The AIMS Empowering Women in Academic Leadership Summit 2024 held at SCMS Cochin on October 23-24 brought together trailblazing women reshaping the future of education. The inaugural session of the Summit commenced with a ceremonial lamp lighting, followed by a welcome address from Dr. Radha Thevannoor, Group Director of SCMS Cochin School of Business. Dr. Apoorva Palkar, Founding Vice Chancellor of MSSU, spoke as Program Chair, highlighting innovative approaches in education. The keynote addresses by Dr. Indira J. Parikh of Antardisha and Dr. Meena Chintamaneni of NMIMS University focused on leadership and digital transformation in education, respectively. Prof. Dr. Uday Salunkhe from WeSchool delivered a special address on the societal impact of management education, followed by an inaugural address from Dr. Jancy James, former Vice Chancellor of MG University, emphasizing educational reform. The session concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Indu Nair, Group Director of SCMS.
PANEL DISCUSSIONS
The AIMS panel discussion on Women Leadership, moderated by Dr. Ramaswamy Nandagopal, Past President,AIMS featured key insights from women leaders including Dr. Apoorva Palkar, Founding Vice Chancellor of Maharashtra State Skills University (MSSU) Mumbai, AIMS Past President, Dr. Neelu Rohmetra, Professor, The Business School & Dean Research Studies, University of Jammu , Former (Founding) Director, IIM Sirmaur, Past Executive Board Member , AIMS, and Dr. Amishi Arora,Director, CIBMRD Nagpur AIMS Member . The discussion highlighted the challenges women face in leadership, such as breaking gender biases and balancing personal and professional responsibilities. The panelists emphasized the importance of education, mentorship, and networking in empowering women and fostering leadership growth.
The panel discussion on ‘ Emerging Leadership Models for Women in Academia: Business School Leaders Perspective’, moderated by Dr. Nagraj Shenoy, Director of SCMS Cochin, brought together esteemed leaders in education, including Prof. Dr. Narayani R, Director of NMIMS Bangalore; Dr. T. Bina, Principal of Happy Valley School, Coimbatore; and Dr. Amishi Arora, Director of CIBMRD Nagpur. The panelists provided valuable insights into the evolving landscape of women in leadership roles, highlighting their experiences and challenges.
The AIMS Empowering Women in Academic Leadership Summit 2024 featured a panel discussion on “Gender Equity and Inclusivity in Higher Education,” moderated by Prof. Dr. Narayani R, Director of NMIMS. Esteemed panelists included Dr. Meena Chintamaneni, Pro-Vice Chancellor of NMIMS University, and Dr. Indira J. Parikh, President of Antardisha and Former Founder President of FLAME University. They emphasized the critical need for gender equity, addressing systemic barriers such as implicit biases and the importance of supportive institutional policies. The discussion included actionable strategies like mentorship programs and flexible work arrangements to foster inclusivity, while also highlighting the essential role of male allies in advocating for change.
The second day of the AIMS Empowering Women in Academic Leadership Summit 2024 begins with Key speakers, including Professor (Dr.) Neelu Rohmetra, Professor, The Business School & Dean Research Studies, University of Jammu , Former (Founding) Director, IIM Sirmaur, Past Executive Board Member , AIMS and Dr. Lishin M. Joshy, Associate Professor & HoD, Department of HR, SCMS Cochin School of Business highlighted the importance of intersectionality and inclusive leadership practices in fostering women’s advancement in academia. Dr. Rohmetra shared her experiences in promoting supportive initiatives at IIM Sirmaur, while Dr. Joshy introduced frameworks for understanding diverse identities in leadership. Discussions centered on the challenges women face, emphasizing the need for mentorship, support networks, and institutional policies that promote inclusivity.
The session “Skilling Women to Create Leaders: An Industry Perspective,” moderated by Mr. George Joseph Kalayil, Assistant Professor, Department of Marketing, SCMS Cochin School of Business at the AIMS Empowering Women in Academic Leadership Summit 2024, featured panelists Annu Mathew, Talent Acquisition Leader for APAC at GE Healthcare, Bangalore; Anisha Cherian, Director at Chemmanur Academy & Systems Pvt Ltd, Kochi; and Deepa Murali, AVP-CSR at UNICO Housing Finance, Chennai. The discussion focused on the critical role of industry in empowering women through targeted skill development and leadership training. Key insights included the need for collaborative programs between academia and industry, the importance of mentorship and networking opportunities, and the necessity for tailored training that addresses both technical and soft skills. The panelists emphasized actionable strategies for fostering female leadership, underscoring the collective responsibility of organizations and educational institutions in creating pathways for women to emerge as leaders.
In the third session of the second day of the AIMS Empowering Women in Academic Leadership Summit 2024, Dr. Ranjana Varghese, Dean of External Programs at the Xavier Institute of Management & Entrepreneurship, Kochi, addressed “Resilience, Well-being, and Work-Life Balance for Women Leaders.” She highlighted the unique challenges women face in balancing professional and personal demands, emphasizing the importance of resilience as the ability to adapt and recover from setbacks. Dr. Varghese offered practical strategies for promoting well-being, such as mindfulness practices and establishing support networks, while also discussing effective methods for achieving work-life balance through setting boundaries and prioritizing tasks.
VALEDICTORY
The valedictory session of the AIMS Empowering Women in Academic Leadership Summit 2024 provided a compelling conclusion to the event. It commenced with a Welcome Address by Dr. Radha Thevannoor, Group Director and Registrar of the SCMS Group, who reflected on the valuable insights and discussions that had unfolded over the two days. The Summit Roundup succinctly encapsulated the key themes and actionable strategies identified throughout the summit, reinforcing the commitment to empowering women leaders. Chief Guest G Poonguzhali IPS, AIG & Nodal Officer of the CMO Portal Petition, inspired attendees with her personal journey, highlighting the importance of resilience and courage in overcoming challenges. The session concluded with a heartfelt Vote of Thanks by Dr. Indu Nair, AIMS Executive Board Member and Group Director of the SCMS Group, who expressed gratitude to all speakers, participants, and organizers, underscoring the collective effort toward fostering women’s leadership in academia.
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