Indore, 24th October 2026: The School of Business Management (SBM), SVKM’s NMIMS Indore, hosted Management Conclave 2026 – StoryCraft 3.0 centered on the theme “Weaving Numbers into Narratives.” The conclave explored how organizations can turn data into compelling narratives and better business decisions.
Mr. Nipun Agrawal, Director, Prakash Asphalting & Toll Highways (PATH), was the Chief Guest, and Mr. Kanwar Singh, a senior finance professional with 30 years of experience, delivered the keynote address. Mr. Pranav Bankda was also present on the occasion.
Welcoming the dignitaries, Dr. Anshuman Jaswal, Director, SVKM’s NMIMS Indore, brought into spotlight the need for future managers to combine strategic thinking with sound judgement and clear communication. “In a business environment shaped by rapid technological change, evolving customer expectations and global uncertainty, future managers must be able to simplify complexity, inspire trust and communicate ideas clearly. Understanding how storytelling informs brand strategy, business transformation, and decision-making will help them translate knowledge into practical outcomes,” he added.
CMA Dr. Niranjan Shastri, MBA Program Chairperson, emphasized that while information is broadly accessible to everyone, the ability to interpret it and shape it into narratives can guide decisions and create value for organizations and society. He drew attention to the responsibility of sharing knowledge, using wealth to care for others, and protecting the underprivileged.
Drawing on his industry experience, Mr. Agrawal illustrated AI’s business applications through examples of FASTag systems resolving toll discrepancies and automation improving fuel delivery operations. He urged students to embrace AI while developing leadership, negotiation and people-management skills, remain curious, and understand how business decisions are made.
Mr. Singh examined AI’s impact on work, comparing it with earlier technological shifts such as electricity and railways. He urged students to question AI-generated output, preserve independent thinking and deep learning, and balance technology use with reading, exercise and time away from screens. He highlighted the importance of continuous learning and becoming valuable contributors who can use and direct AI rather than depend on it.
The conclave featured three panel discussions: Marketing, with Mr. Manoj Chauhan, CMO & Business Transformation Officer at N R Agarwal Industries Ltd. and Mr. Vinod Kumar, SVP at [24]7.ai; Finance, with Mr. Dinesh Patel, Chief Financial Officer at Shakti Pumps, and Mr. Shailesh Shah, Advisor to the Board at Sonic Group; and Operations & Analytics, with Mr. Kishore Kumarajugadda, VP – Enterprise Architect at ITC Infotech; Mr. Narendra Chakraborty, VP & Global Operating Leader – Data & Analytics at Genpact; and Mr. Sanjay Saxena, Founder and Supply Chain Management Consultant at Innonimble Consultancy.
StoryCraft 3.0 brought into focus how future-ready managers must pair the possibilities of data and AI with curiosity, independent thinking and sound judgement to turn information into business action.