ESG | SDMIMD

ESG Seminar on Business Sustainability

Dr. Gautam Nagpal, Research Fellow at ESC Pau Business School, France, delivered the ESG Seminar on Business Sustainability for ESG modular specialization students of SDMIMD held during February 5 and February 9, 2024.

Sustainability has been a hot topic of discussion in recent times, evident in businesses and organizations. It has evolved from a theoretical concept discussed in academia to a business model and orientation for companies. Sustainability is not just a concept for discussion but a holistic outlook that requires organizations to adjust their business models, missions, visions, and recalibrate their raison d'être or reason for being.

During this course, students explore sustainability, business sustainability, and sustainability reporting frameworks in various contexts such as India, the USA, Europe, and the UK, among others. By studying the different theoretical foundations of sustainability, students can understand the origins of business sustainability and its future direction. Through course seminars, students engage in group projects that involve a detailed analysis of an organization's sustainability.

ESG Seminar on Women Empowerment: Issues and Challenges

To bring awareness about the need and issues related to women empowerment in India, a seminar was conducted by Dr. Mousumi Sengupta, Professor – HRM at SDMIMD. During the seminar, it was discussed that empowering women generally means to facilitate the process of increasing women’s access to control over the strategic life choices that affect them to realize their capacities and status in life. Women empowerment was discussed in regard to social, educational and economic conditions. With several examples, Dr. Mousumi explained how empowerment strengthens women’s positions in social structures, giving them a larger purpose. It was also discussed that, women needed education to boost the self-confidence, self-esteem, and to become self-sufficient. Being at economic disadvantage could take away access to becoming empowered. Thus, economic independence needed to be a significant step towards women empowerment.

In the seminar, the students were also informed about how government and non-government organizations, along with several multinational and Indian companies have been involved into enhancing women empowerment in India and how the employees are encouraged to bring innovative ideas in the same context. The seminar also involved the participating students, who proposed certain initiatives to support the movement towards increased women empowerment.

ESG talk by Sri K N Janardhana

Sri K N Janardhana, National Director for RSETIs at the National Centre for Excellence of RSETIs (NACER), Bengaluru, delivered a talk to ESG modular specialization students of the PGDM 2023-25 batch on October 10, 2023.

ESG Talk by Mr. Santosh Gundapi

On September 1, 2023, Mr. Santosh Gundapi, the Chief Operating Officer of AT & S India, spoke to PGDM 2022–24 students enrolled in the ESG Modular specialization. In his captivating lecture, he stressed the crucial role that Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles play in today's global economy. The conversation was centered on the growing requirement to integrate sustainability and sustainable development into business plans, highlighting the emergence of ESG roles within the corporate landscape and the plethora of employment prospects they bring.

In particular, AT & S India highlighted its attempt to recycle an amazing 80% of the water needed at its Nanjangud plant to manufacture printed circuit boards (PCBs), demonstrating its strong commitment to environmental sustainability. The company's commitment to environmental responsibility and its efforts to reduce its ecological footprint are highlighted by this noteworthy accomplishment.

Additionally, Mr. Gundapi clarified AT & S's ambition to establish itself as a premier international provider of premium PCBs. This lofty goal demonstrates the business' dedication to technological advancement and to satisfying the rising need for dependable printed circuit boards on a global scale. With this expansion, AT & S hopes to significantly advance the technology industry while adhering to ESG principles and exemplifying ethical corporate conduct.

A model for other companies in the sector to follow, AT & S India's commitment to ESG integration stands as a beacon of CSR and sustainable growth. AT & S India is unwavering in its commitment to playing a significant role in assisting in the development of a more sustainable and responsible future for the PCB manufacturing sector in a time when such practices are essential.

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ESG Corporate Talk by Mr. Murali, Rane Group

In the recent enlightening session held at our college, Mr. Murali, a distinguished representative from the Rane Group, shared invaluable insights into the realm of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations in the corporate world. With his extensive experience as a Safety and Health Practitioner and Manager at Rane Group, Mr. Murali shed light on how these three crucial aspects significantly impact their operations, the steps taken to ensure ESG compliance, and the broader importance of ESG in today's industries. During the insightful session, Mr. Murali highlighted Rane Group's proactive measures to align with ESG goals. The company has introduced various eco-friendly initiatives to minimize its ecological footprint and on the social front, it is dedicated to enhancing the well-being of its employees, local communities, and stakeholders. Through these initiatives, Rane Group has not only minimized workplace incidents but has also fostered a sense of responsibility towards one another's well-being. Mr. Murali passionately emphasized the significance of ESG in today's dynamic business landscape.

He also gave an interesting example where one of their employees who was trained to give CPR first aid saved a life of an elderly person in Chennai while traveling on a local train and recalled how their training came into use in a real-life situation and saved a life. The talk shed light on the symbiotic relationship between ESG principles and corporate success.

The talk has been organized as a part of the ESG modular specialization for the PGDM 2022-24 batch, held on August 18, 2023.

Seminar on Best Practices in ESG by Dr. Stephen ARO-GORDON

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues have gained prominence recently, with managers, investors, governments, and other stakeholders increasingly applying these non-financial factors to their strategic analysis process. Many questions about ESG arise about the material risks factors, how ESGs protect and create value for the business. This SDMIMD 3-day seminar on ‘Best Practices in ESG’ held from 28 June to 1 July 2023 allowed participants to examine these questions afresh and to revisit the related concepts and issues around ESG. The discussions covered sustainability reporting, climate action, ESG rating, and greenwashing. Using a case-study approach with conglomerates such as General Electric, Tata Group, Reliance Industries, Mahindra and Mahindra, and Larsen and Toubro, combined with ESG ranking data from leading raters such as MSCI, Bloomberg, Sustainalytics, and Refinitiv, the participants explored how ESG performance could impact a firm’s cost of capital and valuation. In this regard, participants used the opportunity to refresh their knowledge of ratio analysis and capital structure. Participants exhibited their forecasting skills and valuation methods, such as the dividend discount models and price multiples, to draw valuable insights into the role of ESGs in firm value. Besides the highly interactive lectures, participants gained critical ESG insights through quizzes and group presentations based on assigned publicly quoted companies. The seminar concluded with the awareness that ESG best practice is all about effective risk management.