AAXISS Kolkata Chapter organised panel discussion on ‘Digital Transformation’ and ‘Diversity and Inclusion’ during the Alumni Reunion

Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS) and Alumni Association of XISS (AAXISS) Alumni Reunion, Kolkata Chapter was held on 15 October 2022 at Polo Flotel, Kolkata. It was yet another great celebration of the legacy that the institute cherishes and the ‘Professionals with difference’ it has nurtured over the years.

The event was attended by as many as 60 Alumni from various batches and programmes of XISS including stalwarts from the corporate like Ms Ratna Sinha (VP – HR, Tata Metaliks), Mr Biswajit Chatterjee (Head PMO – TCS), Mr Nadeem Kazim (CEO of Splice HR Works) among many others. The event was hosted by Ms Sweta Sinha, Executive Director to MD at Tata Metaliks.

The event began by taking the distinguished alumni down the memory lane by showing a small clip of their alma mater. Further, everyone shared their experiences at the campus amidst nostalgia. AAXISS Kolkata Chapter felicitated Ms Madhumita Roy, AVP – L&D at Medica Superspeciality Hospital with a special recognition award for her reaching out to the XISS alumni during the covid crisis, when she also facilitated vaccination drives for all of them. AAXISS Kolkata Chapter also conducted two panel discussions first on Digital Transformation with Mr Shiladitya Bhattacharya, Managing Partner at Positive Strokes as the moderator. The panel comprised of Mr Vivek Shrivastava, Regional Head at Global Insurance Brokers Pvt. Limited, Ms Sweta Sinha, Executive Director to MD at Tata Metaliks, Mr Kunal Karan, Associate Director at AB INBEV, Ms Shamita Nandi, Manager at Texmaco, and Mr Samar Banerjee, CHRO of Star Cement. The panelists spoke on the ways the human resource and digital transformation have overlapped boundaries and the latter can help the former focus on strategy by digitally facilitating the mundane administrative tasks. By citing examples, the also explained how creativity can adversely be affected by digital transformation and it will take a competent HR to balance both.

The second panel discussion was on Diversity and Inclusion, moderated by Mr Karan Lakhani, CHRO at Tata Downstream Ltd. The distinguished panel comprised of Mr Aamil Kazim, Sr. HRBP at Cipla, Mrs Nishi Shrivastava, DGM BHR East at Tata Motors, Dr Ratna Sinha, VP HRM at Tata Metaliks, and Ms Madhurima Bannerjee, Regional HR Manager East at Pernod Ricard. Each panelist spoke from their experience and how they have ensured equity in diversity and inclusion, how they have failed in their endeavor and managed to maintain an all-inclusive diverse workforce.

AAXISS awarded the senior alumni of on / before ’87 for their contribution in XISS legacy by making a space for themselves in the corporate world and were felicitated by Dr Shyamal Gomes, Head, Human Resource Management Programme and Dr Pinaki Ghosh, Associate Professor, Marketing Management Programme. The eminent professors also expressed their gratitude to the association and the congratulated the alumni for keeping the XISS flag soaring high. The Institute under the guidance of Dr Shyamal Gomes presented few Alumni with a token of appreciation for helping the students in making the Kolkata Industrial tour a success. The event ended on a fun and friendly note with Mr Shiladitya Bhattacharya, Managing Partner at Positive Strokes hosting a quiz with the attendees on varied topics like Music, Entertainment, Human Resource, and many more. The event helped the students in networking with senior alumni and help strengthen the corporate and academic bond of the Institute