The Indian Institute of Management Jammu hosted a landmark Hyderabad Roundtable Conference on 25th Sept 2025 at Hotel Lemon Tree Premier, Hyderabad, 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 Hyderabad Roundtable Conference was inaugurated and graced by Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, along with other eminent dignitaries from the industry. 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.
Present on the occasion were Prof. Nitin Upadhyay, Dean Academics, IIM Jammu, Dr. Mahesh Gadekar, Chairperson, Placements, IIM Jammu and Prof. Sanjay Gupta, Co-Chairperson, Placements, IIM Jammu.
Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, in his address underscored the Institute’s impressive growth journey and its steadfast focus on integrating academic excellence with practical, real-world exposure through strong industry linkages. He stressed that such partnerships are vital in creating a dynamic and future-ready education ecosystem, one that nurtures 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 emphasized the significance of initiatives like Project YUVA, launched in collaboration with the Government of Jammu & Kashmir, in fostering employment generation through entrepreneurship. He urged all stakeholders to align their personal and institutional aspirations with the broader mission of national growth and nation building. He reiterated that IIM Jammu has achieved the rare distinction of securing two prestigious international accreditations, BGA Institutional Accreditation and EFMD Programme Accreditation for its MBA program, in the same year. He highlighted that this milestone places IIM Jammu among the top five IIMs nationwide and makes it the only second-and third-generation IIM to hold both rare achievements, reinforcing its position as an emerging global hub of excellence in management education.
Prof. Nitin Upadhyay, Dean Academics, IIM Jammu mentioned that the Hyderabad Roundtable Conference exemplifies how academic institutions and industry leaders can come together to shape the future of management education. He stressed that such platforms enable the exchange of fresh ideas, practical knowledge, and diverse perspectives that are crucial for preparing students to meet the dynamic demands of the corporate world.
Dr. Mahesh Gadekar, Chairperson Placement, IIM Jammu, stated that the Hyderabad Roundtable Conference has opened new avenues for industry and academia collaboration. He emphasized that such interactions are vital in aligning student aspirations with the evolving needs of the corporate world.
Prof. Sanjay Gupta, Co-Chairperson, Placements, IIM Jammu, mentioned that the Hyderabad Roundtable Conference provided valuable insights into emerging industry trends. He added that such dialogues play a pivotal role in enhancing student preparedness and strengthening corporate engagement with IIM Jammu.
The Hyderabad Roundtable Conference held on 25th Sept 2025 featured three insightful panel discussions that brought together industry leaders and experts to address critical issues shaping the workforce of tomorrow.
The first panel discussion of the Hyderabad Roundtable Conference, on the theme Shaping the Leaders of Tomorrow: What Industry Looks for in Young Talent, was moderated by Mr. Ajit Jain, Vice President, Human Resources (APAC & ANZ), Signode. The session explored the evolving expectations of industry from emerging professionals and the competencies required to shape future-ready leaders. It featured distinguished panelists including Mr. Ariz Rizvi, Head – Health Risk Management, Aon; Mr. Sandeep Arora, Vice President – Telecom Industry
Platform, Capgemini; Ms. Cireesha Mailavarapu, AVP – HR, Sodexo; Ms. Rekha Narendra, Vice President & HR Head India, RealPage; Ms. Sirisha Kommireddi, People Advisory & Transformation Leader; Ms. Sumana Saha, HR Partner Corp – II, Amazon; Ms. Mahuya Ghosh, Director, Product Line Manager & AI Strategist, Dell Technologies; Ms. Satya Suravajjula, Director – Product Development & GDC Hyderabad Center Lead, KPMG; Mr. Narasimha Sastry Sridhara, President & Unit Head, Grasim BB Puram, Grasim Industries Limited; Mr. Suchit Majumdar, Chief People Officer, Accredian; Dr. Anish Agarwal, Vice President & Head of AI & Automation, Warner Bros. Discovery; and Mr. Rahul Kulkarni, CHRO – South Asia, CTSI (A Siemens Healthineers Company).
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 second panel discussion as part of Hyderabad Roundtable Conference featured the topic, "The Power of Networking: How Industry Interactions Can Open Doors" highlighted the role of professional networks in creating opportunities, enhancing industry–academia collaboration, and shaping career trajectories moderated by Mr. Kishore Sambasivam, Chief People Officer, Bharat Financial Inclusion Limited. The session featured eminent panelists including Mr. Arkajyoti Kabi, Senior AVP, State Street; Mr Irfan Azim Saherwardi, CTO, Consumer & Retail Industry, DXC Technology; Mr. Sandeep Chatterjee, Growth Leader, Digital Business Solutions – Supply Chain & Sustainability, Infolob; Mr. Venkatesh Palabatla VP HR, Avineon; Dr. Emmanuel Gosula, PhD, Senior Manager- People Partner, EPAM System; Mr.Sharad Chandra, Head, HR, Jeevan Scientific Tech; Mr. Soumya Ranjan Pradhan, Business Head, Metal, BDB India Pvt Ltd; and Mr.Tarun Kumar, Head, HR, Tech Mahindra. The discussion emphasized how industry interactions can open doors to learning, mentorship, and collaborations, while also building leadership capacity and strengthening organizational and individual growth.
The third panel discussion at the Hyderabad RTC, on the theme Learning Beyond Books: Role of Industry to Make Education More Practical, explored how industry can bridge the gap between academia and the real world by fostering experiential learning, practical exposure, and skill-based training. The panel was moderated by Mr. Kapil Mahajan, SVP & Chief Human Resource Officer, Aequs Limited and featured distinguished panelists including, Mr Jagjit Singh, Head-Capability Learning Solutions, Novarits; Mr Manoj Gopalakrishnan Nair, Head - Total Rewards, HR Operation Compliance & Global Payroll, Technicolor Group; Mr. Sai Kiran Guntupally, Lead AVP – Digital Analytics, BI & HR Analytics, Synchrony; Mr. Vikram Kumar , VP, SSFL; Ms. Pranjali Rusia, Director, Accordion; Ms Nirmala Datla, Executive VP, HCL Tech; Mr. Srinivas Dulipala, Lead Learning and Development- Human Resources, NACL Industries Limited and Mr. Amrit Datta, GM Human Resources, Apollo Hospitals. The panel discussion emphasized the importance of industry partnerships in making education more practice-oriented, preparing students to meet future workplace demands, and enabling a smoother transition from classroom to corporate.
The event culminated with the National Anthem. Present on the occasion were industry experts and students from the Industry Interaction Cell and Placement Committee of IIM Jammu.
The Hyderabad Roundtable Conference further strengthened academic-industry collaboration, paving the way for actionable outcomes benefiting students and the corporate world. IIM Jammu remains committed to fostering partnerships that drive innovation and shape the future of education and professional development.
