The Xplore Club of XLRI Jamshedpur proudly announces the remarkable success of VerteX 2025, a transformational CXO Conclave held on February 8, 2025. This year’s conclave brought together visionary leaders, changemakers, and trailblazers from diverse industries to explore the evolving landscape of leadership amidst digital disruption, generational shifts, and societal responsibility.
With the theme “The New Age CXO: Leading Through Disruption and Digital Transformation,” VerteX 2025 became a hub of insightful discussions and forward-thinking strategies, marking another milestone in leadership development. Boasting an audience of over 400+ attendees, the conclave served as a beacon of thought leadership and innovation, offering invaluable perspectives on the intersection of business, society, and technology.
Grand Inauguration- Setting the Stage for Thought Leadership
The event commenced with a grand inauguration, graced by distinguished guests – Fr. George, S.J , Director, XLRI; Fr. Donald D’Silva, S.J , Dean – Administration & Finance; Prof. Kanagaraj Ayyalusamy, Finance Faculty & Convenor – Corporate Relations and Placements; and Mr. Rajni Rajan, Vice President – Corporate Relations. They extended a warm welcome to the esteemed speakers and participants, emphasizing the urgency of redefining leadership in an era of rapid change.
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Panel 1- Building Resilient & Purpose-Driven Enterprises in the Digital Age
The first panel discussion, “Beyond Profits – Building Resilient and Purpose-Driven Enterprises in the Digital Age,” examined how businesses today must strike a balance between sustainability, profitability, and social impact to ensure long-term resilience.
Arpita Das, CIO, Pernod Ricard, India, emphasized that “adaptation must serve a clear purpose, whether for an individual or an organization, and the key lies in aligning technology with that purpose.” Manoj Kumar Chaudhary, CHRO, Edelweiss Asset, challenged attendees to reflect on “whether we genuinely live in a world of meaningful connections despite technology’s promise to solve real-world problems.” Mikhil Innani, CEO, Apollo Finvest, reinforced that “purpose-driven businesses focus on solving a core problem for their end customers—one they are uniquely positioned to address.” Tarun Girdhar, COO, Mercer Mettl, highlighted “the growing role of AI in business decisions, urging organizations to weigh the costs and benefits before investing.” Sudipto Sarkar, Chief of Product Application, Tata Steel, stated, “customer needs are not new—either a company discovers them first, or their competition does.” Phanimitra B, Global CIO & CDO, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, stressed that “a company’s responsibility extends beyond selling a product; human-centricity in technology design is critical to long-term success.” Aditya Basu summed up the discussion with an inspiring note: “Passion fuels perseverance. As long as you enjoy what you do, you’ll keep pushing forward, and that’s what drives success.”
The panel was moderated by Dr. Munish Kumar Thakur, Dean of Academics at XLRI – Delhi NCR, who steered the conversation with his insightful perspectives.
Panel 2- Leadership Strategies for a Multi-Generational Workplace
The second panel discussion, “Bridging Generations – Leadership Strategies for the New-Age CXO,” explored how leadership must evolve in a workplace characterized by digital disruption and generational diversity.
Ambarish Dasgupta, Founder, Intueri Consulting LLP, noted that “respect today is dictated by purpose rather than hierarchy, making it essential for leadership development to align with organizational needs.” Dr. Angshuman Ghosh, CEO, MENRV.AI, shared insights on “the fast-changing fields like AI, where past data can quickly become a liability despite experience being an asset.” Balaram Bhattacharjee, CSO, Yoga Bars, highlighted the need for continuous evolution, advising, “Nothing is permanent. The ability to continuously evolve is the mantra for success. Take your own decisions—right or wrong—own them, learn, and move forward.” Swati Jain, Partner at Deloitte, emphasized that “young professionals drive innovation with bold, transformative thinking and that leadership is more about mindset than age.” Mohammed Anzy S, MD, Guidewire Software, highlighted that “scaling a startup requires a sustainable customer pipeline and service model, with progress taking precedence over perfection.” Venky Rama Subramanian, VP, Site Head at ZoomInfo, pointed out that “while the younger generation brings speed and awareness, they often lack the vision for scalability—making a blend of experience and youth is crucial for long-term success.”
Prof. Giridhar Ramachandran from XLRI moderated the panel, adding valuable academic insights to the discussion.
Panel 3- Navigating Governance Challenges in Jharkhand
The third panel, “Governance Challenges in Jharkhand – Navigating Administrative Complexities for Sustainable Development,” delved into the governance hurdles in the region, covering topics from law enforcement and policy-making to tribal welfare and sustainable development.
Aniket Sachan, ADM – Law and Order, emphasized that “while India has immense potential, it has taken on too many tasks simultaneously, and development must be demand-driven.” Ravi Shankar Shukla, DC, Seraikela, highlighted the importance of aligning crisis management with organizational objectives, stating, “Crises are never one-dimensional; the easiest way to address them is by connecting them to the mandate of the organization.” Ananya Mittal, DC, Jamshedpur, stressed the importance of a structured approach to crisis management, advocating for analysis, discussion, stakeholder engagement, and strategic action. Dipankar Choudhary, Project Director, Integrated Tribal Authority, underscored the necessity of clear decision-making, stating, “To prevent resistance to change, stop giving too many options. Decide on a policy and cut out all unnecessary alternatives.” Satabdi Mazumdar, SDM, Jamshedpur, noted that “governance is about balancing urgent needs with long-term development, often requiring firefighting strategies.”
The panel was skillfully moderated by Prof. Sunil Sarangi, Co-Convenor – Placements & CEO of XCEED, XLRI, who guided the conversation with his expertise in governance and sustainable development.
Beyond the thought-provoking discussions, VerteX 2025 provided an unparalleled opportunity for networking and knowledge-sharing among some of the brightest minds in business, governance, and academia. Attendees engaged with industry leaders, exchanged ideas, and forged connections that will shape the future of business leadership.
As the event concluded, the Xplore Club of XLRI extended heartfelt gratitude to the esteemed speakers, panelists, and participants for their invaluable contributions. Kaushik Ghosh, Secretary – Xplore, and Nandita Kumari, Treasurer – Xplore Jamshedpur, expressed their appreciation, saying, “We thank the esteemed speakers who took the time to come to our campus and contribute to the learnings of our student community. We are sure the insights from the corporate and governance world would be beneficial for the XLRI community!”
VerteX 2025 has laid a strong foundation for future leadership rooted in adaptability, collaboration, and forward-thinking. While this chapter has concluded, the insights shared will continue to inspire future leaders in their pursuit of excellence. The journey has just begun, and the learnings from this conclave will resonate across industries, shaping the leaders of tomorrow.
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