India : MDI Gurgaon hosted its annual ideas fest, ‘Samvaad 2024,’ on August 31 and September 1, 2024, at the MDI Auditorium. The two-day extravaganza was organized by the students of the prestigious PGDM Business Management (BM) program, MDI’s oldest and India’s longest-running full-time residential executive program. The event brought together industry leaders, academicians, and students for an enriching exchange of ideas on the most pressing issues of today, focusing on AI, sustainability, and business innovation.

Day 1: Inaugural Session and Thought-Provoking Discussions

The inaugural session of ‘Samvaad 2024’ was marked by a ceremonial lighting of the lamp, symbolizing the commencement of the event. The session was graced by the presence of the Chief Guest, Mr. Ajit Pai, Head of Policy at Ola Electric Mobility Ltd and Chairman of the Delhi Urban Art Commission; the Guest of Honour, Mr. Bikramjit Debnath, Head of Azure Cloud Business for Microsoft India and South Asia; and esteemed faculty members of MDI Gurgaon.

Prof. Sumita Rai, Dean of Industry Connect at MDI Gurgaon, delivered the opening speech. She congratulated the PGDM BM students for successfully organizing the event and emphasized the dual importance of technology and sustainability in shaping the future of corporations. Prof. Rai highlighted that businesses must leverage technology while embracing sustainability as a core value to thrive in the evolving global landscape. This approach, she noted, is essential for addressing challenges like climate change and resource scarcity, ultimately enabling companies to create lasting value for stakeholders and society.

In his keynote address, Mr. Ajit Pai provided a comprehensive overview of India’s economic evolution since independence, underscoring the importance of risk appetite and scale of enterprises in driving the country’s growth. He emphasized the need for India to leverage opportunities such as the China+1 phenomenon to establish itself as a manufacturing powerhouse. Mr. Pai also discussed how enterprises, like Ola Electric, continue to focus on innovation, particularly in the electric vehicle sector, despite uncertainties.

After that, Mr. Bikramjit Debnath emphasized Microsoft’s use of Generative AI in driving sustainability, focusing on optimizing carbon emissions through consolidated cloud infrastructure, IoT-enabled smart buildings, recyclable products, real-time emission dashboards for consumers, and transparent reporting of Scope 1 and 2 emissions in the supply chain.

Prof. Arvind Sahay, Director, MDI Gurgaon, shared his insights virtually. He emphasized the significance of AI and sustainability in consumer behavior and global supply chains, urging a focus on innovation to drive India’s growth, particularly through startups and unicorns.

The session concluded with a vote of thanks by Prof. Shiv S Tripathi, Chairperson of the PGDM BM Program who reiterated the intertwined nature of technology and sustainability and thanked the dignitaries and participants for making the event a success.

The day featured dynamic panel discussions on topics like “The Impact of AI on Consumer Behaviour,” “Future of Workplaces: AI and Human Synergy,” and “Sustainable Innovation in Global Operations & Supply Chains.” And finally, the day ended with an engaging intra-batch cultural activity, capping off an intellectually stimulating first day.

Day 2: Innovative Dialogues and Competitive Spirit

Day 2 of ‘Samvaad 2024’ began with high-energy discussions on “Making India an Innovation Leader for Tomorrow” and “Financing a Sustainable Future.” The panels focused on action-oriented strategies for harnessing AI and sustainable practices to drive India’s growth.

The highlight of the day was the Samvaad Competition, an intellectually stimulating quiz that challenged participants on their knowledge and creativity. Teams competed in a range of topics related to innovation and sustainability, adding an engaging and competitive edge to the event.

Mr. Arunabh Das Sharma, CEO & MD of Sagacito Technologies Pvt Ltd, delivered the valedictory address. Drawing on his experience as a former global CMO of Whirlpool, Mr. Sharma discussed the importance of curiosity and innovation in the AI revolution and its role in achieving sustainability goals. He encouraged the audience to ask the right questions and develop clear problem statements to create impactful business solutions.

Prof. Shiv S Tripathi summarized Mr. Sharma’s key points and provided additional insights into innovative strategies for navigating the new paradigm of AI and sustainability in the business world. He closed the event by acknowledging the hard work of the Samvaad Committee and volunteers.

The event concluded with a vibrant cultural night gala, where attendees celebrated the successful completion of ‘Samvaad 2024’ with a lively band performance and other festivities. The event proved to be an enlightening experience for all participants, providing a platform for the exchange of ideas that will shape the future of business and technology in India.