Announcements

Five participants from S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR) secured first place at the NextGen Business and Human Rights: Youth Innovation Hackathon, held as part of the United Nations Responsible Business and Human Rights Forum (UNRBHR) in Bangkok, Thailand, from September 16–17.

The winning team — Namita Puri, Romil Nisar, Pragya Priyou, Mayank Jadhav, and Stuti Joshi from PGPM batch 21 — won under ‘Theme 4: Technology and Human Rights’.

Their innovative solution tackled the struggles of gig workers in the platform economy, highlighting critical challenges such as income insecurity, lack of social benefits, and data privacy risks. The team proposed the ‘Fair Share Initiative’, a practical, commercially viable model that balances human rights considerations while ensuring platform sustainability.

Reflecting on the achievement, participant Stuti Joshi said: “Representing India at the UNRBHR was a dream come true. The experience of being at the UN was surreal — the atmosphere was inclusive, inspiring, and approachable, making us feel part of a global community striving for positive change. It reinforced my passion for HR and people-centric solutions, and showed me how business and human rights can come together to create meaningful impact. This win is deeply personal, aligning with my passion for HR and people-focused solutions. It reaffirms my commitment to working at the intersection of business, people, and human rights, and strengthens my belief in building solutions with people at the core.”

Co-organised by UNDP, this year’s Forum centred on the theme ‘Anchoring Progress and Strengthening Regional Leadership on Human Rights through Crisis’, and convened voices of key players including investors, civil society, human rights defenders, persons with lived experience, Indigenous Peoples, academics, youth, and trade unions.

Judges commended the SPJIMR team for presenting actionable ideas that balance business functionality with human rights imperatives — a hallmark of wise innovation in practice.

Competing against 20 teams and over 90 participants from across the Asia-Pacific region, SPJIMR stood out as the sole representative from India. The team credited their success to SPJIMR faculty support, with mentoring from Prof. Tanvi Mankodi and guidance from Prof. Anshul Verma and Prof. Amol Dhaigude, who enabled the participants to compete at this international forum.

Securing first position at such a significant international forum marks a milestone for Indian management education, underscoring SPJIMR’s mission to develop leaders who blend professional excellence with social consciousness.