Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar organised Stratonomics 2024, the Annual Business Conclave, on 3^rd November, 2024, conducted by CONSTRAT: The Consulting and Strategy Consortium of Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar. The theme for this year was “Evolving Strategic Paradigms: Equipping for Tomorrow’s Challenges with Future Ready Strategies”

The event was graced by dignitaries from various spheres of the industry- Mr. A L Jagannath, Director of Marketing & Partnerships, IME, Thoughtworks; Mr. Santosh Kevlani, Vice President – Monetisation & Partnership, Myntra; Ms. Aditi Mishra, Associate Director, Enterprise Service Management, PepsiCo; Mr. Aroop Mohapatra, Vice President, IndusInd Bank; and Mr. Biswajit Panda, Senior Vice President, India GCC Head, NielsenIQ , who shared their insights on shifting strategic frameworks, inspiring young minds to embrace future-ready strategies and prepare for tomorrow’s challenges, with Prof. Francis Thomas Castellino being the moderator for the conclave.

Stressing on the importance of understanding target audiences in today’s fragmented market, Mr. A L Jagannath, Director of Marketing & Partnerships, IME, Thoughtworks said, “We cannot build a successful brand unless we communicate and understand our hypothetical customers.” He emphasized that effective brand positioning occurs when a unique proposition resonates deeply with customers and further talked about the importance of aligning with shifting customer trends and the need for originality.

Sharing his perspective on ‘Disrupt or get Disrupted’, Mr. Santosh Kevlani, Vice President – Monetisation & Partnership, Myntra commented, “Sometimes it is essential to be careful about who will disrupt us the next.” He stressed that making strategic choices requires careful analysis and foresight, utilizing tools like white space analysis, global trends, growth projections, industry analysis, competition mapping, and customer VOC to identify new opportunities and threats.

Addressing the audience, Ms. Aditi Mishra, Associate Director, Enterprise Service Management, PepsiCo remarked, “The strategies to equip for our future is learning from the past, gaining from our industrial peers, reflecting internally and trusting our leadership value.” Highlighting the power of storytelling with numbers, she shared stories of brands that have touched her.

Illustrating the importance of execution in strategy, Mr. Aroop Mohapatra, Vice President, IndusInd Bank stated, “Once a decision is made, the real test lies in implementing it effectively.”  He also discussed the unique challenges of leading large financial organizations entrusted with public funds and further provided insights into India’s private banking landscape, stressing that resilience, discipline, and responsibility are key to navigating this competitive sector successfully.

Mr. Biswajit Panda, Senior Vice President, India GCC Head, NielsenIQ mentioned, “Strategy is not only cost control, it is about how we build the end-to-end business and focus on a holistic growth of the company.” He pointed out that effective strategy must address various financial, industrial, and operational aspects while fostering a positive company culture.

As the business conclave came to an end, Prof. Francis Thomas Castellino opened the floor for a question-and-answer session where the engaging questions and insightful contributions from the students left a lasting impression. Their curiosity       and fresh perspectives brought new dimensions to the discussion. It was followed by the vote of thanks given by      Harshi Mertia, the Coordinator of CONSTRAT.

Stratonomics 2024 successfully concluded with the powerful message that building a successful future requires a deep connection with customers, a readiness to adapt to a disruptive market, and a commitment to executing strategies with resilience, responsibility, and a focus on holistic growth.