The 62nd annual convocation of XLRI — Xavier School of Management was celebrated with great zeal on March 24. Students, with their graduation hats and gowns, received their medals and certificates in the presence of TV Narendran, Chairman, Board of Governors at XLRI and MD of Tata Steel India and South East Asia; Fr E Abraham SJ, Director of the institute; Dr Ashis K Pani, Dean, Academics at XLRI and other dignitaries.
As many as 524 students received their graduating certificates and medals including 178 and 181 students of Postgraduate Programmes in Management — BM and HRM; 116 students of 15-months PGDM (General Management) Programme; 10 students of Fellow Programme in Management (FPM) and 39 students of 2015–2018 batch of PGDM-BM Programme (Evening).
Congratulating the students on their graduation day, Narendran said, “As you join the remarkable network of XLRI alumni, let the value education that has been imparted to you in the two years be a guiding force to help enable you to make this world more sustainable and livable for future generations. I urge you to espouse a professional and ethical attitude in your work-life journey and try to give back to the society to the extent possible.”
Fr E Abraham SJ congratulated the graduating students and advised them to be responsible leaders who are extraordinary professionals with a sensitive conscience.
In continuation of 49 years tradition, this year, XLRI conferred the prestigious ‘Sir Jehangir Ghandy Medal for Social and Industrial Peace’ on Padmashri TV Mohandas Pai, Chairman of Manipal Global Education and Aarin Capital and President of AIMA. The medal is awarded is awarded to those who have been responsible for the growth of their organisations, and have also significantly impacted our nation.
Fr Abraham further added, “Padma Shri TV Mohandas Pai is an extremely accomplished professional, influential start-up evangelist and a notable philanthropist. He is a role model of social impact innovation and responsible leadership. We are immensely happy to present this year’s ‘Sir Jehangir Ghandy Medal for Social and Industrial Peace’ to TV Mohandas Pai in appreciation of his multi-dimensional accomplishments.”
Delivering the convocation address, Pai shared some tips that will help them become successful leaders in an age of disruption — to have a problem solving attitude; to be able to re-architect rigid organisational structure to keep up with innovation, and to identify and get the right set of people to manage.