Annual leadership summit concludes at IIM-Amritsar

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Amritsar, January 29

Industry stalwarts delved into the complexities of leading in a globalised world, highlighting the importance of cross-cultural understanding, diversity and inclusive leadership in driving positive change and achieving organisational success across different cultures and geographies. With a call for industry progression that is conducive for a global landscape, IIM Amritsar concluded the third edition of its annual leadership summit, Aarohan, on January 28. This year, the summit explored the theme ‘Global Leadership: Bridging Cultures, Driving Change.’

Dr Nagarajan Ramamoorthy, Director, IIM Amritsar, opened the summit by inviting the speakers. Surender Rao Komera, Dean, Administration, emphasised the critical role of cultural awareness in today’s globalised landscape. He urged future managers to cultivate skills that transcend borders, enabling them to bridge cultural divides and lead with inclusivity and understanding.

Ramya Natesan, Director, Microsoft, delivered the opening address as she delved into the heart of leading in a globalised world. She painted a vivid picture of the challenges inherent in building synergy and trust when colleagues exist across continents, communicating primarily through screens.

Suresh Pasumarthi, Director, Engineering and Product Management, SAP Labs India, emphasised the critical role of divergent thinking in achieving success.

Vishy Viswanand, Deputy Managing Director, Max Life Insurance Company Limited, set the stage for a humorous and interactive session with riddles and quiz. He used these interactions to explore the theme of change in a diverse world. He urged the audience to keep up with the pace of change to become influential leaders, rethink their approach to learning, adaptability and stay ahead of the curve.

Vivek Bhatia, MD and CEO, Thyssenkrupp Industries India Pvt Ltd, warned against the pitfalls of pigeonholing people and groups with mere labels. Bhatia also spoke about leadership and how to develop it organically, insisting that the key to cultivating success and leadership is continued learning.