Tag: XLRI

Education, News

XLRI Celebrates 65th Annual Convocation

Jul 19, 2021 by Rekha Nair 0 Comments #Bata Corporation, #Board of Governors, #Chairman, #Director, #Fr. Paul Fernandes. S.J., #Global CEO, #Mr. Sandeep Kataria, #Mr. T. V. Narendran, #XLRI

XLRI – Xavier School of Management, one of India’s premier B-Schools, celebrated its 65th Annual Convocation. The virtual Convocation ceremony was held to bid a final farewell to the 2019-21 batch.

Mr. Sandeep Kataria, Global CEO, Bata Corporation, graced the convocation ceremony as the chief guest. Mr. T. V. Narendran, Chairman, Board of Governors at XLRI & MD – Tata Steel India and South East Asia, Fr. Paul Fernandes. S.J., Director of XLRI, Dr. Ashis K. Pani, Dean, Academics at XLRI, graduating students, and their parents connected virtually.

On this significant day, 506 XLRI students virtually received their graduating certificates and medals, including – 178 & 181 students of Postgraduate Programmes in Management – BM, and HRM; 101 students of 15-months PGDM (General Management) Program; 06 students of Fellow Program in Management (FPM) and 40 students of the 2018–2021 batch of PGDM-BM Programme (Evening).

On the occasion Mr. T. V. Narendran, Chairman, Board of Governors, XLRI, in his address said, “It is indeed a privilege for me to witness the 65th Convocation ceremony as the Chairman of the Governing Board of XLRI. XLRI was established in 1949, soon after India gained Independence, and for over seven decades has consistently striven to uphold its mission – to help shape competent business leaders yet upholding high personal values and societal concerns. The industrial township of Jamshedpur is indeed fortunate to have such a progressive management school that offers much more than management-centric education programs. XLRI has always placed high importance on its students adopting ethical conduct, cultivating a values-driven culture, and shaping an integral character formation of its students”.

Congratulating the students on their graduation day, Mr. Narendran said,” It is rare that we come across multiple large challenges in such a short period – a life-threatening pandemic, climate weirding as a consequence of climate change and an economic downturn. As aspiring business leaders of tomorrow, these unprecedented challenges offer valuable learnings as we have all suddenly moved into a scenario where the managerial acronym VUCA (short for volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity) has acquired totally different meanings. The new VUCA world challenges you to build your resilience quotient, take care of your own health and those of your loved ones and friends and also beckons you to support to the extent possible, all the marginalized people who live life on a day-to-day basis”.

“In these trying times, I wish each of you all the very best in all your future endeavors, and I urge you to remember “these times shall also pass,” and we shall overcome these challenges as a business school, as a nation, and as a global family,” he added.

Fr. Paul Fernandes. S.J., Director, XLRI, congratulated the graduating students and advised them to uphold the values they have imbibed at XLRI – to be responsible leaders who are extraordinary professionals with a sensitive conscience. In his address, he said, “It is indeed my pleasure to extend a warm welcome to all of you. This is the second time the convocation is being held virtually due to COVID restrictions. We would have been delighted to see all of you on the campus witnessing the graduates receiving your medals and diplomas physically. We are proud of your achievements and brilliant accomplishments, my heartfelt appreciation to the faculty and staff of XLRI for assisting you on your academic journey. We had a successful year in 2020-21, and it is the result of our teamwork and our determination to take this institution forward and make it globally renowned and a top-ranked Business School in the country.”

Father Paul further added, ” XLRI feels proud to present the Sir Jehangir Ghandy Medal for Industrial and Social Peace to Shri Sandeep Kataria, first Indian to be the Global CEO of Bata Corporation.”

This year XLRI conferred the prestigious ‘Sir Jehangir Ghandy Medal for Social and Industrial Peace’ on Sandeep Kataria, Global CEO, Bata Corporation. He also delivered the convocation address.

Accepting the medal, Mr. Kataria said, “I am truly humbled and feel privileged to accept the Sir Jehangir Ghandy Medal for Industrial and Social Peace. I want to express my gratitude to the governing board of XLRI for bestowing on me the prestigious Sir Jehangir Ghandy Medal for Social and Industrial Peace. While any recognition is a privilege, one received from the alma mater is truly special. I am told that I am the first alumni to be bestowed upon this honor – and while I humbly accept this esteemed medal, I am sure there are many more deserving alumni members. We will be seeing more familiar names on this list soon”.

Delivering the convocation speech to the graduating students, he said, “Hearty congratulations as you graduate from this prestigious and outstanding institution. Despite the challenges that the pandemic has thrown at you, I am sure through your hard work and innovativeness, along with ample help from the hard-working faculty members, you have grown tremendously. You are ready to take on the new normal of this VUCA world. As you step out with the tremendous education that XLRI has given you, you will have the privilege to work in large and illustrious organizations with lots of smart people. At the beginning of your career, you may feel intimidated by all the seniors around you. Remember to speak up and be heard, as you will undoubtedly add a useful perspective and enrich the discussion. Never let the small voice in your head hold you back. As you grow and lead big teams, you will often be called to take the final decision. But again, remember to pause, listen and learn from the whole team before you decide. Leadership is anything but doing the popular thing. It is about doing the right thing AND taking people along. One thing that I can promise you all today is that there are going to be ups and downs in your careers. As surely as you will have the highs, wins, successes, and lots to celebrate, you will also have the misses and lows. Remember to take both in your stride, keeping your eyes on doing the best that you can without a sense of victimization or entitlement”.

Addressing the graduating students in his speech ‘Reimagining Our Future,’ Mr. Kataria said, “you are graduating at an amazing moment in time for the Global Economy and especially India. I am not referring just to the pandemic, which has impacted almost everything over the last 15 months. There are worries about the pandemic, probably the most significant world event of our lifetime. It has managed to touch everyone in a most personal way and unarguably pushed back the world economy and people 5 to 10 years. But with the innovativeness and ingenuity of the human race that has been displayed over the last 15 months, I believe we will soon have medical worries behind us. When I look at the future with optimism, I refer to the inevitable rise of the new order, a new normal, an opportunity to recast many of the notions that we have taken for granted over the last 50 years and provide an opportunity like never before. Combined with the continuing changes in the geopolitical map of the world and the triple disruption of technology, global warming, and markets that have been gathering pace over the last decade, we will see significant changes in the workplace within your career spans”.

Dr Arindam Saha, Doctoral program pass out-2021, and Managing Director, Vista Intelligence said “XLRI not only imparts quality education with thrust on the latest research findings, case studies etc, but also teaches values of life. It has transformed me from a corporate executive to an entrepreneur “

Sir Jehangir Ghandy Medal for Industrial and Social Peace, instituted by XLRI in 1966, in honor of the Late Sir Jehangir Ghandy, former Chairman of the Board of Governors- XLRI is awarded to Heroic Leaders who have contributed towards the growth of their respective organizations and also impacted the growth of our nation in a significant way. The medal was instituted by XLRI in gratitude for Sir Jehangir Ghandy’s yeoman contribution to XLRI and the society at large. One of the oldest medals instituted by a higher education institution, the medal is awarded during XLRI’s Annual Convocation Ceremony to recognize outstanding contributions in the field of industrial and social peace in the country. In the past years, the medal was conferred on eminent business leaders like Mr. N R Narayana Murthy, Chairman Emeritus, and Chief Mentor, Infosys Technologies Ltd. in 2012, Mr. Shiv Nadar, Founder & Chairman, HCL and Shiv Nadar Foundation in 2013, Ms. Arundhati Bhattacharya, Chairman, State Bank of India in 2014, Ms. Mallika Srinivasan, Chairman & CEO, TAFE (Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited) in 2015, Dr. Sunil Kant Munjal, Jt. Managing Director of Hero MotoCorp & Chairman, Hero Corporate Services Pvt. Ltd. in 2016, Mr. Adi Godrej, Chairman, The Godrej Group in 2017, Mr. TV Mohandas Pai, Chairman, Manipal Global Education and Aarin Capital & President of AIMA in 2018, Ms. Anu Aga, Former Chairperson of Thermax Ltd in 2019 and Mr. Sanjiv Mehta, Chairman and Managing Director of Hindustan Unilever Ltd in 2020.

Education

XLRI to hold 65th Annual Convocation

Apr 10, 2021 by Neel Achary 0 Comments #Xavier School of Management, #XLRI

XLRI- Xavier School of Management, one of India’s premier B-School, is all set to hold its 65th Annual Convocation on 24 April 2021. The virtual Convocation ceremony will be held to bid a final farewell to the 2019-21 batch.

On this significant day, 509 XLRI students will receive their graduating diploma including – 178 & 181 students of Postgraduate Programmes in Management – BM, and HRM; 101 students of 15-months PGDM (General Management) Programme; 06 students of Fellow Program in Management (FPM) and 43 students of the 2018–2021 batch of PGDM-BM Programme (Evening).

Speaking about this momentous occasion, Fr. P Christie S.J., Director, XLRI, said, “Convocation is a significant milestone event in the academic journey of every student, faculty and staff as it is the culmination of all the efforts put in by an individual during their time at the XLRI campus.”

Mr. T. V. Narendran, Chairman, Board of Governors at XLRI & MD – Tata Steel India and South East Asia said, “For over seven decades, XLRI has steadfastly held on to its mission of proffering world-class education across various management-centric programs. XLRI diligently strives to create a value-based and ethics-driven teaching and learning environment while underscoring the need for all-round development. This emphasis on inculcating important core- values is what sets XLRI apart from other B-schools in the country.”

This year XLRI would confer the prestigious ‘Sir Jehangir Ghandy Medal for Industrial and Social Peace’ to Mr. Sandeep Kataria, Global CEO, Bata. He will also deliver the convocation address to the graduating students at the event.

Sandeep Kataria is the Global CEO of Bata Limited. He becomes the first Indian to hold the position in the company’s 126-year history. Sandeep with 24 years of experience at Unilever, Yum Brands, and Vodafone in India & Europe before joining Bata India as CEO in 2017. At Bata India Ltd, Mr. Kataria has been tasked with transforming the footwear giant into a modern, contemporary brand for generations to come. In July 2019, Sandeep was appointed President of the newly‐formed India region and was a member of the Executive Committee.

Sandeep Kataria is an alumnus of IIT-Delhi and XLRI-Jamshedpur (BM-1993)

Sir Jehangir Ghandy Medal for Industrial and Social Peace, instituted by XLRI in 1966, in honor of the Late Sir Jehangir Ghandy, former Chairman of the Board of Governors- XLRI is awarded to Heroic Leaders who have contributed towards the growth of their respective organizations and also impacted the growth of our nation in a significant way. The medal was instituted by XLRI in gratitude for Sir Jehangir Ghandy’s yeoman contribution to XLRI and the society at large. One of the oldest medals instituted by a higher education institution, the medal is awarded during XLRI’s Annual Convocation Ceremony to recognize outstanding contributions in the field of industrial and social peace in the country. In the past years, XLRI has conferred the Sir Jehangir Ghandy medal on eminent business leaders like Mr. N R Narayana Murthy, Chairman Emeritus and Chief Mentor, Infosys Technologies Ltd. in 2012, Mr. Shiv Nadar, Founder & Chairman, HCL and Shiv Nadar Foundation in 2013, Ms. Arundhati Bhattacharya, Chairman, State Bank of India in 2014, Ms. Mallika Srinivasan, Chairman & CEO, TAFE (Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited) in 2015, Dr. Sunil Kant Munjal, Jt. Managing Director of Hero MotoCorp & Chairman, Hero Corporate Services Pvt. Ltd. in 2016, Mr. Adi Godrej, Chairman, The Godrej Group in 2017, Mr. TV Mohandas Pai, Chairman, Manipal Global Education and Aarin Capital & President of AIMA in 2018 and Ms. Anu Aga, Former Chairperson of Thermax Ltd in 2019.

Education

PGDM(GM) class of XLRI hosts its flagship Start-up Conclave -“Ingenium”

Nov 4, 2020 by Gouri Achary 0 Comments #Dr. Arokiaswamy Velumani, #Fr. P. Christie, #Ingenium, #Mr. Amit Chaudhary, #Mr. Naveen Khandelwal, #Mr. Rajesh Srivastava, #Ms. Tripti Shinghal Somani, #XLRI

XLRI, the oldest B-school in India always strives to be a management school fostering future business leaders towards a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. To create an entrepreneurial intent amongst youth and inspire them to build-up start-up ventures, PGDM(GM) Placement committee organized its virtual flagship event Start-up Conclave “Ingenium.”

The conclave focused on “The ever-changing dimensions of the start-up ecosystems”. The conclave brought together many distinguished entrepreneurs to nurture entrepreneurial ideas amongst the student community and brainstorm high potential opportunities to pursue new ideas and set up thriving businesses under the guidance of some of the country’s best entrepreneurs, industry leaders & visionaries.

Fr. P. Christie, Director of XLRI, in his welcome address, said, “Fast-growth entrepreneurial ventures spur economic growth. It is essential for prosperity and social progress. Promoting entrepreneurship is one of XLRI’s goals, which finds its way into the curriculum in the form of certain courses and case studies. Students need to identify new opportunities and contribute to building a progressive and responsible society.

The first edition of Start-up Conclave 2020 is an initiative to encourage and develop an entrepreneurial mindset. He stressed the importance of start-ups and B-schools forging a meaningful collaboration and talked about XLRI’s start-up incubator XCEED – an initiative to promote and nurture entrepreneurship. He reminisced his conversation with former Indian President, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, who emphasized the importance of business students becoming job creators over job seekers.

The Keynote speaker, Mr. Rajesh Srivastava, a Corporate Trainer and Coach to Start-ups and former CEO of JK Helene Curtis shared his perspective on the changing business rules. To stay relevant in the 21st century, where competition is invisible, indirect, and cross-industry, he advised start-ups to become their own competitors, disrupt and remake themselves, and continuously seek new “Avatars.”

The inaugural session of the Start-up Conclave was followed by various sessions included discussions on the topics of “Digital Innovation & Future of Digital Marketing,” “Glide of Diversification: Freedom, Innovation, Ambition,” “Diagnosing the Path to Success” and “Hurdle the Rates.”

The first panel discussion was on the topic “Digital innovation and future of digital marketing”, which brought together Mr. Amit Chaudhary – the Co-Founder of Lenskart.com, Mr. Ranjeet Kumar – the CEO of Team Pumpkin who is also an XLRI PGDM(GM) alumni, Mr. Shobhit Saxena – the Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer of ONN Bikes, and Professor Rajeev Roy from XLRI, as a moderator of the session.

The free-wheeling discussion delved deep into several points, like – the reducing attention spans of consumers, the experience-seeking consumer, the increasing speed of execution, and the growing efficiency driven by digital technology. The panellists emphasized “the direct-to-customer” channel of marketing, which has become the norm among start-ups and is increasingly driving big corporates’ marketing efforts. The “start-up energy” in the discussion was enriching and fuelled the entrepreneurial ambitions in the business-students.

The speakers for the second panel were Mr. Naveen Khandelwal, the Chief Investment and strategy officer of Hero Future Energies and founder of Green Infra, and Ms. Tripti Shinghal Somani, Founder Womennovator, talked about the opportunities in India’s renewable sector. They stressed the required abilities and approach to work even in the unstructured work environment during start-up stages.

The third session was on the topic “Diagnosing the Path to Success” by Dr. Arokiaswamy Velumani – the founder, CMD of Thyrocare Technologies Ltd. He impressed the audience with his unique take on life and business. He strongly urged the students to have a clutter-free brain and a fear-free heart.He motivated the students to increase their efforts and appetite to become an entrepreneur. His rags-to-riches story inspired the students towards entrepreneurship, driving home the idea that life and business are a marathon race in which, according to him, we require to build stamina, patience, and perseverance.

The fourth session was on the topic “Hurdle the Rates” by Ms. Swati Bhargava, Co-Founder of Cashkaro, she shared her entrepreneurial journey through idea inception, funding, operations, hiring, and the continued innovation in business. She enthused and encouraged students to seek opportunities and develop as budding entrepreneurs in delivering value to society.

Talking about the conference, Prof A. Kanagaraj, Placement Chairperson for XLRI’s flagship General Management program and the conclave coordinator said,” Entrepreneurship is a crucial factor in the development of any economy. The entrepreneurial mindset can give favourable results even in the midst of an economic downturn.

At XLRI, we have always tried to provide the ideal platform for exchanging ideas through discussions and interactions and promoting and nurturing entrepreneurship among Millennials. The first edition of the Start-Up conclave was a great success. The conclave brought together budding entrepreneurs, mentors, experts, professionals, and students who interacted on a common platform”.

“Ingenium- is our flagship Start-up event organized to promote student interest in entrepreneurship and give them a platform to learn from some of the best and most celebrated names in the field of start-ups. At each session of the conclave, speakers shared valuable insights and highlighted the latest trends in the world of Start-ups. I urge students to take more risks, develop a can-do attitude, build the courage to face fear and failure, and continue life with energy,” he further added.