‘Destiny knows the way to find you’. It was destiny itself that led to the crossing of over a hundred paths on a single evening at the Indo-German Training Centre. Ushering in the second edition of IGTC Alumni Talks: Our Signature Series on Friday 30th October 2020, with over 185 participants; in attendance, an IGTCian can only say ‘Amor Fati: Love your Fate’.
As IGTC inches closer to its 30th anniversary, we look forward to connecting every person who has been a part of this spectacular journey since its inception; this includes students and alumni from both the Post Graduate Programme in Business Administration as well as the Executive Business Management Programme and the esteemed faculty.
The speakers for the evening were 2 distinguished alumni, who have excelled in their roles and experiences in industry.
- Pallavi Shastri, Director – Human Resources, Eli Lilly Services India
- Sudeep Patade, Vice President – Finance, Deutsche Bank
The IGTC Alumni Talks also had a very special addition to its agenda, ironically it wasn’t an alumni but our very own senior faculty, Dr. Harkant Mankad. Host Radhieka Mehta, Director – IGTC welcomed all the alumni, faculty, corporate partners and current students to the event. All the speakers addressed topics that they are passionately involved in, all the views expressed were purely in their personal and not professional capacities.
Insights on “Capacity building to stay relevant” by Pallavi Shastri, Director – Human Resources, Eli Lilly Services India.
Her mantra is anchored on 3 pillars: Collective Intelligence, Systems Thinking and Keep Learning.
- We are part of a bigger whole, and this impacts everything and affects our life in infinite ways. In order to be relevant; ‘built to adapt’ takes precedence over ‘built to last’.
- Adaptability is key to a successful transformation while accounting for vulnerability, reflection, and fostering curiosity to drive change in the long term.
- Capability is broader than competence, it encompasses: Competency, Ability, Mind-set, Learning and Openness.
- Collective Intelligence: The brain of many is greater than the brain of one. Embrace a culture of celebrating failures. You do not need to know everything. Fail fast; fail safe. Find yourself a mentor.
- Systems Thinking: The need to look at the bigger picture and our position in the network of ecosystem. Reflect and Connect. With different kinds of people; from NGOs, various forums, as diverse as possible, to gain insights about ourselves and ecosystem around us. This will help us to act instead of react.
- Keep Learning: Keep sharpening your saw; continue to nurture your curiosity through continuous learning. Learn one skill a year, and take up one project for change, this will trigger the collective intelligence.
Insights on “Technologies to keep business relevant” by Sudeep Patade, Vice President – Finance, Deutsche Bank Group
- Varied technologies are available and can be used as enablers, we need to decide which of them is more relevant
- Feasibility of mobile technology has led to a large influx of companies on this mode. Remote working technologies have increased collaboration and has made remote working a reality.
- Need for data protection has increased cost and has put IT under pressure.
- Open Source Software is used across many fields and is here to stay. It enables users to switch from one software to another without spending much.
- Cloud Computing has gained prominence in 2020 and forms a large part of the social network. Cloud will not change the world, but will run the world, it is the next big enabler.
Insights on “VUCA world in 2020 got more VUCAoed” by Dr. Harkant Mankad – Senior Faculty, IGTC
- Markets are going south, uncertainty is at its best. COVID has created more questions than answers. You can’t be under illusion or delusion in the COVID world. COVID is capitalist in nature, in its approach to wealth, and income distribution.
- IT is the biggest winner in the pandemic, the biggest losers are Construction, Airlines and Migrants.
- However VUCA the world gets, the next decade belongs to China and Ali Baba.
- There is a 5% contraction in global GDP, but an increase in global population by half a million people. China’s population will age, and India will have a more assertive younger population, hence reducing dependence.
‘Change is the only constant’, but what happens when change and uncertainty become the norm? How do business and individuals cope in the prevailing context? One thing is for certain, businesses and individuals now have to accept their new found realities, however unappealing it may seem when compared to past realities. Isn’t this the whole point of resilience?
