commissioned, pioneering high-end tourism in the region. Throughout her career, she has actively promoted Goan art, music, cuisine and culture, while nurturing generations of hospitality professionals.
Accepting the award, Timblo thanked the Kashinath Damodar Naik Memorial Trust and GCCI for recognising her journey. Reflecting on her move to Goa following her marriage to Auduth Timblo in 1973, she recalled the warmth and support she received from the people of Goa, adding that she never regretted making the state her home. She credited Sr. Advocate Manohar Sinai Usgaonkar and her mother-in-law as key influences, noting that learning Konkani helped her integrate deeply into Goan society. Sharing insights into balancing her professional and personal life, she spoke of her years as a law teacher, her role as a mother, and the importance of a supportive family.
Recounting the origins of Cidade de Goa, Timblo described how the acquisition of 30 acres of land marked her entry into the hospitality industry. “I did not have a hotel management degree, but I learnt instinctively,” she said, tracing the hotel’s growth from 104 rooms to the present 500-room complex.
In her concluding remarks, Timblo expressed a strong desire to give back to society and to Goa, appealing for collective effort to ensure sustainable and inclusive development. “This land belongs to us, and we want the people here to grow. We must join hands to do better for Goa − morally, legally, socially and compassionately,” she said.
Sachin Lawande: From Taleigao to the Global Corporate Stage
The Kashinath Damodar Naik – Pride of Goa – Entrepreneur Award was presented to Sachin Lawande, President and CEO of Visteon Corporation, in recognition of his exemplary achievements as a global business leader and for bringing international acclaim to Goa through his pioneering work in automotive technology.
Born in Taleigao, Lawande is among the few Goans to have made a significant mark in the global corporate world. He has been President and CEO of Visteon Corporation, a Fortune 500 company and a leading global supplier of automotive cockpit electronics, since 2015, and also serves on its Board of Directors. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Telecommunications from Bombay University and a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville.
In an impromptu address, Lawande shared his journey from Goa to the United States, recalling that he left home in 1990 at the age of 23 to pursue higher education, driven by limited opportunities in India at the time. He spoke candidly about the sacrifices, resilience and perseverance required to build a career from scratch, acknowledging the support of his parents as role models and mentors. He also acknowledged and praised the three women in his life − his wife Anuja and his two daughters, crediting them for their unwavering support throughout his journey.
About the Pride of Goa Awards
The Kashinath Damodar Naik Memorial Trust was established to honour the memory and legacy of late Kashinath Damodar Naik, a respected Margao-based businessman, historian and philanthropist. Instituted jointly by the Trust and GCCI, the Pride of Goa Awards celebrates excellence, integrity and leadership in business and entrepreneurship.
The awards were presented by industrialist Datta Naik and GCCI President Pratima Dhond, in the presence of GCCI Past President Shrinivas Dempo, industrialist Auduth Timblo, and other prominent dignitaries including Sanjay Amonkar, Harshvardhan Bhatkuly, Sandip Bhandare, Vijay Hede, Siddhesh Kurade, among others.
The Pride of Goa Awards 2025 stood as a powerful tribute to two exceptional individuals whose journeys continue to inspire Goa and the wider business community
