Industry Leaders, NGOs, and Academics Join Forces to Discuss Sustainability and Social Impact
the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore’s social responsibility initiative Prayaas hosted the groundbreaking summit “Sustainable Synergies – Shaping the Future Together.” This landmark event united changemakers from diverse sectors, including NGOs, government agencies, academia, and industry leaders, to foster dialogue, share insights, and showcase pioneering work in sustainability and social impact.
The summit kicked off with Prof. Rishikesha T Krishnan, Director of IIMB, and Prof. Ashok Thampy, Chairperson of the Executive Post Graduate Programme in Management, welcoming the attendees. The keynote address, delivered by Padma Bhushan awardee D R Mehta, former Chairman of SEBI and founder of Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS), captivated the audience with his insights on “Empowering Lives through Sustainable Innovation: The Jaipur Foot Journey.” Dr. Mehta shared the incredible 49-year journey of BMVSS, highlighting the challenges overcome and the impact created, including donating over 92,000 prosthetic limbs and callipers annually, with a goal of reaching 125,000 units per year in the coming years.
The day unfolded with engaging panel discussions featuring prominent figures. The Corporate CSR Heads Panel Discussion, moderated by Prof. Padmini Srinivasan, Chairperson of the Centre for Corporate Governance & Sustainability at IIMB, explored “Sustainable Synergies: Navigating CSR in the Era of Global Challenges.” Renowned industry leaders like Anuj Srivastava of HCLTech Grant by HCL Foundation, Abhishek R of Brillio, Sakina Baker of Bosch Limited and Bosch India Foundation, and Arjun Ranga of Cycle Pure Agarbathi India and NR Foundation Trust, shared their perspectives and strategies for navigating the complexities of corporate social responsibility in today’s global landscape.
Next, the NGOs Panel Discussion, moderated by Prof. Prateek Raj of IIMB’s Strategy area, focused on “Sustainability as a Service: NGOs Driving Community-led Solutions.” Prominent NGO leaders like Kadali Anand Kumar of Annapoorna Trust, Benjamin Mathew of Deshpande Foundation, Prof. Amit Prakash of Vision Empower Trust, and Shrishail Dhanawade of Agastya International Foundation, highlighted the crucial role of NGOs in driving sustainable solutions through community-based initiatives.
The summit also featured compelling speaker sessions. Paresh Mohan and Manisha Khemani of Biocon Foundation, Gautam Kathuria of Zomato, Pallabi Ghosh of Impact and Dialogue Foundation, and Nagaraja Prakasam, a renowned social startup mentor and investor, participated in a session titled “Future Forward: Pitching for a Sustainable World,” showcasing innovative ideas and initiatives for a greener future.
Furthermore, author and entrepreneur Vivek Wadhwa delivered an inspiring talk on “Opportunities to solve humanity’s grand challenges,” urging participants to leverage their collective knowledge and resources to tackle pressing global issues.
An Expert Panel Discussion on “Empowering Change: How NGOs and CSR can Co-create Sustainable Solutions” followed, featuring Aakash Sethi of QUEST Alliance, Viswanaathan R of Landmark Group, Shankar A G of Swasti Health Catalyst, and Sagar Sanjay Shinde of Alstom. Moderated by Arun Nathan of Sattva Consulting, the discussion explored effective ways for NGOs and CSR initiatives to collaborate and create impactful solutions.
The summit culminated in an Awards and Recognition ceremony, where NGOs like Bhumi and Parivahan were celebrated for their groundbreaking work in sustainability. Prof. Ashok Thampy and the Prayaas Committee of EPGP delivered the closing remarks, expressing gratitude to all participants and reiterating the summit’s call to action for collective action towards a more sustainable future.
“Sustainable Synergies – Shaping the Future Together” proved to be a resounding success, bringing together diverse voices and fostering meaningful dialogue on critical sustainability challenges. The summit’s impact will undoubtedly ripple through various sectors, inspiring and equipping participants to contribute to a more sustainable and equitable world.