IIM Jammu's Bengaluru Roundtable Conference Discussed Workforce evolution By Leveraging Technology

The Indian Institute of Management Jammu hosted a landmark Bengaluru Roundtable Conference on 01st November 2025 at Hotel Trinity, Whitefield, Bengaluru, bringing together policymakers, academics, and industry leaders. The Roundtable Conference focused on strengthening collaboration between academia and industry, addressing workforce evolution, and leveraging technology to prepare students for future employment.

The Bengaluru Roundtable Conference was inaugurated and graced by Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, along with other eminent dignitaries from industry and academia. The event commenced with participant registration, a lamp-lighting ceremony, and an introductory video on IIM Jammu, setting the tone for a series of insightful discussions.

The Bengaluru Roundtable Conference was also graced by Prof. Sanjeev Pathak, Chairperson, Executive Education and Professor of Practice, IIM Jammu; Dr. Rashmi Ranjan Parida, Chairperson, MBA Healthcare and Associate Professor, IIM Jammu; and Dr. Garima Saini, Assistant Professor, IIM Jammu.

In his address, Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, underscored the Institute’s impressive growth journey and steadfast focus on integrating academic excellence with real-world exposure through robust industry linkages. He emphasized that such partnerships are vital to building a future-ready education ecosystem, nurturing graduates who are both intellectually robust and industry-prepared. Reflecting on India’s vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047, as envisioned by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, he highlighted the role of initiatives like Project YUVA, launched in collaboration with the Government of Jammu & Kashmir, in fostering employment generation through entrepreneurship. He also shared that IIM Jammu has earned two prestigious international accreditations, BGA Institutional Accreditation and EFMD Programme Accreditation for its MBA program in the same year, making it among the top five IIMs nationwide and the only second- and third-generation IIM to hold both distinctions.

Prof. Sanjeev Pathak, Chairperson, Executive Education and Professor of Practice, IIM Jammu, mentioned that the Bengaluru Roundtable Conference exemplifies how academic institutions and industry leaders can co-create the future of management education.

Dr. Rashmi Ranjan Parida, Chairperson, MBA Healthcare and Associate Professor, IIM Jammu, emphasized that such interactions open new avenues for collaboration between academia and industry, aligning student aspirations with corporate needs.

Dr. Garima Saini, Assistant Professor, IIM Jammu, highlighted that the event provided valuable insights into emerging industry trends, strengthening student preparedness and corporate engagement.

The Bengaluru Roundtable Conference, held on 01st Nov 2025, featured three insightful panel discussions that brought together industry leaders and experts to address critical issues shaping the workforce of tomorrow.

Shaping the Leaders of Tomorrow

The first panel discussion of the Bengaluru Roundtable Conference, on the theme “Shaping the Leaders of Tomorrow: What Industry Looks for in Young Talent,” was moderated by Mr. Amit Sachdev, CPO, Tata Insights and Quants. The session explored the evolving expectations of industry from emerging professionals and the competencies required to nurture future-ready leaders. It featured distinguished panelists including Mr. Mohan Kumar Prabhu, CFA, FRM, Director, Investment Consulting, Aon Consulting India; Shri Abhisek Nag, CHRO, Fornax; Mr. Kartikeyan Ramamurthy, Director, Amadeus Labs; Mr. Raghuveer Poduri, Director, Cloud Campus at Teleperformance; Ms. Latha M., HR Director, Techno Brain Group; and Mr. Srinivas Das, Senior Manager – Program Management, Microsoft.The discussion revolved around the skills, adaptability, and innovative mindset that industries are seeking in young professionals, while also emphasizing leadership, digital transformation, and the alignment of talent with organizational growth strategies.

The Power of Networking

The second panel discussion as part of the Roundtable Conference featured the topic "The Power of Networking: How Industry Interactions Can Open Doors," highlighting the role of professional networks in creating opportunities, enhancing industry-academia collaboration, and shaping career trajectories, moderated by Ms. Debika Banerjee, CHRO, K12 Techno Services Pvt. Ltd. The session featured eminent panelists including Mr. Srijit Nair, SPHR®, Director - L & OD, Chief of Staff for CHRO, [24] 7.ai; Ms. Sucharita Dey, Senior Manager, P&O, Novo Nordisk India; Mr. Akbar Jafri, Director, Deloitte; Mr. Nishant Parvataneni, CEO's Office, Sportz Village; Mr. Ajay Kumar Goyal, CFO, IGT Solutions; and Mr. Suman Kumar Rath( He/Him), Manager, P & O and Projects, Novo Nordisk India. The discussion underscored the potential of industry interactions to foster learning, mentorship, and collaborations, as well as to develop leadership skills and bolster both organizational and individual growth.

Learning Beyond Books

The third and final panel, “Learning Beyond Books: Role of Industry to Make Education More Practical,” highlighted the importance of integrating real-world industry insights into academic learning to bridge the gap between theory and practice. The session was moderated by Dr Karuna Shankar Pande, Vice President, Operations, Amazon. Discussions emphasized how collaborations between academia and industry can enhance employability, practical exposure, and lifelong learning. The panel featured Ms. Neelima Vijaykumar, HRBP – Healthcare R&D India Hub, Merck Healthcare; Mr. Anand Arora, Vice President, Landmark Group; Mr. Jeevan Arepally, Senior Product Manager, Nielsen; Mr. Prashanth Tavalam, Founder, Problem-solving and Co; Mr. Subhashis Sen, Associate, JP Morgan; Mr. Ashish Shrivastava,  Director-Product Cyber Security, Honeywell; Mr. Shaji Namath, Director – Digital Product Strategy and Innovation in Smart Energy Solutions, Honeywell; Ms. Aswathy Venugopal, Senior Director, Cognizant; Mr. Mathan Jeyaraman,  Director – Enterprise Architecture, Honeywell; Mr. Bikash Panda, Director – Tech L&D (Talent and Engagement), Morgan Stanley; and Mr. Ramesh Kumar, Director, PwC.

The event culminated with the National Anthem, followed by a networking lunch. Present on the occasion were industry experts and students from Industry Interaction Cell and Placement Committee, IIM Jammu. 

The Bengaluru Roundtable Conference further strengthened academia-industry partnerships, paving the way for actionable outcomes benefiting students and the corporate ecosystem. IIM Jammu continues to drive innovation and collaboration in management education, reaffirming its commitment to excellence and nation-building.