VERTEX 2025

The Student’s Team of Xplore Club, XLRI Jamshedpur is proud to announce the resounding success of VerteX 2025, a transformational CXO Conclave held on February 8th, 2025. This year's CXO Conclave brought together visionary leaders, change-makers, and trailblazers from diverse industries to discuss the evolving landscape of leadership in the face of digital disruption, generational shift & societal responsibility. With the theme "The New Age CXO: Leading through disruption and digital transformation", VerteX 2025 emerged as a hub for insightful dialogues & forward-thinking strategies, further marking a milestone in leadership development. With over 400+ attendees, the conclave became a beacon of thought leadership and innovation, offering invaluable insights into the evolving landscape of business, society, and technology.

VerteX 2025 commenced with a grand inauguration, graced by the esteemed presence of Fr George, S J, Director, XLRI, Fr Donald D'Silva, S.J., Dean - Administration & Finance, XLRI, Prof Kanagaraj Ayyalusamy, Finance Faculty & Convenor Corporate Relation and Placements, & Mr. Rajni Rajan, Vice President, Corporate Relations, XLRI from the institute, who extended their warm welcome to all the speakers and participants. The inaugural session set the tone, emphasizing the urgency of redefining leadership and embracing change.

The first panel discussion centered on “Beyond Profits – Building Resilient and Purpose-Driven Enterprises in the Digital Age”explored how businesses today must strike a balance between sustainability, profitability, and social impact to build genuinely resilient enterprises. Arpita Das, CIO, Pernod Richard, India, emphasized that adaptation must serve a clear purpose, whether for an individual or an organization, and the key lies in aligning technology with that purpose. Manoj Kumar Chaudhary, CHRO, Edelweiss Asset, challenged the audience to reflect on whether we genuinely live in a world of meaningful connections despite technology’s promise to solve real-world problems. Mikhil Innani, CEO, Apollo Finvest, reinforced that purpose-driven businesses focus on solving a core problem for their end customers—one they are uniquely positioned to address. Tarun Girdhar, COO Mercer Mettl, highlighted the growing role of AI in business decisions, urging organizations to weigh the costs and benefits before investing. Sudipto Sarkar, Chief, Product Application, Tata Steel, pointed out that customer needs are not new—either a company discovers them first, or their competition does.Phanimitra B, Global CIO & CDO, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, stressed that a company’s responsibility extends beyond selling a product; human-centricity in technology design is critical to long-term success. Aditya Basu, Strategy Head, Tech Mahindra reinforced the power of passion in leadership, stating, "Passion fuels perseverance. As long as you enjoy what you do, you’ll keep pushing forward, and that’s what drives success." The panel was moderated byDr. Munish Kumar Thakur, Dean of Academics at XLRI - Delhi NCR.

The second panel with the discussion topic “Bridging Generations – Leadership Strategies for the New-Age CXO” explored the evolving demands of leadership in a multi-generational, digitally disrupted workplace. Ambarish Dasgupta, Founder, Intueri Consulting LLP, noted that respect today is dictated by purpose rather than hierarchy, making it essential for leadership development to align with organizational needs. Dr. Angshuman Ghosh, CEO of MENRV.AI, shared insights on the fast-changing fields like AI, where past data can quickly become a liability despite experience being an asset.Balaram Bhattacharjee, CSO, Yoga Bars, highlighted the need for continuous evolution, advising, “Nothing is permanent. The ability to continuously evolve is the mantra for success. Take your own decisions—right or wrong—own them, learn, and move forward.”Swati Jain, Partner at Deloitte, emphasized that young professionals drive innovation with bold, transformative thinking and that leadership is more about mindset than age. Mohammed Anzy S, MD, Guidewire Software, highlighted that scaling a startup requires a sustainable customer pipeline and service model, with progress taking precedence over perfection. Venky Rama Subramanian, VP, Site Head at ZoomInfo, pointed out that while the younger generation brings speed and awareness, they often lack the vision for scalability—making a blend of experience and youth crucial for long-term success. The panel was moderated by Prof. Giridhar Ramachandran, a faculty member at XLRI, who guided the conversation and brought a rich academic perspective to the discussions.

The third panel on “Governance Challenges in Jharkhand – Navigating Administrative Complexities for Sustainable Development” examined governance hurdles in Jharkhand, addressing issues ranging from law enforcement and governance procedures to tribal welfare. Aniket Sachan, ADM Law and Order, emphasized that while India has immense potential, it has taken on too many tasks simultaneously, and development must be demand-driven. Ravi Shankar Shukla, DC Seraikela, highlighted the importance of aligning crisis management with organizational objectives: "Crises are never one-dimensional, the easiest way to address them is by connecting them to the mandate of the organization." Ananya Mittal, DC Jamshedpur, stressed the importance of a structured approach to crisis management, advocating for analysis, discussion, stakeholder engagement, and strategic action. Dipankar Choudhary, Project Director, Integrated Tribal Authority, underscored the necessity of clear decision-making, "To prevent resistance to change, stop giving too many options. Decide on a policy and cut out all unnecessary alternatives." Satabdi Mazumdar, SDM Jamshedpur, noted that governance is about balancing urgent needs with long-term development, often requiring firefighting strategies. The panel was moderated byProf. Sunil Sarangi, Co-Convenor - Placements & Chief Executive Officer of XCEED, XLRI, who guided the discussion with his expertise on governance and sustainable development in Jharkhand.