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SDA Bocconi Asia Center

Research, rethink, reimagine. SDA Bocconi School of Management, Italy, has been a leading institution in management training for over 50 years.

SDA Bocconi Asia Center is a pan-Asian hub in Mumbai that has been delivering Executive Education and Postgraduate Programs designed and implemented by SDA Bocconi School of Management, Italy, since 2012. The center strives to disseminate innovative business knowledge to contribute to the holistic development of individuals and organizations. It offers a unique approach by promoting knowledge thro

ugh SDA Bocconi School of Management’s industry-relevant research and teaching. SDA Bocconi Asia Center leverages SDA Bocconi’s expertise and excellence in design, branding, innovation, and entrepreneurship to build soft and managerial skills, sharing best practices across borders to empower individuals. The school’s mission is to help individuals, companies, and institutions grow by promoting managerial culture, knowledge, and innovation. MBA Programs, Executive and Specialized Masters, Executive Programs, Custom Programs, Applied Research, Research Labs, and Knowledge Centers all contribute to a wide range of offerings aimed at professionals from all over the world and across all sectors of the economy. SDA Bocconi is among the leading business schools in Europe and is one of the few to have gained the prestigious “triple crown” accreditation: EQUIS, AMBA, and AACSB — placing it among the elite business schools worldwide.

14/03/2026

Milan Exchange: Learning Beyond Borders

A four-month academic exchange in Milan at the SDA Bocconi School of Management is a defining part of the International Master in Business (IMB) journey at SDA Bocconi Asia Center, offering students the opportunity to immerse themselves in a truly global academic environment.

For the IMB (13th Edition) cohort, this semester in Milan formed a key milestone in their program journey. During their time on campus, students engaged in advanced coursework, case-based discussions, and collaborative projects that brought European business contexts, global strategy, and innovation-driven decision-making into focus.

Beyond the classroom, Milan itself became an extension of the learning experience. Visits to renowned luxury houses, flagship retail spaces, and industry hubs offered firsthand insights into how heritage, craftsmanship, and strategy intersect within the global luxury ecosystem.

Living independently in a new country further strengthened adaptability, cultural awareness, and confidence, skills essential for future global leaders.
More than an exchange, the Milan semester represents perspective, independence, and growth, reinforcing the global outlook that defines the IMB journey at SDA Bocconi Asia Center

10/03/2026

Craft, Consciousness & Carbon: The Future of Responsible Luxury

As part of the Leadership Summit 2026, Panel 12 explored how luxury is being redefined through sustainability, responsible sourcing, craftsmanship, and measurable environmental impact. The discussion examined how brands can balance desirability, scalability, and profitability while responding to the rising expectations of conscious consumers.

Bringing together leaders from luxury beauty, automotive finance, jewellery, media, and retail, the panel offered a powerful cross-industry lens on responsible value creation. From refillable beauty formats and traceable diamonds to electric mobility and green financing models, the conversation underscored that sustainability in luxury is no longer aspirational; it is strategic.

Moderator: Shruthi Sharma – Marketing Manager, Novo Nordisk (Class of 2019)

Panelists:
Saurabh Joshi – Head, Retail & Corporate Credit, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services India
Sonia Kapoor – Former CBO, Condé Nast
Anupam Mawandia – CEO, Sunjewels Private Limited
Surabhi Batra- Ex-CGO, L'Oréal Luxe
Ayush Khandelia – Country GM, Sephora

Key Discussion Highlights
🔹Redefining Luxury: Luxury is shifting to responsibility, transparency, and environmental consciousness, with consumers increasingly questioning impact alongside aspiration.
🔹Craftsmanship as Circularity: Longevity, durability, ethical sourcing, and technology-enabled efficiency position craftsmanship as a core pillar of sustainable luxury.
🔹From Storytelling to Metrics: Carbon emissions, take-back rates, reusable packaging, and sourcing benchmarks are replacing soft commitments with measurable accountability.
🔹Collaboration & Consumer Education: Cross-industry partnerships, supply chain traceability, and simple, transparent communication are essential to scaling responsible luxury.

The discussion concluded that responsible luxury is not a passing trend but a structural transformation. Brands that integrate sustainability into product design, sourcing, finance, operations, and communication will shape the next era of conscious consumption.

10/03/2026

The Future of Operations: Growth, Green Mandates & the New Consumer

As part of SDA Bocconi Asia Center, Panel 11 explored how evolving consumer expectations, regulatory green mandates, and geopolitical shifts are redefining operational strategy. The discussion examined how organizations can balance profitability, compliance, and purpose while future-proofing supply chains for a low-carbon economy.

Bringing together leaders from energy, metals, recycling, mobility, and large-scale manufacturing, the panel reflected diverse operational realities across B2B and B2C ecosystems.

Moderator: Raunak Kapoor – Deputy General Manager, JSW One Platforms Ltd.

Panelists:
Sumit Mittal – CEO, JSW Greentech Limited
Ajay Singh – Chief Supply Chain Officer & VP, Hindustan Platinum
Kush Giramkar – President (Operations, Procurement & Projects), GRP Ltd
Smriti P. Parekh – CFO & VP (Corporate Affairs), TotalEnergies Marketing India

Key Discussion Highlights
🔹Sustainability as Strategy: Green mandates are shifting from compliance obligations to sources of competitive advantage, influencing sourcing, manufacturing, and capital allocation decisions.
🔹Finance & Supply Chain Integration: Supplier sustainability scorecards, traceability, and long-term partnerships are critical to mitigating regulatory and reputational risks.
🔹Green Mobility & Technology: Electric mobility, predictive analytics, and access to green finance are accelerating operational efficiency and carbon reduction.
🔹Circularity & Global Competitiveness: Recycling, renewable energy adoption, and low-impact manufacturing directly enhance eligibility for global B2B contracts and stakeholder trust.

The discussion concluded that operational excellence today extends beyond cost optimization to long-term value creation. Organizations that decarbonize while scaling, embed circularity into supply chains, and convert regulatory mandates into innovation opportunities will define industry leadership in the coming decade. For students, the session reinforced that sustainability is not a constraint on growth but a catalyst for it.

09/03/2026

Turning Constraints into Competitive Advantage: The Consultant’s Role in Ethical & Sustainable Scale

As part of the Leadership Summit 2026, Panel 10 examined how organizations can convert regulatory, operational, technological, and ethical constraints into sources of competitive advantage.

The discussion explored how consultants enable responsible scaling by combining strategy with ex*****on, governance, and long-term value creation. Bringing together leaders from consulting, banking, energy & commodities, and sports-tech, the panel offered a cross-industry view on navigating complexity. The conversation highlighted how boardroom priorities are shifting to resilience, risk management, and stakeholder-centric growth, positioning consultants as critical partners in transformation.

Moderator: Ovya RK – Manager at Strategy& (IMB Class of 2019)

Panelists:
Ashish Mittal – Director, Consulting (Energy & Commodities), Crisil Limited
Abhijit Dey – Senior Vice President, Axis Bank
Piyush S. – Chief Operating Officer, JQR Sports®
Vikesh Doshi – Principal, ZS Associates
Bitan Datta – Partner, Oliver Wyman

Key Discussion Highlights
🔹Regulation as a Growth Catalyst: Policy and structural reforms, such as in energy markets, can unlock efficiency and competition when leveraged strategically.
🔹AI: From Hype to Responsible Scale: Successful AI adoption demands governance, accountability, and realistic expectations beyond experimentation.
🔹Data-Driven Scaling: Moving from intuition-led decisions to analytics-driven experimentation enables disciplined, sustainable growth.
🔹Consultants as Ex*****on Partners: The consultant’s role is expanding to hands-on ex*****on, cross-industry insight application, and embedding governance frameworks.

The discussion concluded that organizations that reframe limitations as strategic levers are better positioned to build resilient, ethical, and scalable business models in uncertain environments. The future consultant must combine strategic thinking with ex*****on capability, ethical judgment, and the ability to scale innovation across industries.

09/03/2026

The Role of HR in Circular & Regenerative Economies

As part of the Leadership Summit 2026, Panel 9 explored how Human Resources can move from a support function to a strategic driver in enabling circular and regenerative economic models.

The discussion focused on translating sustainability intent into real workforce transformation through culture, skills, governance, and long-term people systems.

Bringing together senior HR leaders from fintech, consumer tech, and financial services, the panel reflected diverse organizational contexts and maturity levels in sustainability journeys. From high-growth startups to established enterprises, the conversation underscored that the transition to circular and regenerative economies is ultimately a people transformation challenge, not just an operational one.

Moderator: Dr George K J - Director of Learning and Development, SDA Bocconi Asia Center

Panelists:
Solomon Devavaram – Senior Director Global Talent Acquisition Head, Critical River Inc.
Kapil Vardhan – CHRO, Mensa Brands
Debashree Lad – Chief People Officer, CredAble

Key Discussion Highlights:
🔹HR as a Strategic Enabler: HR must lead the shift toward circular and regenerative models by embedding sustainability into values, policies, and leadership behaviors.
🔹Culture as the Core Lever: Mindset change, role-modelling by leaders, and reinforcement through performance and rewards are critical to making circularity stick.
🔹Skills for a Regenerative Future: Sustainability literacy, future-ready skills, and hiring for values alignment are essential to close capability gaps.
🔹Metrics, Accountability & Governance: Moving from activity-based reporting to impact-based people KPIs, supported by HR analytics and strong leadership governance, is key to long-term credibility.

The discussion concluded that organizations that build regenerative business models must first build regenerative people systems, with HR at the center of this transformation. For students, the session offered a powerful insight: sustainability careers are not limited to ESG or CSR roles.

09/03/2026

Keynote Address | Leadership in the Age of Intelligent Transformation

Mr. Neeraj Sharma, Managing Director at Accenture, delivered a forward-looking keynote at the Leadership Summit 2026. With over two decades of global consulting experience, he explored how leaders must respond to accelerating technological disruption while ensuring responsible and sustainable growth.

Framing his address around the realities of exponential change, Mr. Sharma emphasized that disruption is continuous and structural, not a one-time event. Leaders, therefore, must constantly reassess shifting profit pools, evolving customer value signals, and the strategic implications of AI-driven transformation.

Key Highlights:
🔹The Acceleration of Disruption: Through the Kondratieff cycle, the session illustrated how waves of innovation-driven growth are shortening, requiring greater agility and adaptability.
🔹Shifting Profit Pools: From Kodak’s missed digital pivot to the Concorde’s misread value signal, success lies in identifying where value migrates, not merely pursuing innovation.
🔹The Inverted Marketing Funnel: Growth today progresses from niche differentiation (1x) to digital amplification (10x), adjacency expansion (100x), and finally scaled commercialization (1000x).
🔹Technology’s Dual Mandate: Data, analytics, and AI are powerful growth drivers, but their deployment must be governed by ethics, accountability, and sustainability.
🔹India’s Strategic Opportunity: A digitally connected population presents immense potential, provided leadership invests in upskilling and responsible governance frameworks.

💡 "Strategy is rarely about choosing the single right answer, leadership is defined by how decisively and responsibly you act after making the choice."

The keynote reinforced that intelligent transformation demands more than innovation. It requires judgment, contextual awareness, and principled ex*****on. As disruption accelerates, leaders who balance ambition with governance will shape resilient, future-ready institutions.

07/03/2026

Who Shapes Public Opinion: Brands, Platforms, or Algorithms?

As part of the Leadership Summit 2026, Panel 8 unpacked a defining question of our digital age: who truly influences public opinion in an ecosystem shaped by brands, platforms, and algorithms?

The discussion explored trust, data governance, transparency, ethical innovation, and the responsibility of leaders in shaping credible digital narratives in India’s rapidly evolving digital economy.

Bringing together leaders from fintech, telecom, AI, digital platforms, travel-tech, and performance marketing, the panel reflected a rich diversity of perspectives. From scale-driven platforms to mission-led AI initiatives and consumer-facing brands, the conversation highlighted how influence today is co-created across ecosystems, not owned by any single stakeholder.

Moderator: Kritika Singhania – Head of Marketing, BharatGen (Class of 2019)

Panelists:
Pankaj Bansal – CBO, BankBazaar
Amita Sagar – Head of Brand Marketing, National Payments Corporation Of India (NPCI)
Rachit Gupta – Founder, Bharat AI Mission (IEMB Class of 2026)
Monalisa Sahoo – CMO, Jio
Aviral Gupta – CEO, Zostel
Shagufta D.– Head of Marketing, OptimizeGEO

Key Discussion Highlights
🔹Trust Over Algorithms: Algorithmic reach may drive visibility, but long-term influence is built on audience trust, authenticity, and cultural relevance.
🔹Data, Consent & Governance: Informed consent, transparent data usage, and compliance with evolving regulations like India’s DPDP Act are critical to sustaining digital credibility.
🔹Shared Responsibility: Platforms, brands, regulators, and consumers jointly shape ethical digital ecosystems, with fintech cited as a benchmark for regulatory transparency.
🔹AI, Discovery & Bias: AI is democratizing brand discovery and innovation, but leaders must actively address bias, fairness, and ethical deployment.

The discussion concluded that while platforms and algorithms shape what people see, it is trust, authenticity, and responsible leadership that shape what people believe.

07/03/2026

The End of Intuition? Leadership in a World of Predictive Analysis

As part of the Leadership Summit 2026, Panel 7 explored how predictive analytics is reshaping leadership decision-making across industries. Aligned with the summit’s theme of Leadership in the Age of Intelligent Transformation, the discussion examined whether data-driven systems replace intuition or refine it.

Bringing together leaders across risk, technology, FMCG, consulting, telecom, HR transformation, and finance, the panel reflected a cross-sector perspective on algorithmic decision-making. The conversation emphasized that while predictive systems enhance precision and scale, leadership accountability, ethical judgment, and contextual interpretation remain inherently human responsibilities.

Moderator: Subhajyoti Majumder – Water Resource Manager, AWS (IEMB Class of 2026)

Panelists:
Narasimha Murthy – Chief Risk Officer, John Deere Financial India
Mukesh Jain – CTO & Executive VP, Capgemini
Pallav Abhishek – Deputy Director, PepsiCo
Allen Titto – Managing Partner, ZS Associates
Pradeep MP – Director, Product Program Management (Global Delivery), Tecnotree Corporation
Heena Bhagat – Global HR, NielsenIQ
Naresh Kumar Chitlangia – CFO, Tasty Bite Eatables Ltd

Key Discussion Highlights
🔹Human bias often transfers into AI systems, biased inputs can generate biased outputs.
🔹In high-stakes sectors such as healthcare and finance, predictive accuracy must approach near-perfection.
🔹Data quality constraints in emerging markets require contextual understanding and judgment.
🔹AI can automate analysis, but interpretation, accountability, and ethical responsibility remain human-led.

The discussion concluded that AI amplifies leadership; it does not replace it. The future lies in synergy between algorithmic precision and human intuition, especially in navigating uncertainty and macroeconomic volatility.

For students, the session reinforced that future leadership demands both data fluency and ethical clarity. The most effective leaders will be those who translate predictive insight into responsible strategic action.

05/03/2026

Sustainable Organization Cultures: The Role of HR in ESG

As part of the SDA Bocconi Asia Center Leadership Summit 2026, Panel 6 explored how sustainability must move beyond disclosure frameworks into everyday organizational behavior. Aligned with the summit’s theme of Leadership in the Age of Intelligent Transformation, the discussion examined how HR leaders can shift ESG from a compliance-driven mandate to a deeply embedded cultural system.

Bringing together HR leaders across manufacturing, financial services, chemicals, and FMCG sectors, the panel reflected diverse industry perspectives on governance, equity, and performance systems. The conversation underscored that sustainable transformation is not achieved through reporting alone, it is institutionalized through incentives, accountability, and leadership modeling.

Moderator: Aditi Gupta – Talent Development, Varroc Bocconi alumna from Class of 2014

Panelists:
Naresh Kumar Pinisetti – President, HR & Governance, Deepak Fertilisers
Manoj Kumar Chaudhary – CHRO, Edelweiss Asset Management Limited
Sunder Natarajan, CFIRM – CHRO, IndiaFirst Life
Natasha Raj – Head HR & CSR, Credila Financial Services Limited

Key Discussion Highlights
🔹ESG must evolve from reporting obligations to measurable behavioral integration within leadership systems.
🔹What gets measured and rewarded gets implemented, leadership scorecards must reflect sustainability priorities.
🔹Equity, fairness, and access are central to the social pillar, extending beyond diversity metrics.
🔹Psychological safety and employee voice are leading indicators of ESG maturity and ethical culture.

The discussion concluded that ESG becomes real only when embedded in systems, incentives, and leadership conduct. Sustainable culture is not built through policy declarations, it is built through structural alignment and consistent role modelling.

For students, the session highlighted that future leadership requires aligning people strategy with purpose. Culture, incentives, and accountability mechanisms will define whether sustainability commitments endure.

05/03/2026

Green Finance or Greenwashing? The Truth About ESG Investing

As part of the Leadership Summit 2026, Panel 5 examined whether ESG investing is driving meaningful environmental and social impact or merely serving as a branding narrative. Aligned with the summit’s theme, the discussion explored how financial institutions and corporates are responding to rising regulatory scrutiny, investor expectations, and transparency demands.

Bringing together leaders across global banking, asset management, fintech, and corporate finance, the panel reflected a diverse financial ecosystem perspective. The conversation underscored that ESG credibility is measured through governance rigor, capital discipline, and demonstrable outcomes.

Moderator: Akshay Biyani– Management Consulting, KPMG India (IMB Class of 2021)

Panelists:
Nitin Madan – CFO, International Bank
Vishnu Subrahmanyan – Associate Director, Fidelity International
Sandeep Ghule – Co-Founder, Credilio
Dhirajj Choraria – Finance Director & CFO, RSA Security

Key Discussion Highlights
🔹ESG has transitioned from narrative-driven reporting to measurable accountability and governance integration.
🔹Green finance requires credible data, embedded risk assessment, and long-term capital alignment.
🔹Weak metrics and vague disclosures remain the primary drivers of greenwashing.
🔹Financial institutions play a decisive role by integrating ESG into credit evaluation and investment decision frameworks.

The discussion concluded that ESG is not inherently greenwashing, poor ex*****on makes it so. Institutions that embed sustainability into capital allocation, risk management, and governance architecture will earn long-term investor trust.

For students, the session highlighted that the future of finance leadership lies at the intersection of sustainability, analytics, and regulatory understanding. Capital markets increasingly reward substance over storytelling.

05/03/2026

Stability vs Speed: Can Tech Growth Be Sustainable?

As part of the Leadership Summit 2026, Panel 4 explored one of the most pressing questions in today’s innovation economy, can companies grow fast without breaking what makes them strong?

Aligned with the summit’s broader theme of responsible leadership in an age of rapid transformation, the discussion examined how organizations balance acceleration with long-term resilience.

Bringing together leaders from global technology, fintech, AI, advertising and enterprise ecosystems, the panel offered a cross-sector perspective on scaling responsibly in high-growth environments.

Moderator: Akhilesh Gupta A– Director, Artificial Intelligence Solutions

Panelists:
Sujesh Kodoth – Asia Partner Technology Leader & CTO, Microsoft
Sandeep Balani – VP, JioAds
Rohit Taneja – Founder, Decentro
Rahul Deou – Director, Visa
Apoorv Sood – Global GTM, smallest.ai
Sujit Janardanan – CMO, Neysa Networks

Key Discussion Highlights
🔹Speed drives growth, but stability ensures survival. The strongest companies build robust systems first, then scale on top of them.
🔹Startups must prioritize real value creation over vanity metrics. Revenue, retention and cash flow matter more than headlines.
🔹In AI and fintech, governance cannot be an afterthought. Security, compliance and bias testing must be embedded from day one.
🔹Healthy growth goes beyond revenue, it includes customer trust, employee engagement, strong unit economics and operational discipline.
🔹Innovation must operate within guardrails. Core systems demand stability; experimentation belongs in controlled environments.
🔹India’s AI opportunity lies in solving local challenges across agriculture, financial inclusion and public services. Leaders must build, test and experiment.

The discussion reinforced that sustainable growth is not about choosing between speed and stability. It is about integrating both with intent. The future belongs to organizations that scale responsibly, embed governance early and align profitability with long-term resilience.

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SDA Bocconi Asia Center, 9th Floor, Hiranandani Knowledge Park, Powai
Mumbai
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https://www.sdabocconiasiacenter.com/

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The SDA Bocconi Asia Center is the hub for SDA Bocconi in India and Asia at large. The SDA Bocconi School of Management, Milan, Italy, inaugurated its presence in India in 2012 through MISB Bocconi catering mostly to the Indian audience. As MISB completes six years, SDA Bocconi establishes it as the newly minted SDA Bocconi Asia Center, a pan-Asian hub with a broader scope across India, the Middle East, China and the rest of Asia.

The SDA Bocconi Asia Center strives to create and disseminate innovative business knowledge to contribute to the overall development of individuals and organizations.

SDA Bocconi, Italy is one of the selected business schools worldwide to have received, for its MBA program, all three of the prestigious international accreditations—AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System), and AMBA (Association of MBAs).

The SDA Bocconi Asia Center takes a unique approach to Postgraduate Programs and Executive Education by integrating the stages of creating and promoting knowledge through industry-relevant research, teaching, and training. SDA Bocconi draws from the Italian community’s expertise and excellence in design and branding as it works to build soft skills in individuals and share managerial practices across borders to empower the people connected to the SDA Bocconi Asia Center. Participants in Mumbai will benefit from the curriculum development, research data, and the experience of the international faculty of SDA Bocconi. To know more about SDA Bocconi Asia Center and SDA Bocconi School Of management, Itlay please visit https://www.sdabocconiasiacenter.com and http://www.sdabocconi.it/en/ respectively.

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