IIM Bodh Gaya’s Gyanodaya : The Indian Institute of Management Bodh Gaya hosted the fifth edition of its annual management conclave, Gyanodaya 5.0. This year’s conclave was centred on the theme “Leading Transformation: People, Performance, and Technology in the New Era of Management”.
The event featured four engaging panel discussions that delved into emerging trends and strategies in people management, sustainable business practices, digital transformation, and inclusive leadership. It provided a platform for industry leaders, HR professionals, and academia to deliberate on the changing contours of people management, digital disruption, and leadership in an increasingly uncertain business environment.
Kicking off the deliberations, Dr. Vinita S. Sahay, Director, IIM Bodh Gaya noted that through training over 6,800 micro-entrepreneurs last year, the Institute continues to serve this land, not by waiting for industries to arrive, but by slowly transforming the landscape. Reflecting on India’s global role in the context of the conclave’s themes, she remarked, “The world does not look to India for technology alone, it comes to us for knowledge. Our true soft power lies in the wisdom we have nurtured for centuries.” Earlier, Prof. Ashish Sharma, Chairperson (MBA) welcomed the participants and introduced the key themes of the conclave.
The opening panel brought together Mr Sudhir Sharma, Head – Talent Acquisition, Adani Group, Mr Priya Ranjan Kumar, Vice President & Head – HR, JSW Steel, and Ms Shweta Jain, Director – Human Resources, ICF, with Prof. Vittal Rangan S, IIM Bodh Gaya, as the moderator. The discussion explored what today’s managers need to succeed, highlighting how academic–industry collaboration can shape the next generation of leaders. Panellists emphasised modern HR skills and sustainable business practices as essential for keeping organisations resilient, innovative, and people-centric in a rapidly changing business world.
The second session focused on learning as a strategic driver for sustainable business. It featured Mr Navin Patel, Director – Global TA Shared Services, AtkinsRéalis, Mr Naveen Alex, Head – Organisational Effectiveness, Tredence Inc., Mr Rohit Jaswal, L&D, APAC and EMEA (HR), Cushman & Wakefield, and Mr Dev Mani Pandey, Director – HR, Hippo Homes, with Prof. Madhumita Das, IIM Bodh Gaya, as the moderator. Panellists highlighted the evolving role of learning in driving sustainable growth, emphasising the need to develop capabilities that are both immediate and enduring. They also stressed the importance of responsible learning practices, extending development beyond organisations, and ensuring leaders measure the real impact of learning initiatives.
The third session, “Digital Transformation and the Role of AI for Organisational Success,” saw Ms Brishti Mondal, Vice President, HR, NRI FinTech, Mr Karthikeyan R, Senior Director, Capgemini Engineering, Capt. Dileep Narayan, Director, Talent Development, EPAM Systems, and Mr Pankaj Maheshwari, Project Manager (Senior Professional), DXC Technology, take the centrestage moderated by Prof. Somya Gupta, IIM Bodh Gaya. The panel highlighted AI as a driver of efficiency and innovation, stressed the value of human–AI collaboration, called for leadership readiness to build AI-driven organisations, and flagged ethical risks around bias, privacy, and trust.
The concluding session, “Rethinking Leadership and Culture for Multi-Generational Teams,” brought together Mr Somit Chitrey, Global Head, WRB Lending Fraud Risk (Credit Cards, Personal Loan and SME), Standard Chartered Bank, Mr Pravin Mahadevan, Chief Human Resources Officer, Goldmedal Electricals, and Mr Himanshu Kumar, Vice President, Professional Services, Darwinbox, moderated by Prof. Sanjay Kaushal, IIM Bodh Gaya. The panel broke generational myths, explored communication across age groups, redefined leadership for diverse teams, balanced the fast-track ambitions of younger talent with the wisdom of experienced professionals, and emphasised inclusive teams as drivers of innovation.
The conclave concluded with reflections on the discussions and a vote of thanks by Dr. Molla Ramizur Rahman, Chairperson (MBA-DBM). Celebrating empathy-driven leadership, sustainability, digital adaptability, and inclusive cultures, Gyanodaya 5.0 shared practical insights on HR, learning, technology, and leadership, reaffirming IIM Bodh Gaya’s commitment to developing mindful and future-ready managers.
