Type of Event: Panel Discussion
Held On: 1st March 2025, 10:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Venue: Auditorium, Dr. K. M. Vasudevan Pillai Campus
This event was conceptualized by Prof. Subramanian Iyer. The idea behind conducting this panel discussion was to give our students an idea of what lies ahead if they choose to climb the corporate ladder, which would offer them, stability, security, and structured growth or take the entrepreneurial leap, which would give them freedom, creativity, and potential for high rewards. Both paths come with unique challenges and opportunities—choosing the right one depends on individual goals and risk appetite. So, we had three distinguished corporate professionals (Mrs. Sujata Ranjan, Mr. Mahendra Patil & Mr. Sudhir Mishra) & two innovative entrepreneurs (Ms. Bhuvana Kumar & Mr. Rajeev Puri) who shared their experiences and specifically threw light on the below topics. Ms. Payal Nanjiani, an entrepreneur, who was one of the panellists slated to talk, couldn’t make it due to a personal exigency.
For Professional Ladder
Mr. Sudhir Mishra – “If the corporates perform, the nation performs.”
Mr. Mahindra Patil – “All the global organizations achieved great success through professional approach in India.”
Ms. Sujata Ranjan – “Family run business units in India achieve great success through professional adaptability.”
For Entrepreneurial Leap
Ms. Bhuvana Kumar – “India should be on the lead to transform entrepreneurial youth.”
Dr. Rajeev Puri – “Entrepreneurial legacies are the eternal and prime movers of prosperity.”
The event was hosted by Prof. Vijay Karvande and Prof. Santoshi Periyasamy.
It was a deeply invigorating session that was expertly moderated by our Executive Director, Dr. R. Chandran, who asked thought provoking questions that elicited evocative responses and insights from the panellists. The panellists also took questions from students and guided them on what path they may choose and how they may build up their careers.
The best questions from the students were selected by Prof. Siddharth Bose and rewarded and mementos were given to the guests by Dr. R. Chandran.
The discussion was succinctly and effectively summarized by Prof. Vinod Madhavan and Prof. Prasenjit Yesambare, from both the corporate and entrepreneurial perspective.
Prof. Prasenjit Yesambare comprehensively summarized it thus,
“Today’s panel discussion has provided valuable insights into the benefits and opportunities of climbing the corporate ladder. Our esteemed panelists shared their expertise and experiences, enriching our understanding of the corporate world. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our panelists for sharing their valuable insights. The key points emphasized include:
The corporate ladder provides a clear path for progression, with well-defined roles and responsibilities.
Corporations offer resources, including training and development programs, mentorship, and networking opportunities.
The corporate world provides stability and security, with a steady paycheck, benefits, and job security.
The corporate ladder offers opportunities for growth and development, driving business growth, innovating solutions, and making a meaningful impact.
Our panelists also emphasized the importance of values, people, and scale in the corporate world. They noted that corporates have the power to transform lives and communities, and that adaptability is crucial in today’s fast-paced business environment.
Climbing the corporate ladder can also enable the entrepreneurial leap, driving innovation, job creation, and economic growth. As we move forward, it is essential to consider these perspectives and think critically about how the corporate ladder can help achieve career goals and contribute to India’s prosperity.
Thank you.”
Prof. Vinod Madhavan summarized it thus, “The 1st March, 2024 panel emphasized the importance of collaboration between startups and corporates for mutual success. Corporates offer valuable use cases and opportunities, fostering a symbiotic relationship that is key to growing unicorns in India. With its abundant talent pool, strong investor interest, and robust GDP growth (over 6.5%), India offers a unique advantage for startups. Both central and state governments actively support this ecosystem. For lasting success, startups must focus on Vision, Values, and Scale, similar to legacy corporations like TATA and Birla. Startups play a vital role in addressing corporate challenges through innovation. The panellists also highlighted AI’s transformative potential and the ease of capital access, predicting that future unicorns could emerge from small, founder-driven enterprises tackling global problems.”
The session ended with a vote of thanks given by Prof. Divya Srinivasan and Sarah Belim, a first year PGDM student followed by the photo session.
