Mumbai, 29 January 2024: SVKM’s NMIMS School of Business Management Mumbai hosted the Faculty Development in International Business India programme. It was a collaboration between Florida International University and BYU CIBER Grants.
An international delegation from acclaimed universities and academic partners of NMIMS SBM from the US graced the occasion with the perspective of sharing insights on how business organisations in India navigate their environments in the context of myriad challenges. The delegation led by Dr. Sumit Kundu, Professor and Eminent Scholar Chair in International Business College of Business at Florida, Florida International University, included eminent academicians and faculty members from top universities, namely, Brigham Young University, Broward College, Salt Lake Community College, Polk State College, San Diego State University (SDSU), University of Alberta, Bethune-Cookman University, Salisbury University, Webster University and the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater.
The programme saw wide-ranging discussions and deliberations on the challenges and opportunities for Indian businesses in the current business environment. It included an enlightening address from Dr Ramesh Bhat, Vice Chancellor, SVKM’s NMIMS University, where he delved into the history of NMIMS, touched upon the University’s unique teaching pedagogies and highlighted its focus on promoting inclusivity on campus. Meanwhile, Dr Meena Galliara, Director, NMIMS Jasani Centre for Social Entrepreneurship & Sustainability Management, presented an inspiring presentation on social entrepreneurship initiatives taken by the Jasani Centre.
The programme featured a thought-provoking panel discussion on ‘Business in India: A multi sectoral and thematic exploration’. The panel discussants were illustrious alumni of SBM invited by the Alumni Relations Cell at SBM. The panel included Mr. Bimal A Desai, Country Head & Director, SheepMedical; Mr. Mohan Raju, VP and Vertical Head IOT, Reliance Jio; Mr. Sachin Seth, Managing Director, EbixCash Financial Technologies; Ms. Urvashi Muni, International Business Partner- HR, Boeing, and Mr. Kedar Mehta, Head of Experience, Oglivy. The industry leaders provided their valuable insights on India’s diverse consumer base, cultural differences, regulatory complexities, digitalisation and technological advancements, infrastructural challenges and the collective impact of these factors on the business environment.
In his address, Mr. Bimal A Desai highlighted the importance of the healthcare sector in the country, the rapid transformations within the pharmaceutical industry and the challenges and opportunities it poses. Speaking about the current and emerging technological advancements, Mr. Mohan Raju explained that technology was driving the current economic growth in India. He forecasted that in the near future, rapid automation and technical advances were set to dominate every industry.
Meanwhile, Mr. Sachin Seth delved deep into the Indian fintech market and spoke about how it transformed banking and finance in India. Ms Urvashi Muni, in her address, highlighted the youth dividend in India. She also spoke about the dearth of talent in the Indian job market and listed the strategies organisations could use to hire, retain and manage their talent. Lastly, Mr. Kedar Mehta spoke about the growth and transformation of the retail sector in India.
Speaking at the event, Dr Ramesh Bhat said, “At NMIMS, we have significantly updated our curriculum across programs and subject domains to address the challenges facing business organisations in the current transformational environment. This will prepare our students to face the challenges in their professional life successfully.”
