Seminars & Workshops

The session aimed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of how SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis is a crucial tool for businesses to make informed decisions in today's dynamic marketing environments. The session was highly engaging and provided students with valuable insights into the world of marketing and strategic decision-making. The practical applications and real-world examples made the concepts easy to understand and apply.

The event's success can be attributed to the well-structured discussion, the expertise of the guest speaker, and the active participation of the audience. Attendees left with a deeper appreciation for the role of SWOT analysis in marketing and a renewed enthusiasm for applying these principles in their own professional pursuits.

The session was enlightening as Prof. Chakrabarti delivered a captivating presentation that shed light on the evolving landscape of Fintech and its profound impact on the financial sector. The session commenced with an overview of the Fintech ecosystem, highlighting key technological trends such as block chain, artificial intelligence, and digital payment systems. He emphasized on how these innovations are reshaping traditional financial services, enhancing efficiency, and democratizing access to financial resources.

Furthermore, he also explored the challenges and opportunities that Fintech presents. Regulatory considerations, data security, and the need for collaboration between start-ups and established financial institutions were discussed in depth. The session also delved into the global nature of Fintech and its role in driving financial inclusion across diverse economies.

Mr. Anirban Choudhury is an alumnus of St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata and has over 35 years of experience in the media industry as a journalist and reporter. Mr. Choudhury's session centered around the evolution of Indian journalism and navigating its dynamic landscape. Mr. Choudhury shared insightful anecdotes and experiences that vividly illustrated the industry's transformation over the years. The session proved to be both enlightening and interactive, as students actively engaged, seeking clarification, and posing queries. Mr. Choudhury's adept exploration of contemporary challenges, such as the digital revolution's impact provided a comprehensive understanding of the field's current state.

Paromita Chakravarti (D.Phil, Oxon.) is Professor of English, and has been the Director of the School of Women's Studies, Jadavpur University, Kolkata. She has led national and international projects on gender in textbooks, sex education, women's higher education, homeless women, HIV and women and single women.

Dr. Chakraborty deliberation focused on spreading awareness, understanding, and empathy regarding gender-related issues. The primary goal of the session was to raise awareness about the significance of gender sensitization in creating an inclusive and equitable society. The session aimed to facilitate a deeper understanding of the complex nature of gender identities and roles, emphasizing the need to respect and accept diverse gender expressions.

The key resource person of the event was Dr. Anup Kumar Sinha, Non- Executive Chairman of Bandhan Bank and Ex-IIM Calcutta Professor of Economics who shared his valuable insights on the same. The students during the discussion, have shared their views on areas like Infrastructure, Direct Tax, Healthcare, Fiscal Deficit, Subsidy, FMCG Industry, Capital Market, Research and Development and Innovation, non–tax Revenues and Indian Railways which are an integral part of the Budget 2021. Dr. Sinha then explained how Covid 19 had been a game changer for the global economy and how Budget 2021 was a very difficult call.

The key resource speaker of the event was Dr. Kallol Dutta, Joint Labour Commissioner. During his session, Sir has mentioned about the significance of Labour Laws. He also highlighted upon the labour rights in the Indian Constitution and the four codes of Labour Law. He said, “Labour Law exists so that employees are treated appropriately in work environments and their rights as an employee are protected”.

As a Xaverian, Mr. Chaudhuri shared the experience of his college days with our students. He mentioned how he used to manage both studies and cricket at the same time. He then also mentioned about the accident he had met and how he had to quit his cricketing career. He inspired the students by sharing his journey of recovery from that accident. The students really enjoyed the hour long session with a great personality like him.

His area of focus was Business Analytics. He discussed about various types of analytics and implications on Finance, Marketing and HR. Business He initiated by bringing in a vivid introduction of Business Analytics as a concept. He specified that Business Analytics is essentially about improving the existing data, securing them and making them available for future predictions. He cited that “Visual Analytics is the trend of the future”. There are great opportunities in this domain as very less number of experts are there in the market dealing with the same this day. Data and Models can help in creating bounded uncertainty. He also focussed that the age that we are living in is the data age. Challenges that we have to face as analysts are availability of too much of data. There are data quality challenges in the modern day viz.: dominant logic, bounded rationality, fear of mathematical complexity and analysis paralysis. He advised the young management students to be data savvy and beware of the technology as it is constantly updating in order to gain competitive edge. Despite large scale automation which is setting the future trend, he highlighted that human learning comes before machine learning. Thus the human factor is never redundant in this present era of data orientation as well.

Mr. Tangree started his session by sharing his inspiring journey from being a person who was always shy to talk in public to being called as the Radio Man for his effortless contribution to the Radio industry over the last few decades. He shared about his early days of struggles and how he came to be the present version of himself. Major part of the session was interaction with the students and Mr .Jimmy made sure that all the students were engaged in the discussion. His insights were exciting, engaging and enriching. He focused on the importance of public speaking, the proper way to conduct oneself while speaking, and the various ways one can overcome their fear of speaking out in public.

The aim of the event was to highlight the crucial role that effective leadership plays in the business world and to provide insights to incoming MBA students on developing their leadership skills to succeed in their careers. The speaker emphasized the evolving nature of leadership in the modern business landscape and shared personal anecdotes to illustrate the impact of leadership on organizational success. Emphasis was given on the importance of adaptability, innovation, and ethical decision making as key attributes of effective leadership. The session provided students with a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted aspects of leadership and equipped them with the tools to develop and refine their leadership skills. It served as a foundation for students' academic journey and professional growth, ensuring they are well-prepared to become impactful leaders in their chosen fields.

The key resource speaker of the event was Dr. Anil Kumar Misra, CHRO - Magic Bricks. During the session, Sir has explained how employees can become good in the sense of alignment of thoughts, learnability, consistence level of high performance and in terms of aptitude. They are the true assets. “To skill oneself, one must be consistent” he said.

The event was moderated by Dr. Soma Sur, Sr. Professor of Marketing. The Resource Persons for the event included Rev. Fr. J. Felix Raj, Vice Chancellor, St. Xavier’s University Kolkata, Mr. Partha Ray, Professor, IIM Calcutta and Mr. Roopen Roy, Founder and CEO, Sumantrana Management.

Rev. Fr. J. Felix Raj described COVID 19 as a Socio-economic tragedy highlighting how all economies in the world have contracted, GDPs have collapsed and the emergence of a reduced global demand for any consumption. Mr. Roopen Roy discussed how different countries of the world are tackling the current scenario. He emphasized on the need for organizations to invest in infrastructure to increase the productivity of employees. Mr. Partha Ray gave us insights pertaining to the effects of COVID 19 on the Global and Indian Economy bringing to the forefront how the stock markets were adversely affected as a consequence of the lockdown.

He enlightened the students about the opportunities available if he/she decides to pursue finance as the specialization. He very well described the sectors and the markets that one can get their dream jobs in. He believed in identifying the strength within in order to comprehend which arena of finance would perfectly suit his/her capabilities. Exploring the arenas and gathering knowledge about such areas is the very first step towards understanding one's strength. He supported the idea of increasing the financial literacy in the country and identifying the pros and cons of the global markets. One has to increase the porosity of the mind-set to help administer the teams better. Towards the end, he asked the students to be determined and focused with the decision he/she undertakes and work hard towards achieving their ambition.

During the session, Mr. Chakraborty spoke about what Big Data is, how Big Data and Data Mining coincide with each other and how it will be helpful in the long run. He also enlightened the students about the advantages and disadvantages of Big Data and the affects of it on Business and Strategic Decisions.

He enlightened the students with how they should accept change, focus on our current roles and be adaptive as well, in order to be successful. He also provided the students with some tips and guidance to cope up with the dynamic environment. Major take away from the seminar was to “Let us accept change as it is, because that’s the only constant in our lives”

Basic concepts of data visualization, including charts, graphs, and dashboards, were covered to provide students with a foundational understanding. Hands-on sessions were conducted to familiarize participants with Power BI's interface and functionalities. Prof. Arghya Ray guided students through the creation of complex reports, interactive visualizations, and data modeling techniques. Practical exercises and case studies were incorporated to facilitate active learning and real-world application.

The workshop proved to be highly beneficial for the students, providing them with valuable insights and practical skills in data analytics. Prof. Ray's expertise and interactive teaching approach contributed to the success of the workshop, empowering students to leverage Power BI effectively in their future endeavors.

Case study-based teaching is an integral part of the teaching learning process at Xavier Business School and hence this workshop was organized to give the students a basic understanding on the strategies to approach a case study. The session commenced with an overview of the case study approach, highlighting its relevance across diverse fields. Through interactive discussions, attendees dissected the intricate case of Domino’s, identifying key issues and formulating strategic solutions. The session was a comprehensive exploration of analytical problem-solving. Participants delved into real world scenarios, honing their critical thinking and decision-making skills.

Prof. Basu introduced various frameworks, equipping participants with versatile problem solving tools. Attendees navigated complexities, weighing pros and cons, and justifying their solutions. The session illuminated the iterative nature of case study analysis, emphasizing learning through mistakes. Participants left with enhanced problem solving acumen, ready to apply these insights to challenges in academia and professional spheres.

Dr. Chatterjee shared her expertise in design thinking methodologies and guided participants through various activities. She shed light on the critical role of Smart sensors in both technological and medical realms, while also sharing insightful information from her research on biomedical devices and their impact on the public. Case studies and examples showcasing how design thinking can drive innovation and create value for businesses and organizations were shown to the students.

The workshop was a resounding success, empowering MBA students with valuable skills and insights in design thinking. By fostering a user-centric approach, creativity, and innovation, the workshop equipped participants with tools they can apply to future business challenges, making them more competitive and adaptable in today's dynamic business landscape.

The session was focused on how to solve a case study in an efficient manner and which can inspire young minds for their upcoming future.

Mr. Vikash Goel adeptly delved into the art of conquering stage fright, offering valuable techniques to mitigate nervousness and bolster confidence while addressing an audience. He also highlighted on the do’s and don’ts of delivering a good presentation. Alongside discussing about the tricks of preparing a good presentation, he also guided the students on the other aspect of delivering a presentation which includes key areas dress code, gestures, voice modulation, content delivery etc. Mr. Goel also emphasized the importance of adeptly fielding questions, providing attendees with strategies to handle queries with poise and grace.

On Day 1, Mr. Goel talked about different skills and strategies that a fresher must apply while both drafting a Curriculum Vitae as well as facing the interview board. In speaking about the same he mentioned the quintessential features that a fresher must keep in mind before taking the first dive into the job hunting phase.

On Day 2, Mr. Goel took the students on a virtual tour of what professional Curriculum Vitae should look like and shared some valuable inputs about communication skills that one needs to stand out in the professional domain. Lastly, he ended the workshop by leaving the students with some real life scenarios and how as a professional one should deal with it in the given situations.

Mr. Goel, from his experiences, shared the tips and tricks that are to be followed to be a ‘good presenter’ and how we can make it appealing and eye-engaging for the audience. He also emphasized on the phrase - ‘Practicing is the key’ and we can only master ourselves through deliberate practice.