Annual Leadership Speaker Series

Annual Leadership Talk 2019

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SDMIMD organized the 11th edition of Annual Leadership Talk (ALT) on Tuesday, January 8, 2019. The event is known as a platform for eminent leaders to share their success stories, this year the talk will be delivered by Mr. Krishnakumar Natarajan, Executive Chairman, Mindtree, delivered the talk on the topic 'Future of Work-Creating Possibilities - Using Workplace Digitization'.

In his speech, Mr. Krishna Kumar Natarajan opined that big data and artificial intelligence will fundamentally change the way our body and mind work. He emphasized on the three pillars of organizing digital workplace, which included engaging employees, making physical workplace effective and considering health, safety and wellness for a better workplace. He also highlighted that beyond these three pillars, an organization needs to see how to manage the diverse workforce.

Mr. Krishna Kumar Natarajan also emphasized on BOTs and its relevance in the era of digitization. He also expressed his views on creating a personalised experience for customers as a crucial factor for the success of the business. He stated that before a company goes for digitization, certain important factors need to be analysed, significant among them being deploying of artificial intelligence reviewer, architect BOT and which are the requirements that can be automated. The session was concluded with an interesting question and answer forum.

Earlier Prof. Rajendra Todalbagi, Associate Professor – Operations, welcomed the gathering and gave a brief note on the significance and value addition created by the Annual Leadership Talks held year after year for both the academicians as well as the student community.

Director of the institute Dr. N.R. Parasurman, faculty members, invites from corporate, students and alumni present.

ALT 2019 by Mr. Krishnakumar Natarajan of Mindtree

	Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Institute for Management Development (SDMIMD) is organizing the 11th edition of Annual Leadership Talk (ALT) on Tuesday, January 8, 2019 in SDMIMD Auditorium. This year the talk will be delivered by Mr. Krishnakumar Natarajan, Executive Chairman, Mindtree. The event, which has been held since 2008, has had speakers who are luminaries from various fields like Dr. Michael A. Consumano (Professor, MIT Sloan School), Dr. V. Prakash (Former Director, CFTRI, Mysore), Dr. H. Sudarshan (Hony. Secretary, Karuna Trust), Dr. R Balasubramaniam (Founder, Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement, Mysore); Mr. Anil Sachdev, Founder and CEO of Grow Talent Company Ltd; Dr. R.A. Mashelkar, The President, Global Research Alliance; Prof. Gita Gopinath, Professor in Economics, Harvard University; Mr. Sid Mookerji, Global CEO and Co- Founder, Software Paradigms International Group LLP (SPI); Mr. Salil Ravindran, CFO, Marlabs; and last year Dr Stefan Wilms, Dean of the faculty of Economics and Transport, Heilbronn University, Germany, delivered the 10th edition of Annual Leadership Talk. For more information please visit the event webpage available at www.sdmimd.ac.in/alt or call 2429722 / 2429161.
About the Speaker of ALT 2019
A leading authority in the global IT sector, Krishnakumar Natarajan co-founded Mindtree in 1999 and has played key roles in building the company’s innovative approach to delivering IT services and solutions to global 2000 enterprises. Natarajan was instrumental in setting up Mindtree’s U.S. operations, driving expansion in Europe and Asia Pacific regions, and transforming Mindtree’s IT services business. Today, his mission as Executive Chairman is to focus on leadership development and ensure a high quality of governance. He also actively mentors different business groups within the company and works closely with the start-up ecosystem to bring in innovative models of business transformation for clients. In his prior role as CEO and Managing Director, Natarajan was responsible for making Mindtree a global IT player. Natarajan’s efforts as a business leader have been recognized worldwide, winning him several laurels. He was ranked amongst the most valuable CEOs in India by Businessworld & Forbes in 2016. He won Bloomberg UTV’s award as the CEO of the Year in 2010, Business Today CEO of the year award in 2014 and was recognized by Chief Executive Magazine’s as one of the twelve global leaders of tomorrow. EY honoured him with Entrepreneur of the year 2015 in Services. A 35-year IT industry veteran, Natarajan held several key positions at Wipro before co-founding Mindtree. During this time, he launched and grew the ecommerce division of Wipro, served as Group Vice President of human resources, and was Chief Marketing Officer for Wipro’s IT business. In 2013, Natarajan served as Chairman of the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM), where he worked to strengthen the Indian IT industry to be a globally competitive ecosystem comprised of both established and emerging companies. Natarajan is an active member of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). He is also a regular speaker at international IT industry conferences and a faculty member at management schools around the world. He has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the College of Engineering, Chennai, India, and a master’s degree in Business Administration from the Xavier Institute, Jamshedpur, India.

Annual Leadership Talk 2018

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The 10th edition of Annual Leadership Talk (ALT) was delivered by Dr Stefan Wilms, Dean of the faculty of Economics and Transport, Heilbronn University, Germany, on Wednesday, February 21, 2018 in SDMIMD Auditorium. Dr. Stefan Wilms with his immense experience and exposure with various executive positions at the publishing group Georg von Holtzbrinck, shared the leadership skills in the academic environment.

Dr Stefan Wilms gave a brief description of Germany, its geography & politics; and introduced the innovative programs in leadership skills at Heilbronn University. The major portion of his lecture was on the different leadership styles giving the anecdotes from is his personal experiences in the area of leadership as he has held various executive position in the past.

Dr. Stefan Wilms shared his experience in setting up of ‘Business and Transport’ unit at the university which has given opportunity for the students to work in a variety of industries and functions. Dr. Wilms presented the innovative methods in teaching business studies and trade, which has greatly contributed to the Faculty of Business and Transport in preparing students for the changing and increasing demands of the labor market.

The talk concluded with insights about leadership styles in academic environment. This was followed by Q & A session. The program coordinator Dr. H. Gayathri, Deputy Director and Professor - Marketing; Dr. N.R. Parasuraman, Director of the Institute; Faculty members, students, corporates from Mysore and invites were present.

ALT 2017 by Mr. Salil Ravindran

The 9th edition of Annual Leadership Talk (ALT) was delivered by Mr. Salil Ravindran, CFO, Marlabs, on Tuesday, February 14, 2017 in SDMIMD Auditorium. Mr. Ravindran with his immense experience and functional exposure with cross border Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) focused his talk on Mergers & Acquisitions and key challenges involved in it.

The speaker said that even though it’s a well planned process there are cultural, financial and legal constraints involved when organisations undergo M&A. One of the key aspects he stressed was how organisations need to operate and develop their outlook during M&A process, which can help them to add value. During the talk, Mr. Ravindran quoted the example of IGATE and his contributions in adding value to it; subsequent acquisition of Patni Computer Systems by IGATE Corp; and, acquisition of IGATE Corp by Capgemini. Some of the famous mergers and acquisition was also discussed during the talk.

The talk concluded with insights about career opportunities in the domain of Investment banking and Corporate Finance to the young managers. This was followed by Q & A session. The program coordinator Dr. Jayakrishnan, Faculty – Marketing; Dr. N.R. Parasuraman, Director of the Institute; Faculty members, students, corporates from Mysore and invites were present.

Annual Leadership Talk 2015

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News Clips:

‘India is a hotspot for startups. But one in every two startup shuts down within a year of its inception, because they lack customer perspective’ said Mr. Sid Mookerji, Global CEO and Co- Founder, Software Paradigms International Group LLP (SPI) in the Annual Leadership Talk delivered at the Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Institute for Management Development (SDMIMD) on September 10, 2015. Mr. Mookerji listed the keys to be a successful entrepreneur - clearly defined and easily articulated strategy, a world class team to work with, and high personal qualities in the leader.

Mr. Mookerji briefly outlined the step-by-step way in which he has led SPI into a truly international and professional organization. The individual needs to have an out-of-box thinking that should be conveyed in an effective manner. A sense of ownership towards the mission of the company and being continuous learner with a sense of integrity. The talk was attended by a number of corporate executives and academics in and around Mysore, apart from the students and faculty of SDMIMD.

Annual Leadership Series (ALS 2014) talk

“The challenge of inclusive innovation is to deliver high quality products, processes and services at an affordable price for poor people, from mobile to medicines. Such innovations should not just be affordable but extremely affordable”, thus spoke Dr. R.A. Mashelkar, well-known for both his pioneering scientific research as well as his inspirational science leadership as Director General of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), at the Annual Leadership Series (ALS) 2014 talk organized by Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Institute for Management Development (SDMIMD), Mysore. Dr. Mashelkar stressed on use of 'inclusive innovation', which can provide equal access to millions of poor people despite income inequality, something that is implicit in Gandhian thinking, in his talk “Inclusive Innovation: the Global Game Changer”.

Andolana | Kannada Prabha

Annual Leadership Series (ALS 2013) talk

News Clips : Deccan Herald | Indian Express

Mysore Jan 28th: "Rise in Love for a cause and you will be the leader" thus said Mr. Anil Sachdev, while addressing a large gathering comprising Management Students, Academicians, Industrialists and other Professionals at Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Institute Management Development Mysore. Mr Anil Sachdev Founder and CEO, Grow Talent Company Limited and School of Inspired Leadership (SOIL) Gurgaon Haryana, was the invited speaker on the occasion of Institute's annual leadership series (ALS 2013). Adding to his highly inspirational talk, he said that the today's youth are intelligent and ethical.

We elders look at them as "useless". In fact, youth are "used less". Youth's flair to "facebook" does not mean that they are not concerned with the societal issues. Elders of today should throw light on the past Gurukul system of education which prevailed in ancient India and how the same has been distorted by Macaulay's education system. He said that youth should know their immense potential and also know the difference between pleasure and joy. It is always "pleasure" to receive benefits for ourselves, but it is the "joy" that brings you happiness when you are concerned about others. By transforming pleasure to joy, one can become leader. Getting on to spirituality, he said know who you are and the purpose of your existence. Know the people around you and then ask yourself a question - do you love them? Quoting aphorisms form Patanjali's Yoga sutra he said, strange things can happen to you once you start understanding your inner powers. Adding values to his inspirational talk he called upon youth to be prepared for the Fire walk and learn to overcome four types of fear - fear of failure, fear of criticism, fear of ambiguity and fear of lack of time and resources.
Earlier, Dr. Neetu Ganapathy, Chairperson-PGDM of the Institute welcomed the guest. Dr N.R. Parasuraman and his faculty colleagues were present.

Annual Leadership Speaker Series 2012

On the evening of 8th February, 2012, SDMIMD was a part of an enriching and insightful session by Dr. R. Balasubramaniam, Founder, Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement, Mysore, who delivered the talk on “Leadership and Anti Corruption Movement" at the SDMIMD Auditorium.