IIM Jammu hosts Mumbai Roundtable Conference

IIM Jammu hosted a Roundtable Conference on October 4, 2024 at Trident, BKC, Mumbai, bringing together policymakers, academics and industry leaders. The event focused on strengthening collaboration between academia and industry, addressing workforce evolution, and leveraging technology to prepare students for future employment. The conference began with participant registration, a lamp lighting ceremony, and an introductory video of IIM Jammu, setting the stage for insightful discussions.

The event was graced by Milind. P. Kamble, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIM Jammu. Key attendees included, Anand Kripalu, MD & Global CEO, EPL and Member, BoG, IIM Jammu; Lalit Kumar Naik, Director, Noveltech Feeds & Member, BoG, IIM Jammu; Shrikant Badve, MD, Belrise Industries & Member, BoG, IIM Jammu; and B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu.

The Mumbai Roundtable Conference featured three insightful panel discussions that brought together industry leaders and experts to address critical issues shaping the workforce of tomorrow.

The first panel discussion, "Creating a Future-Ready Workforce: Strategies for Adaptation and Resilience," was moderated by Anand Kripalu, MD & Global CEO, EPL and Member, BoG, IIM Jammu. He emphasised adaptability and digital transformation as key to preparing a future-ready workforce. The panel included Rahul Pinjarkar, CHRO, Tata Chemicals; Ekta Roy, Senior Manager, HRBP IPD (R&D),Cipla; Lucky Kulkarni, Country Group HR Head, Jeena & Company; Nagina Singh, Senior Director & People Lead, India, Mondelez International; S.K. Dutt, Senior Executive Advisor & Head HR, GI Infotech; Gautam Sinha, CHRO, Birla Opus; and Samir Shah, Executive Vice President, Capgemini; who discussed strategies for agility, digital literacy and resilience.

The second panel discussion, "Shattering the Glass Ceiling: Strategies for Inclusive Leadership," was moderated by Lalit Kumar Naik, Director, Noveltech Feeds & Member, BoG, IIM Jammu. He highlighted the importance of inclusive leadership for innovation and long-term success. The panel featured Pawan Gangwani, AVP, Life and Annuities, JP Morgan; Sonal Jain, Global CHRO, EPL Ltd.; Rajesh Balakrishnan, CEO, Advanced Materials-Aditya Birla Chemicals; Ajay Brahmbhatt, India Lead HR, Siemens; Manoj Sharma, President & CHRO; Aarti Industries;  Sakharam Garale, Founder & CEO, Renovare Healthcare Solutions; Swati Mishra, Director HR, Omya Group; and Surya Saraf, Global Alliance Manager, Tech Mahindra; who discussed strategies for fostering diversity, breaking barriers, and promoting inclusive growth.

The third panel discussion, "Leadership in Digital Transformation," was moderated by Shrikant Badve, MD, Belrise Industries. & Member, BoG, IIM Jammu. He stressed that breaking leadership barriers and fostering inclusivity are key to unlocking organisational potential The panel included Kaustubh Dhavse, OSD to the Deputy Chief Minister, Govt. of Maharashtra; Pranay Gaharwar, Vice President, State Street Services India; Sangeeta Srivastava, CEO, Godavari Biorefineries; Natasha Chander, AVP Lead Talent Engagement, IIFL; Kshitij Bhatnagar, Grant Thornton Bharat; Mallika Vyas, Head of HR, Tata Capital Housing Finance.; Ramakrishna Vyamajala, CHRO, Home First Finance Company;                            Sandeep K Singh, Head of Commercial - Maharashtra & Goa, Business Processing Cell, Godrej & Boyce, and Harini Sreenivasan, Partner, Semcostyle Institute India LLP. They emphasised visionary leadership, adaptability, and fostering innovation to navigate digital transformation effectively.

Each discussion provided valuable insights on the future of work and the importance of inclusivity, offering participants actionable strategies to navigate the evolving corporate landscape. 

Jabir Ali, Dean Academics, IIM Jammu, in the beginning gave an overview into the Roundtable Conference by outlining its objectives and setting the stage for the engaging panel discussions.

The event culminated with the National Anthem, followed by a dinner and networking session, fostering collaboration and idea exchange. Baljeet Singh, Co-Chairperson, IIM Jammu, proposed the vote of thanks. An Alumni Meet was also held in the evening, offering IIM Jammu alumni a platform to reconnect, share experiences and discuss the institute's progress and future initiatives while celebrating their achievements.