Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar hosted the 5th Annual Business Excellence Summit from 30th September to 1st October 2023, celebrating 36 years of legacy. The theme for 2023 was “Navigating the Unknown”.
Day 1: Inauguration and Keynote
The first day started with the inauguration ceremony, which was presided over by Vice-chancellor Fr. Antony R. Uvari, Deputy Registrar and Chief Financial Officer Fr. V. Arockia Das, and Associate Dean – Student Affairs Prof. Arijit Mitra, and the honorable keynote speaker, Mr. Sameer Sathpathy.
Vice Chancellor Rev. Father Antony R. Uvari delivered the welcome address, who also declared the Business Excellence Summit 2023 open. Associate Dean – Student Affairs, Prof. Arijit Mitra delivered a thought-provoking speech, and CFO Father Arockia Das took the opportunity to introduce the keynote speaker.
Mr. Sameer Sathpathy, Chief Executive – Personal Care at ITC, and an esteemed alumnus of XIM Bhubaneswar took the center stage to deliver a powerful speech to the young leaders and motivated the students to search beyond the ordinary, conquer the unchartered territories of the world and pushed the students to be resilient in the discomfort that lies before all of us. He also left the audience with a message, “Some say that challenge is a burden, but actually, challenge is an inspiration to do better.”
Pravin Srinivasan (CISCO): Spoke on selling technology to businesses.
Mr. Pravin Srinivasan, Country Sales Leader, CISCO, an esteemed alumnus of XIM Bhubaneswar guided us through the topic “Selling Technology to Business” where he shared insights into traditional B2B selling process in the IT industry with an impactful quote “The only way a salesperson is successful in an IT industry is by making their customers successful.”
Neeraj Das (Adani Group): Discussed risk management and frameworks.
Mr. Neeraj Das, Group Head Insurance, Adani Group, an esteemed alumnus of XIM, Bhubaneswar walked us through the types of risk, risk management, and shared his thoughts on the hierarchy of risk. The speaker as well as the audience kept the session quite interactive and discussed risk framework and categories. He ended his speech by quoting, “Risk is not a function, risk is not a department. It is part of every organization, institution, and a part of every decision.”
Vinay Choletti (Tata Digital): Shared challenges in building digital payments.
Mr. Vinay Choletti, Head of Payment, Tata Digital, delivered a speech on the topic “Evolution of Fintech in an Uncertain World”. He highlighted the major obstacle faced while developing a digital payment system by quoting “The problem is not transforming payments. The problem is equipping people with the minimal amount of money that they can spend digitally”.
Ramesh VS (Godrej & Boyce): Reflected on business resilience and global chip shortages.
Mr. Ramesh VS, Head of Corporate Business Excellence, Godrej & Boyce, an esteemed alumnus of XIM Bhubaneswar spoke about his organization and its various businesses and quoted that “Business today is at its simplest place”. He shared his views and insight about the global chip shortage and its impact and reflected his thoughts on the topic “Anxious: The Illusion of Control” and learnings from Mahabharata.
Mr. Ayaskant Sarangi, CHRO, Wipro Enterprise, an esteemed XIM Bhubaneswar alumnus, initiated his discussion by delving into the distinction between knowledge and skill. He actively engaged with the audience and elucidated the essence of uncertainty, emphasizing its relevance in decision making in group dynamics. He concluded with a powerful message on self-love, underscoring the significance of mental well-being beyond corporate achievements by stating “Life is much bigger than corporate, if you love yourself, everyone else will love you”.
Day 2: Entrepreneurial and Innovation Talks
Day 2 opened with remarks by Prof. Shridhar Kumar Dash. The session featured impactful discussions by entrepreneurs and business leaders.
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Chittaranjan Mohanty (Samvi Hifresh): Spoke on navigating uncertainty and leveraging networking. He urged students to step out of comfort zones.
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Abhishek Asthana (Hood, Ginger Monkey): Shared his entrepreneurial journey, Shark Tank experiences, and insights from building his digital brand @GabbbarSingh.
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Reena Rathi (Amazon): Delivered a session on “Thriving with Innovation”. She stressed that innovation should remain customer-centric and continuous.
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Jane Saquria Kumar (PWC): Presented “M&A in Uncharted Waters”. She discussed IPO processes, private equity, and strategic expansion.
Emerging Trends in Technology and Business
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Tushar Sahu (Google): Spoke on “The New Age of AI and Technology Careers”. He explained Generative AI, its automation benefits, and the path toward Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).
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Jagriti Kumar (Smith & Nephew): Highlighted customer needs, agility during crises, and strategies for differentiation. She also emphasized personal branding and leadership in sales.
Closing Ceremony
The summit concluded with gratitude and celebration. Cultural Secretary Kamlesh Sahu thanked faculty, committees, and the BES core team for their efforts. General Secretary Anurag Mohapatra appreciated the continuous support from leadership, speakers, and media partners.
The Business Excellence Summit 2023 ended successfully, leaving students with valuable insights on leadership, innovation, and resilience in navigating uncertainty.
For more details about the event and other initiatives, visit the XIM University Official Website.