Orientation Program

Invited Talk on Personal Branding by Dr. S. Radhakrishnan

On July 12, 2025, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, Professor of Marketing at the Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa, Canada, delivered an insightful talk on Personal Branding as part of the Orientation Program for the PGDM 2025–27 batch at SDMIMD. Dr. Radhakrishnan emphasized the importance of building a strong personal brand in today’s competitive landscape, offering practical strategies for self-positioning, credibility building, and effective communication. The session encouraged students to consciously shape their professional identity and align it with their values and career aspirations.

Invited Talk by Mr. M. Nikhilesh, Founder & CEO, Kalisu Foundation

As part of the Orientation Program for the PGDM 2025–27 batch, SDMIMD was privileged to host Mr. M. Nikhilesh, Founder and CEO of Kalisu Foundation, Mysuru, on July 12, 2025. In his inspiring session, Mr. Nikhilesh shared insights from his journey in social entrepreneurship, highlighting the role of purpose-driven leadership and the importance of education in driving community transformation. His talk encouraged students to embrace responsibility, think beyond conventional success, and contribute meaningfully to society.

Workshop on ‘Resilient Leader: Cultivating Wellness for Peak Performance’ by Mr. A.R. Dwarakanath

SDMIMD organized a workshop on ‘Resilient Leader: Cultivating Wellness for Peak Performance’ as part of the Orientation Program for the PGDM 2025–27 batch. The session was conducted by Mr. A.R. Dwarakanath, Yoga Trainer, on July 11, 2025.

During the session, Mr. Dwarakanath stated, “Improving shareholder value is the prime task of any business organization. Therefore, companies need individuals who can think strategically and build sustainable business models, rather than those with cognitive bias.”

He emphasized that healthy individuals are crucial for organizational success and highlighted that resilient leaders must think beyond boundaries and focus on simple actions that can have a long-term impact.

Integrating Ayurveda and Yoga for Holistic Well-being – Talk by Dr. C.S. Anilkumar Dixit

As part of the Orientation Program at SDMIMD, Dr. C.S. Anilkumar Dixit, a renowned expert in Ayurvedic and Yogic practices, delivered an insightful session on July 10, 2025, emphasizing the integration of Ayurveda and Yoga into daily life. Drawing from Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, Dr. Dixit highlighted the holistic approach of these ancient sciences in promoting physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. He spoke on the foundational concept of Ahimsa (non-violence), the importance of setting clear intentions, and the role of traditional Indian cooking and spices in enhancing immunity. Stressing values such as truthfulness, contentment, and gratitude, Dr. Dixit encouraged students to adopt mindful practices for a balanced and fulfilling life.

Insightful Session on Navigating Technology Evolution and Building Tech-First Organizations

Dr. Navin Shankar Patel delivered a highly insightful talk on Navigating Technology Evolution and Building Tech-First Organizations on July 9, 2025, at SDMIMD. The session explored how technology continues to shape the business environment and emphasized the strategic shifts necessary for organizations to thrive in the digital era.

Key discussion points included the role of foundational technologies in the progress of civilization and a retrospective look at six decades of technological evolution. Dr. Patel illustrated how companies such as Blackberry, Nokia, and Byju's exemplify the risks associated with failing to adapt to rapid technological change. He introduced the concept of the Competitive Gravity Well, using Tesla as a case study to demonstrate how integrated technology ecosystems can create sustainable competitive advantage.

The anatomy of a tech-first organization was further illustrated through examples from Starbucks, Spotify, and Amazon, emphasizing the importance of data-driven decision-making. A detailed walkthrough of the AI and GenAI value chain was presented using the “5 Cs” framework—Capture, Curate, Compute, Create, and Commercialize.

Additionally, Dr. Patel shared the “4 P” framework—Purpose, People, Process, and Platform—citing Reliance Jio as a benchmark example of a tech-first company.

To prepare future managers, he emphasized the importance of competencies such as data storytelling, prompt engineering, change management, Cloud and FinOps skills, continuous learning, and responsible AI governance.

The session concluded with an interactive Q&A, where students explored the discussed themes in greater depth, making it an enriching and future-focused learning experience.

Skill Spotlight Session on ‘Product Design and Innovation’

As part of the Orientation Program 2025, SDMIMD organized a Skill Spotlight Session on ‘Product Design and Innovation’ in collaboration with the Design - Centre of Excellence, Department of Design and Manufacturing, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru on July 9, 2025.

Mr. Allen Paul, from the Design - Centre of Excellence, Department of Design and Manufacturing, IISc Bengaluru, spoke about the importance of skill enhancement that all employees need to focus on in current times.

Talking about product design, Mr. Vijay Murali, also from IISc, discussed the various aspects and significance of product design. He also provided insights into the modules offered at the Design - Centre of Excellence at IISc Bengaluru.

Mr. Puneeth K.S. and Mr. Subrahmanyam C. conducted a hands-on activity on product design. Through this detailed activity, the resource persons helped students understand the step-by-step process of how a product is designed.

As a gesture of appreciation, tokens of gratitude and gifts were distributed to the winners of the pre-event activity conducted by IISc Bengaluru. Faculty members and students actively participated in the session, making it a valuable and engaging experience.

Session on India’s Vision: $30 Trillion Economy by 2047

On July 9, 2025, SDMIMD had the privilege of hosting Mr. Sudhir K S, Head of the Mysuru Cluster at the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), for an engaging and thought-provoking session on India's vision of becoming a $30 trillion economy by the year 2047.

Mr. Sudhir began the session by reflecting on India’s colonial past and its impact on the nation's economic trajectory. He highlighted the crucial role of today’s youth in reshaping the country's future and emphasized the importance of students becoming “change leaders” in driving India’s growth and transformation.

Encouraging students to explore entrepreneurship in both business and social spheres, Mr. Sudhir inspired them with real-life success stories, including those of Ritesh Agarwal (OYO) and Anshu Gupta (Goonj). He stressed the need for globally aligned skills and innovation-driven mindsets. Urging students to actively contribute to nation-building, he called on them to address pressing challenges through open-source, technology-based solutions.

The session concluded with a powerful message — students must rise to the occasion as future leaders and play an active role in crafting India’s journey towards inclusive and sustainable prosperity.

Insightful Session by Mr. Bharath Rathore on Wealth Management

On July 8, 2025, SDMIMD had the privilege of hosting Mr. Bharath Rathore, Executive Director at Anand Rathi, for an insightful session on Wealth Management and Industry Expectations. The session offered a deep dive into the fundamentals of wealth management, highlighting the importance of setting, implementing, and monitoring financial goals. Mr. Rathore emphasized critical aspects of financial planning, including inflation, budgeting, Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs), asset allocation, and the power of compound interest. He also introduced students to various asset classes such as equity, debt, commodities, and real estate, providing clarity on strategic financial decision-making.

The session also addressed the evolving expectations of the corporate world from B-school graduates. Mr. Rathore underlined the importance of strong analytical and numerical skills, effective communication, and awareness of current economic and geopolitical developments. He encouraged students to stay informed through financial platforms like The Economic Times and Moneycontrol, reinforcing the importance of industry readiness. The session served as a valuable learning experience, bridging academic knowledge with real-world insights.

A Session on ‘Entrepreneurship After MBA’

A session on ‘Entrepreneurship After MBA’ was organized on July 8, 2025, at SDMIMD as part of the Orientation Program for the PGDM Batch 2025–27. Mr. Chandu Nair, an angel investor and startup advisor, was the resource person for the session.

In his talk, Mr. Nair focused on entrepreneurial possibilities as well as employability opportunities immediately after completing the postgraduate program. He guided students to have the confidence while choosing their career and the way they should shape their career.

Discussing the foundations of a successful career, Mr. Nair explained that if a person has a strong idea and clarity about the career they want to build, age becomes less significant. He highlighted that thorough knowledge of one’s goals, intelligence, and common sense are crucial in shaping a career. “Making decisions and ensuring they are right become important in creating a career,” Mr. Nair added.

Invited talk on Active Listening

As part of the Orientation Program for the PGDM 2025–2027 batch, a session on Active Listening was conducted on July 7, 2025.

The session was delivered by Ms. Sheethal Mohithe, a Consultant known for her engaging and impactful communication training. She emphasized the importance of active listening as a vital skill for future managers and leaders.

The interactive session helped students understand the role of attentive listening in building effective interpersonal relationships.The talk set the tone for self-awareness and communication-focused learning during the program.