PES University hosted the Young Leaders Summit: 40 Under 40, celebrating leadership, innovation, and the evolving role of young professionals. The summit that brought together influential leaders across various domains to inspire students on their career paths and leadership journeys was inaugurated by Dr. Shailashree Haridas. The summit featured esteemed speakers sharing expertise on leadership and industry trends. Mr. Akshay Sarma, CFO, AXIO, spoke on Disruptive Innovation and Leadership in the Modern Era, stressing simplicity in innovation, questioning the status quo, and continuous learning. Ms. Pallavi Kar, HR, AVP, highlighted the importance of fostering creativity in organizations. A panel discussion on Industry Trends: The Future of Work and Young Leaders featured experts Sunil Kamath, HRBP, Microsoft; Dr. Vibhuti Agarwal, Analytics and Product leader, Innovaccer; Aparna Krishnamurthy, Growth and marketing leader, Akamai Technologies, and Akshay Sarma, CFO, AXIO, moderated by Mr. Nayan Sharma, Associate Vice President, Kotak Mahindra Bank. The discussions focused on adaptability and evolving roles in a rapidly changing job market. Subsequent keynotes included Ms. Meghana Rao, HR, GCC and Consulting, ANSR, on Transforming Challenges into Opportunities, Mr. Karthik Hariharan, Senior Vice President, AXIO, on Leveraging Technology for Sustainability, and Mr. Aravind S, Chief of Staff, Office of Tejasvi Surya, on Adaptability and Lifelong Learning in Leadership.
The event concluded with a candid conversation between Mr. Taha Zaidi, Founder, Hear It Out, and Mr. Ravi Kiran Gopal, Founder, Swasthya Warriors Pvt Ltd, discussing Navigating Leadership Challenges and Driving Innovation. The second day featured insightful discussions on leadership and workplace inclusivity. Mr. Aditya Basu, Head - CX Strategy and Advisory, Customer Experience at Adobe, speaking on Emerging Global Trends and Their Implications for Young Leaders emphasized the importance of fundamentals in strategy and key skills for modern corporate success. Ms. Madhushri Verma, Head of Strategic Communications & PR at MPOWER Financing, spoke on Purpose-Driven Leadership in Shaping the Future, highlighting the need for value-driven leadership and long-term vision. Ms. Surabhi Hodigere, BJP Spokesperson and Public Policy Expert, addressed Empowering Youth and Women in Leadership, sharing insights on confidence-building and inclusivity at the grassroots level. A panel discussion on Fostering a Resilient and Inclusive Workplace included industry experts Divya Narayan, Communications Strategy Consultant; Gaurav Datta, Managing Director, Rheya Chemy and Founder, Retailance India; Anju Jayaram, Associate Vice President, Miles Education; and Chandan Perla, Co-Founder, Podcast Circle. The session was moderated by Avinash Settipalli, Manager - Leadership Development, KPMG.
The discussion focused on authenticity, psychological safety, and amplifying diverse voices in the workplace. Anjali Ramakrishna, Team Lead and Process Scientist at Biocon Biologics R and D, delivered the keynote on Women in Leadership: Breaking Barriers and Shaping the Future." She emphasized the importance of mentorship and subject matter expertise, urging professionals to cultivate confidence and mastery in their respective fields. She concluded with the impactful statement, Women belong in all places where decisions are made. Sanghamitra Boreddy, Senior HR Manager at Amentum, spoke on Building Future-Ready Organizations: A Leader’s Perspective. She highlighted the critical need for adaptability, strategic foresight, and resilience in navigating uncertainty. Noting that only 25% of organizations are truly future-ready, she emphasized agility and vision-driven leadership. Drawing from her experience as an army veteran, she underscored the importance of learning through failure, encapsulated in the phrase: "Fail fast, learn fast. The fireside chat brought together Vismaya MN, Founder and Director, The Orange Heart; Pranav Koomar, Founder, Plus-Cash, and Aanavi Dewan, Marketing Lead, Titan, who moderated the discussion.
The conversation centered around Leadership Lessons and Personal Anecdotes from Industry Disruptors.The speakers reflected on the power of clarity in setting goals, creating scalable impact, and aligning with individuals whose values resonate with one’s own. The discussion also touched on the significance of soft skills such as communication, customer-centricity, and a proactive mindset in driving innovation. The session concluded with a poignant takeaway: People will never be hired for skills alone, but for the attitude they possess. The summit reaffirmed that future-ready leadership is built on adaptability, strategic insight, and a commitment to continuous learning. As industries evolve, fostering resilient, inclusive, and visionary leadership will be instrumental in shaping sustainable and high-impact organizations. The Young Leaders Summit was organized by the Faculty of Management and Commerce, and Center of Excellence in Learning and Development at RR campus on February 12, 2025.
