XLRI-Xavier School of Management celebrated its 63rd Annual Convocation on March 23. The graduating students received their medals and certificates in the presence of TV Narendran, Chairman, Board of Governors at XLRI & MD, Tata Steel India and South-East Asia , Fr E Abraham SJ, Director of XLRI , Dr Ashis K Pani, Dean, Academics at XLRI, and other dignitaries.
On convocation day, 518 XLRI students received their graduating certificates and medals including 182 and 179 students of Postgraduate Programmes in Management - BM and HRM, respectively; 109 students of the 15-month PGDM (General Management) Programme; 11 students of the Fellow Programme in Management (FPM) and 37 students of 2016–2019 batch of PGDM-BM Programme (Evening).
Changing dynamics
Addressing the graduating students, TV Narendran, Chairman, Board of Governors at XLRI, offered his insights on the changing dynamics in the corporate world and the thinking process of corporate leaders. He stressed five points that can have an immense impact on the corporate universe – the geopolitical environment and how it impacts a country’s economy; emergence of Africa in the world economic arena; the impact of sustainability and climate change on the corporate world and the economy; inequality and how it creates societal upheavals, thereby impacting economic progress; and, the impact of digitalization and technology on people’s professional and personal lives.
Fr E Abraham SJ, Director, XLRI, congratulated the graduating students and advised them to uphold the values they have imbibed at XLRI – to be responsible leaders who are extraordinary professionals with a sensitive conscience. He said in his address: “We have had successful year in 2018-19 and this is the result of our teamwork and determination to take this institution forward and make it globally competitive while ensuring we help shape responsible and ethical business leaders for the greater common good.”
Positive lessons
This year XLRI conferred the prestigious ‘Sir Jehangir Ghandy Medal for Social and Industrial Peace’ on Padmashri Anu Aga, Former Chairperson of Thermax Ltd. She delivered the Convocation Address.
In her talk, Ms Aga shared the inspiring story of her corporate and life journey. She advised the graduating students to always learn positive lessons from life’s tough experiences. She told the students: “ I would urge you to give a thought, not just to your career but also to find a deeper meaning and wider purpose in life.”