KINEXIN’s Young Woman Executive Makes Debut at ITB Berlin, Showcasing Yashobhoomi and Women’s Leadership in Global MICE

New Delhi/Berlin: In a significant moment for India’s growing visibility in the global MICE industry, Dikansha Sondhi, a young marketing and communication professional at KINEXIN Convention Management, made her debut at ITB Berlin 2026, representing both Yashobhoomi (India International Convention and Expo Centre, New Delhi) and India’s emerging convention and exhibition ecosystem on an international platform.

Sondhi was part of the senior KINEXIN delegation of marketing and exhibition experts led by CEO Phil Chung, which travelled to Berlin in March to participate in the world-renowned travel trade exhibition. The KINEXIN team used the occasion to promote Yashobhoomi as a next-generation MICE hub and to strengthen India’s profile as a global destination for international exhibitions, conventions, and business events.

The timing was also significant, coming close to International Women’s Day, adding further resonance to her participation in a discussion centred on barriers to female leadership.

What made Sondhi’s participation especially notable was her appearance as a speaker at the ITB Deep Dives panel discussion titled “Diversity under Pressure: How to Remove the Barriers for Female Leaders?” Held on March 5, the session brought together a diverse group of global voices to discuss women’s leadership, workplace inclusion, and the challenges female professionals continue to face across sectors.

The panel featured prominent names, including Dr Madlen Schwing, Managing Director, FGF e.V.; Olga Heuser, CEO, Dialogshift; Carola Hoekstra, Chairman of the Board, SGR; Pétur Óskarsson, Chairman of the Board at SAF, The Icelandic Travel Industry Association; Dr Jens Thraenhart, Global Travel and Tourism Strategist, High-Yield Tourism; and Dikansha Sondhi, who participated as Coordinator & Young Leader, KINEXIN Convention Management.

According to Phil Chung, Sondhi’s presence on the panel was not incidental but reflected the company’s broader philosophy of nurturing young talent and especially empowering women professionals with global exposure and leadership opportunities. He described her as one of KINEXIN’s promising young global talents in marketing communications and said the company had deliberately positioned her on the international stage to represent not only Yashobhoomi but also India’s MICE industry.

Chung said Sondhi shared her personal experiences and insights on how India is increasingly emerging as a country that nurtures, rather than limits, women’s ambitions. As one of the youngest women on the panel, she spoke about women’s leadership in India and how younger professionals are being encouraged to take on greater responsibilities. Her participation, he suggested, sent out a powerful message about India’s evolving professional landscape and the role women can play in shaping the future of the MICE and tourism industries.

While discussing her participation as a panellist, Dikansha said that initially she was a little nervous, but what made the difference was the backing of her organisation, after which there was no stopping her.

In response to a question during the ITB Deep Dives panel discussion, she opined that India is a country of contrast, as many women are CEOs with MNCs, while others still negotiate for their professional freedom. “Culturally, family expectations are still stronger for women as compared to men. But this situation is drastically changing in India. Whether it is a family system, social expectations or professional space, the adaptability becomes a leadership strength, especially in the tourism industry,” she added.

Her Berlin debut also underlined KINEXIN’s internal commitment to creating pathways for women professionals within its organisation.

According to KINEXIN CEO Chung, the company sees women as playing a pivotal role in the MICE sector, particularly in coordination, client management, communication, and organisational leadership. As a result, the company has made the nurturing of women professionals and young female global talent an integral part of its operating philosophy.

KINEXIN currently employs around 50 staff in India, with women accounting for roughly 30 per cent of the workforce. Including its South Korean operations, the company has a significantly wider female talent pool, and Chung indicated that the number of women professionals in the organisation is expected to grow further. He said the company has been intentional in recruiting relevant female talent and providing them with opportunities for international exposure, learning, and leadership-building.

In that context, Sondhi’s appearance at ITB Berlin was seen as symbolic of a greater institutional effort. By placing a young Indian woman executive on a prestigious global forum, KINEXIN not only highlighted its confidence in her abilities but also projected Yashobhoomi as a venue and organisation aligned with global conversations around diversity, inclusion, and next-generation leadership.

Sondhi’s debut came as part of a broader KINEXIN push at ITB Berlin, where the delegation engaged with leading trade fair organisers, destination marketing companies, and tourism authorities from Europe, Asia, the Americas, and other markets. The team’s five-day global marketing campaign aimed to position India as a serious global MICE destination and to reinforce Yashobhoomi’s standing as one of Asia’s most ambitious convention venues.

Within that broader mission, Sondhi’s role added a distinct human and leadership dimension to the company’s global outreach. Her appearance on the ITB panel demonstrated that India’s MICE story is not only about infrastructure and venues, but also about the rise of young professionals capable of representing the country and its institutions at the highest international forums.

For KINEXIN, the moment marked both a branding success and a statement of intent. For Dikansha Sondhi, it signalled the arrival of a young Indian professional on one of the world’s biggest platforms in travel, tourism, and MICE. And for Yashobhoomi, it reinforced the image of a venue and management ecosystem that is investing not only in global promotion, but also in the future leaders who will shape the industry.