About

‘Innovation & Technology: The India Story’ was the theme of the 2020 edition of SPJIMR’s annual marquee event SBAC. Eminent leaders from across the Indian business spectrum and leading academicians discussed various aspects of the country’s innovation culture. The meet was attended by the institute’s participants, established business leaders, distinguished alumni and influencers. Dr Soumitra Dutta, Professor of Management and Former Founding Dean, SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University delivered the academic keynote address. Mr. Sonam Wangchuk, Founding Director, Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh was the social sector keynote speaker for the conclave. There were four-panel discussions about the innovation drivers, enablers and challenges to inculcating a technology-driven, innovation-first culture in Indian businesses. Every talk was further captured graphically on a whiteboard by artist, Santosh Nair.

Speakers

  • Dr. Soumitra Dutta

    Professor of Management and Former Founding Dean, SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University. Chair, Board of Directors, Global Business School Network (GBSN), Co-Chair, Global Future Council on Innovation Eco-Systems, World Economic Forum, Founding Editor, Global Innovation Index.

  • Mr. Sonam Wangchuk

    Founding Director, Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh, Winner of Ramon Magsaysay Award 2018, The GQ Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2017, The Rolex Award for Enterprise 2016.

  • Panel 1 : Insight

    • Mr. Aditya Swamy, Director – Google India
    • Mr. Sujit Ganguli, Head, Brand and Corporate Communication, ICICI Bank
    • Mr. Akash Banerji, Business Head, VOOT Advertising Video Platform, Viacom 18
    • Ms. Kavita Angre, Chief of Consumer & Marketing Insights & Media, Loreal
    • Ms. Shalini Kapoor, Director & CTO – Watson IoT, IBM Distinguished Engineer
  • Panel 2: Transformation

    • Mr. R. Gopalakrishnan, Author and Corporate Advisor, Executive in Residence, SPJIMR
    • Mr. Ramesh Ramachandran, Senior Vice President – Strategy and Farming as a Service, 
    • Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.
    • Mr. Haresh Chawla, Partner at True North, Executive in Residence, SPJIMR
    • Ms. Aditi Namdeo, Head of Operations and Business Engagement, Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, World Economic Forum, India
    • Mr. Ajay Srinivasan, Chief Executive Officer, Aditya Birla Capital Limited
  • Panel 3: Disruption

    • Mr. Vivek Sunder, COO, Swiggy
    • Mr. Harish Narayanan, CMO, Myntra Jabong
    • Mr. Nikhil Arora, Vice President & Managing Director, India, GoDaddy Inc
    • Mr. Nishchay AG, Director, Bounce
    • Mr. Pulkit Trivedi, Director, Google Pay, India
  • Panel 4: Leadership

    • Dr. Ranjan Banerjee, Dean, SPJIMR
    • Mr. Bharat Puri, MD & Executive Director, Pidilite Industries Limited
    • Mr. Sanjeev Aga, Business leader, organisation builder, adviser and mentor
    • Mr. Nikhil Prasad Ojha, Partner, Bain & Company, Mumbai, India
    • Mr. Chandramouli Venkatesan, Bestselling Author & Senior Management consultant

Event agenda

  • Welcome address

    In his inaugural address Dr. Ranjan Banerjee, former Dean, SPJIMR presented the industry advisory panel which had helped curate and co-create the 2020 edition of SBAC and elaborated that the agenda of the conclave was to explore what is really happening on the ground in terms of technological innovation.

  • Academic keynote address

    Dr. Soumitra Dutta, Professor of Management and Former Founding Dean, SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University, spoke on the topic, ‘Innovation and Technology drives business growth’ and shared insights about the multidimensional facets of innovation-driven growth and the shifting global landscape of business, technology and innovation.

  • Panel 1: Insight

    Topic, ‘From Data to Insight to Foresight’
    Moderator Mr. Aditya Swamy, Director – Google India.
    The panel explored how turning data into actionable insights can help organisations with the foresight to make informed decisions and compete more effectively. Big data creates challenges but can lead to predictive insights using analytics and human empathy. Is this driving businesses and making them use technology more effectively?

  • Panel 2: Transformation

    Topic: Is technology a challenge for innovation in traditional companies?
    Moderator: Mr R. Gopalakrishnan, Author and Corporate Advisor, Executive in Residence
    SPJIMR. The panel endeavoured to bring some clarity on the interplay between innovation and traditional companies and its enablement by technology.

  • Panel 3: Disruption

    Topic: Industry boundaries reshaping; Business models innovation with technology
    Moderator: Mr Vivek Sunder, COO, Swiggy
    The discussion focussed on start-ups and newer companies that are seen as hotbeds of innovation. News ideas spring from entrepreneur-led enterprises, and they are quick at the uptake of technology, like services innovation and supportability in an automatic and self-sustainable manner to transform business and dull the boundaries of sectors. Are they ready to participate in the next billion-dollar growth market?

  • Panel 4: Leadership

    Topic: Are leaders the drivers of innovation?
    Moderator: Former Dean Dr. Ranjan Banerjee, SPJIMR
    The panel discussed several dimensions of leadership impacting innovation. Leadership is crucial in driving change in companies, and great leaders anticipate the future and constantly innovate to survive and flourish. A tete-a-tete with the best in the business about the crucial role that leadership plays and it is really that great leaders set the culture of ideas and experimentation.

  • Social sector keynote address

    Mr. Sonam Wangchuk, Founding Director, Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh delivered the social sector keynote speech on the topic: How technology and innovation come together to create superior socially sound outcomes? He emphasised social innovation is important to find solutions that can address difficult societal challenges. Businesses can accelerate the change by collaborating, getting involved and sharing resources. The social sector can also lead the way for inclusive and sustainable business practices and how can technology play a role in this?

Gallery

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