Since 2016-17, our institute has been dedicated to enriching our students’ educational journey through the Distinguished Speaker Series. This initiative, in alignment with our mission of ‘Sharing Experience, Enriching Knowledge,’ has consistently brought senior management professionals from diverse sectors to our campus. These esteemed speakers generously share their wealth of experiences, elevating our students’ intellectual horizons and nurturing future business leaders’ qualities. This series contributes to our institute’s vision and ignites curiosity among our young minds, fostering innovative thinking.

Eminent speaker series held on 28TH october, 2023 and 25th november, 2023

The Eminent Speaker Series 2023, hosted by St. Francis Institute of Management and Research (SFIMAR), was a meticulously curated event designed to provide students with profound insights into contemporary issues and trends across various industries. Taking place at the SFIMAR Auditorium on the 28th of October and 25th of November, the series featured prominent speakers who delved into topics ranging from cyber laws and marketing trends to banking post-mergers and the significance of personality frameworks in the workplace. It was organized by speaker series Coordinators of MMS 1 class under the guidance of Faculty coordinators Prof. Sanchayita Banerjee, Prof. Rosie Murray, Prof. Paul Alukal, Prof. Stanley Santmayor and Dr. Abhishek Deokule.

Event Overview:

• Date: 28th October and 25th November
• Venue: SFIMAR Auditorium Hall
• Time: 10 AM to 1:30 PM

Objectives

• Enhance academic and practical knowledge through insights from experienced speakers.
• Facilitate cross-disciplinary discussions to promote a holistic learning experience.
• Motivate and inspire students by showcasing the achievements and journeys of eminent personalities.
• Provide students with opportunities to connect and network with influential professionals.
• Offer valuable career insights and advice to guide students in their professional development.

Description

The session was held on the SFIMAR campus in Auditorium. The honorable dignitaries of the event for DAY 1 (28th October 2023) were Mr. Nikhil Mahadeshwar and Mr. Karthi Marshan. DAY2 2 (25TH NOVEMBER, 2023) was graced by Mr. P.S. Jayakumar and Mr. Yogi Sriram.

External participants

Day-1

There were a total of 13 external student participants from different colleges:

• L.R Tiwari – 2
• Vidyavardhini’s College of Engineering and technology – 6
• Association of chartered certified accountant- 1

There were 4 participants who were not Students. They were working Individuals.

Day – 2

There were a total of 28 external student participants from different colleges:

• Gonsalo Garcia College – 2
• Mount Carmel jr. College – 12
• Viva College of Research and Management – 5
• Vidyavardhini’s College of Engineering and technology – 1
• St. Gonsalo college – 1
• L.R Tiwari – 4

There were 3 participants who were not Students. They were working Individuals.

Internal Participants: Day 1- 119, Day 2- 110

Highlights – (Day- 1)

• The event commenced with a warm welcome extended to the students, followed by the institutional anthem and the ceremonial lighting of the lamp.
• Deputy Director Dr. G. Ramesh set the stage with a comprehensive welcome address, providing context to the significance of the Eminent Speaker Series.
• Mr. Nikhil Mahadeshwar and Mr. Karthi Marshan were introduced and felicitated, setting the tone for their insightful sessions.
• Mr. Nikhil Mahadeshwar's session on Cyber Crimes and Cyber Frauds in India was marked by in-depth discussions and practical legal insights.
• A lively Q&A session followed, allowing students to engage directly with Mr. Mahadeshwar.
• The mid-event break provided an opportunity for networking and refreshments.
• Mr. Karthi Marshan's presentation on the Marketing Boom in India was not only informative but also interactive, fostering engagement and discussions among the attendees.
• The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Tanvi Rane, the national anthem, and a memorable group photograph.
• Compering for the event was skillfully handled by Mr. Myron Dsouza and Ms. Sadiya Malik, adding a dynamic and engaging touch to the proceedings.

Day - 2

• The second day commenced with a warm welcome extended to the students, followed by a detailed welcome address by the Director Dr. Shalini Sinha.
• Mr. P.S. Jayakumar was introduced and felicitated, setting the stage for his Illuminating session on The Changing Face of Banks Post Mergers in India.
• A thought-provoking Q&A session followed, allowing students to delve deeper into the nuances of the banking sector.
• The mid-event break provided attendees with an opportunity to network and recharge.
• Mr. Yogi Sriram's session on Personality Frameworks and their relevance in the Workplace for Gen Z was marked by interactive activities, engaging the audience in discussions on modern workplace dynamics.
• Another insightful Q&A session allowed for direct interaction with Mr. Sriram.
• The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Biplab Maity, the national anthem, and a group photograph, marking the end of two intellectually stimulating days.
• Compering for the event was skillfully handled by Ms. Diksha Mall and Ms. Erica Pereira, ensuring a professional and seamless flow to the entire event.

Speakers and Topics

Day 1- 28th October, 2023

1. Speaker: Nikhil Mahadeshwar

Topic: Cyber Crimes and Cyber Frauds - The Legalities in India.

Nikhil Mahadeshwar, a legal expert in the field of cyber law, delivered a comprehensive presentation on the legal aspects surrounding cyber crimes and fraud in India. He elucidated the current landscape, challenges faced by law enforcement, and the evolving nature of legislation to combat cyber threats.

2. Speaker: Karthi Marshan

Topic : Marketing Boom in India

Karthi Marshan, a seasoned marketing professional, shared valuable insights into the dynamic world of marketing in India. His presentation covered emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities, providing attendees with a holistic understanding of the rapidly evolving marketing landscape.

Day 2- 25th November, 2023

1. Speaker: P.S. Jayakumar

Topic : The Changing Face of Banks Post Mergers in India.

P.S. Jayakumar, a distinguished figure in the banking sector, discussed the transformative changes occurring in banks post-merger in India. Attendees gained insights into the challenges, opportunities, and the impact of these changes on the financial landscape.

2. Speaker: Yogi Sriram

Topic: Personality Frameworks and their Relevance in the Workplace for Gen Z

Yogi Sriram, a renowned expert in human resources, focused on the relevance of personality frameworks in the contemporary workplace, particularly for the Gen Z workforce. His session provided practical insights into fostering a harmonious and productive work environment.

Learning Outcomes :

The speaker series has achieved a notable learning outcome by fostering intellectual exploration, providing insights from distinguished experts, and inspiring a passion for excellence. It catalyzes ongoing curiosity, collaboration, and the pursuit of knowledge within the college community.

Eminent speaker series, 2022

The Eminent Speaker Series, 2022 is organized every year. Last year it couldn’t be conducted offline due to the pandemic, this year it was conducted offline inviting prominent guest speakers speaking about very important contemporary topics. A team of volunteers were grouped together to start with the event related work a month before the event. Since it is an inter-collegiate event, work related to sponsorship and promotions had started in full swing, weeks before the actual event.

On the Day 1 of the event conducted on 13th of August, 2022, Dr. Satvinder Madhok was invited to speak about the “Leadership in Global Organization” wherein he mentioned about various facts which the attendees felt was relevant to the current scenario. The second part of the Day 1, our international guest speaker, Dr. Mike Ivanoff had taken over the limelight by speaking about the topic “Building the workforce of the 21st Century”. Herein he had attracted the attention of the audience by mentioning about many new things which were new to the attendees. After the completion of the event, an exhibition was organized that commemorates the victims and sufferings of people during the partition of India, Partition Horrors Remembrance Day celebrated on 14th of August. The day ended by thanking all the sponsors of our event.

On the Day 2 of the event conducted on 10th September, 2022 one of our speakers Mr. Sandeep Raut who were going to speak about the topic “Digital Transformation through the lens of Artificial Intelligence (A.I)” couldn’t make to the event due to personal reasons. Therefore, the event started from 11 AM and Mr. Ravindra Waghmare obliged to come early for the event and shared his knowledge about the topic “Social Entrepreneurship – A need of the Hour”. He had shared his knowledge about this topic and had given many examples of social entrepreneurs who had contributed. The day ended by thanking all the sponsors of the event.

The event ended on a very positive note wherein all the attendees, outside as well as in-house students gained a lot of knowledge from the guest speakers.