Bhubaneswar: Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar (XIMB), commemorating 38 years of academic excellence, successfully concluded the second day of the 7th Business Excellence Summit (BES), its flagship annual event.
The summit, held on September 13–14, was themed “Leading at the Edge: From Uncertainty to Impact,” and brought together industry leaders, academicians, and students to explore the evolving contours of leadership, disruption, and AI-driven transformation.
Kamadeba Mohanty, COO of Reliance Grocery Retail & Jiomart, Reliance Retail, delivered the keynote address, drawing from his extensive experience across banking, retail, and corporate strategy. He emphasised clarity of purpose, agility, and bold decision-making as critical success factors, encouraging students to embrace diversity, remain conceptually strong, and leverage AI-enabled opportunities. “If you’re not failing in life, you’re not truly successful,” he remarked.
In the second session, Sapna Mohata, Vice President – Lending & Project Finance, NaBFID, urged students to nurture passion, stay grounded, and step beyond their comfort zones. She stressed that while AI may automate routine tasks, critical thinking remains an indispensable human skill.
Amit Pahuja, Director – Internal Audit at American Express GBT, addressed leadership in uncertainty, highlighting adaptability, ambiguity tolerance, and ethical integrity—“always pick the harder right over the easier wrong,” he advised.
Aroop Mohapatra, Vice President at IndusInd Bank, spoke on the evolution of Indian banking and warned, “If you don’t disrupt your own business, someone else will,” cautioning against blind reliance on AI.
Bhaskar Roy, Head of AI (Customer Experience), Tata Sons, explored the ethical dimensions of AI adoption, emphasising the need for responsible innovation. A panel discussion, moderated by Prof. Shridhar Kumar Dash, concluded the session, followed by a student Q&A and a vote of thanks from the BES team.
The final session saw Dr. Bhaskar Roy, Global Delivery Leader – Data Science & AI, Genpact, describe AI as the “new normal” driving innovation and cost efficiency. He proposed “Platform” as the 8th P in the marketing mix, underscoring the importance of responsible AI and continuous learning. “AI won’t replace humans, but humans using AI will replace those who don’t,” he stated.
Satya Swarup Das, Director of Product Management – Financial Services at Unisys, defined innovation as the bridge between vision and execution, using UPI as a case study to highlight the balance between trust, speed, and quality.
Debasis Mohapatra, Independent Consultant, focused on pragmatic leadership, emphasising small beginnings, controlled scaling, and resilience. A final panel discussion moderated by Fr. Nithin Monteiro, SJ, wrapped up the session.
The summit concluded with vibrant student engagement in Q&A sessions and reflections on the need for adaptability, ethics, and life-long learning. Closing remarks were delivered by Fr. Monteiro, followed by a formal vote of thanks from the organising team, marking the successful completion of BES 2025 at XIMB.
