Mandi,(thestates.news)| The School of Management at IIT Mandi successfully
concluded third edition of its flagship annual management conclave, AiXcelerate 3.0 at its
campus. With the theme “Igniting Innovation and Leadership in the Digital Era.” The two-
day conclave brought together industry leaders, academicians, and students to deliberate
on how todays’ business practices are evolving with the increased adoption of Artificial
Intelligence (AI) across industries. This conclave aimed to develop and nurture business
leaders and managers providing impetus to the country’s innovation ecosystem and
competitiveness in the data-driven world. The conclave proved to be especially enriching
for students, offering them a unique opportunity to engage directly with industry leaders
and policymakers.
The sessions focused on how key management functions —such as marketing, human
resource management, operations, strategic management, finance, and
entrepreneurship—are evolving in the era of digital transformation. The conclave featured
a rich mix of panel discussions, mentoring sessions, student case competitions, and cultural
performances, offering a well-rounded platform for dialogue, collaboration, and innovation.
For students, it provided meaningful exposure to real-world applications of emerging
technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, across core business domains including
marketing analytics, financial decision-making, and strategic planning.
Prof. Laxmidhar Behera, Director, IIT Mandi, congratulated the School of Management on
the successful organization of AiXcelerate 3.0 and encouraged continued progress and
innovation in the field of management education.
Speaking at the valedictory session, Prof. Anjan Kumar Swain, Chairperson, School of
Management, IIT Mandi, said, “AiXcelerate 3.0 showcased how AI is reshaping business
strategies and underscored leaders’ responsibility to ensure transparency, trust, and
inclusivity. These conversations will guide future leaders in adopting AI responsibly and
building institutions that empower people, uplift communities, and enhance the nation’s
global standing.”
The program featured ten renowned industry experts as speakers, who shared their
insights on various themes. Notable participants included Shiv Kumar, Chief Data &
Analytics Officer-L’Oréal India; Manish Purwar, Global IT Head, GE, HealthCare Lokesh
Sharma, Strategic Account Director, Salesforce; Abhijit Shah, Chief Technology Officer,
Nippon Life India Asset; Ram Srinivasan SVP, Global Practice Leader, Advisory Services
Ascendion; Dr. Rishi Bhatnagar, Co-Founder India and Global CTO, AA2IT; Swapnil Tambi,
Head of India AI Hub, BNY; Ritesh Agrawal, Group CFO, Powerica Ltd.; Nikhil Bhushan, CTO,
Starbucks India; and Somjit Amrit, CEO iHUB and HCI Foundation, IIT Mandi.
Various key topics were addressed during the event highlighting how AI could prove to be
highly impactful across these sectors in the future, including strategic leadership in the age
of agentic AI, smart engagement, and the redefinition of marketing; the transformation of
the financial sector through AI in banking, insurance and Fintech; and responsible AI
focusing on building trust through ethics and governance.
At IIT Mandi, SOM’s core mission is to develop a new generation of business leaders who
are not only well-versed in traditional management principles but also highly proficient in
leveraging technology for strategic advantage. The school achieves this through a
curriculum that fuses management principles and knowledge with data science, AI, and
other emerging technologies. The SOM regularly organizes events like AiXcelerate to take
academic closer to the industry. These conclaves, seminars, and workshops are a
cornerstone of the school’s outreach strategy. The school also hosts other key events like
the HiBS (Himalayan Business Summit) and leadership talks, solidifying its reputation as a
hub for progressive management thought and a key contributor to the professional
development of its students.
