IIM Nagpur’s Utkarsh 8.0 Explores Future of Industries and Changing World of Work
Nagpur: Technology is not merely eliminating jobs but is also changing the nature of work and creating new skill requirements, experts said at the eighth edition of Utkarsh, the Annual HR Conclave of IIM Nagpur.
Held on the theme “The Future of Industries: What Will Shape Tomorrow’s World?”, the conclave brought together senior HR professionals and industry leaders to discuss the impact of artificial intelligence, automation and emerging business models on organisations and employees.
Dr. Vilas V. Zode, Executive Director–HR, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), was the Chief Guest at the event. He highlighted adaptability, resilience, emotional intelligence, coordination and human connection as important capabilities for the workforce of the future.
He also emphasised the need for stronger industry-academia collaboration to ensure that management education keeps pace with changing business and workplace requirements.
AI and Automation Reshaping the Workforce
The discussions at Utkarsh 8.0 focused on how technological developments are transforming industries and changing the expectations of employers.
Dr. Zode noted that organisations and employees will need to continuously adapt as technology and business models evolve. Rather than viewing technology only as a threat to employment, organisations need to prepare their workforce for new roles and responsibilities emerging from technological change.
Dr. Bhimaraya Metri, Director, IIM Nagpur, highlighted the scale of technological transformation across industries, referring to developments including 3D printing and artificial intelligence.
He encouraged organisations to view technological disruption as an opportunity and focus on building a growth-oriented and data-driven workforce.
Three Panels Examine Future of Work
The conclave featured three broad panel discussions covering different aspects of the changing workplace.
The first panel focused on emerging industries, automation and the workforce of 2035. Discussions examined how technology could reshape jobs and organisational structures over the coming decade.
The second panel addressed customer expectations, new-age business models and changing talent requirements, exploring how evolving consumer behaviour and digital business models are influencing workforce needs.
The third panel focused on future-proof careers, reskilling, leadership and employee experience, highlighting the importance of continuous learning as employees navigate rapidly changing professional environments.
Industry-Academia Collaboration Highlighted
Prof. Alok Kumar Singh, Dean–Executive Education, IIM Nagpur, presented an overview of the institute's Executive Education programmes and discussed its engagement with working professionals and organisations.
He emphasised the importance of closer collaboration between industry and academic institutions to ensure that management education remains relevant to contemporary workplace requirements.
The conclave also provided IIM Nagpur students with an opportunity to interact directly with industry practitioners and gain insights into challenges faced by organisations.
Workforce Skills Beyond Technical Expertise
A key message emerging from the discussions was that technical skills alone may not be sufficient for navigating the future workplace.
While AI and automation are expected to change how organisations operate, participants highlighted the continuing importance of leadership, adaptability, resilience, emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills.
The discussions also stressed the need for organisations to invest in reskilling and upskilling as new technologies and business models emerge.
Mr. DK Bakshi, Chief Mentor and CEO, Global Talent Company, delivered the concluding lecture, offering a forward-looking perspective on workforce planning and the disruptions organisations could face over the next decade.
Focus on Preparing Future Managers
The event was attended by faculty members, staff and students of IIM Nagpur, along with industry professionals.
Prof. Shailendra Nigam, Chairperson–Placements, IIM Nagpur, was also present. Mr. Rahul Chaturvedi, Placement Officer, IIM Nagpur, delivered the Vote of Thanks.
Utkarsh 8.0 reinforced the importance of sustained engagement between academia and industry in preparing future managers for a workplace increasingly shaped by AI, automation, new business models and evolving employee expectations.
Key Highlights
- IIM Nagpur hosted the eighth edition of Utkarsh, its Annual HR Conclave.
- The theme was “The Future of Industries: What Will Shape Tomorrow’s World?”
- Discussions focused on AI, automation, emerging industries and future skills.
- Experts stressed adaptability, resilience and emotional intelligence.
- Three panels examined the workforce of 2035, new-age business models and future-proof careers.
- Industry-academia collaboration and continuous reskilling emerged as key priorities.
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