CNN Central News and Network – ITDC India Express / ITDC News Bhopal: Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar (XIMB), celebrating 38 years of academic excellence, hosted the 2nd day of the 7th edition of its flagship Business Excellence Summit (BES). Based on the theme “Leading at the Age: From Uncertainty to Impact,” this two-day event brought together eminent leaders, faculty, and students to share insights on driving change and creating meaningful impact in today’s evolving business landscape.

Delivering the keynote, Mr. Kamdeb Mohanty, COO of Reliance Grocery Retail and JioMart, Reliance Retail, shared insights from his journey in banking, retail, and corporate strategy. He highlighted purpose, agility, and clarity in bold decision-making as keys to success and urged students to remain conceptually strong, embrace diversity, and leverage AI-driven opportunities. He concluded, “If you are not failing in life, you are not truly succeeding.” The session included discussions with a student on leadership, technology, and AI.

In the second session, Ms. Sapna Mohata, Vice President – Loan and Project Finance, NABFID, shared her journey and encouraged students to trust their path, nurture passion, and step out of their comfort zones. She emphasized that AI can manage routine tasks, but critical thinking remains a human responsibility, highlighting the enduring value of mental strength.

Mr. Amit Pahuja, Director – Internal Audit, American Express GBT, spoke on leadership amid uncertainty, emphasizing situational adaptability, embracing ambiguity, and choosing integrity over popularity—“Always choose the hard right over the easy wrong.” Arup Mahapatra, Vice President, IndusInd Bank, reflecting on the evolution of Indian banking from ATMs to mobile banking, cautioned against over-reliance on AI, stating, “If you don’t disrupt your own business, someone else will.”

Mr. Bhaskar Roy, Head of AI (Customer Experience), Group Digital & Innovation, Tata Sons, focusing on disruption, adoption, ethics, and innovation, urged students to keep ethics central as technology reshapes industries. A panel discussion, moderated by Prof. Sridhar Kumar Das, followed, along with an interactive Q&A and a vote of thanks by the BES team, concluding the practical session.

In the third session, Dr. Bhaskar Roy, Global Delivery Leader – Data Science & AI, Genpact, described AI as the “new normal,” driving innovation and cost savings. He proposed adding it as the 8th ‘P’ in marketing and stressed industry expertise, responsible AI, and continuous learning: “AI will not replace humans, but humans who use AI will replace those who do not.” Satyaswarup Das, Director – Product Management, Unisys Financial Services, defined innovation as execution and outlined the journey from vision to strategy, citing UPI as an example and emphasizing balancing trust, speed, and quality while navigating AI uncertainties. Independent consultant Debashish Mahapatra stressed that leadership is not just about ideas but execution, advising: start small, scale with controlled acceleration, remain agile, and lead from the front. A panel discussion moderated by Fr. Nitin Montero, SJ, followed, with an interactive Q&A and a vote of thanks by the BES team to conclude the practical session.

The summit concluded with an engaging discussion on disruption, responsible AI, and the evolving role of leadership in uncertain times. Students actively participated in Q&A sessions, demonstrating adaptability, ethics, and the need for continuous learning. The closing address by Fr. Nitin Montero, SJ, expressed gratitude to the BES team on the successful completion of the 7th edition of the Business Excellence Summit at XIMB Bhubaneswar.

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