Mumbai, 07 October 2025: Prin. L. N. Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research (WeSchool) hosted a Round Table on “The Role of GCCs and Academia as Catalysts for Viksit Bharat 2047,” bringing together Policy makers, industry, and academic leaders to discuss strategies for India’s knowledge economy and future-ready talent, in line with Prime Minister Shri Modiji’s vision & the national initiative of ‘Sewa Parva’ anchored by the Ministry of Culture to celebrate the spirit of Sewa (service) as the truest form of patriotism, contributing to the end goal of VIKSIT BHARAT.
The conference emphasized India’s rise as the GCC Capital of the World, highlighting collaboration between industry, academia, and policymakers. Discussions covered GCC trends, key sectors, leveraging digital infrastructure, and developing talent in AI, cloud, and cybersecurity. WeSchool’s role in bridging academia and industry, its collaborative leadership model, and support for Tier-2 and Tier-3 GCC hubs were also highlighted.
Kaustubh Dhavse, Special Advisor to the Chief Minister, remarked, “Maharashtra today is witnessing unprecedented investment momentum, with a structured approach towards attracting global capital, promoting ease of doing business, and creating a vibrant ecosystem for GCCs. It is the most important scale driver in the services sector, and they will transform the way businesses operate in India. Our new policies focus on enabling investment, providing capital and salary subsidies, promoting gender balance, and facilitating innovation, ensuring that Maharashtra continues to be the preferred destination for global talent and enterprise.”
Additionally, the conference coincided with the Maharashtra Government’s passing the GCCs policy in the cabinet.
Yogesh Brahmankar – Innovation Director at MOE’s Innovation Cell, Government of India, said, “Global Capability Centres are reshaping India’s talent landscape, and academia plays a key role in preparing future-ready human capital. Beyond technical skills, fostering an entrepreneurial mindset and innovation culture within organizations are critical to retaining talent and driving meaningful impact. We must encourage collaboration between industry and academia through small research projects, faculty immersion programs, and hands-on initiatives that bridge the gap between education and real-world challenges”.
Prof. Dr. Uday Salunkhe, Group Director, WeSchool, said, “At WeSchool, we feel a deep responsibility to contribute to the nation and society, and initiatives like this Round Table Conference provide a unique platform to do so. We aim to foster talent, innovation, and leadership that can support India’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. Our philosophy has always been to experiment, learn, and grow, whether it was pioneering India’s first programmes in e-business, retail, and design thinking, or launching innovative initiatives like the Temple Management Programme. Success comes not just from incremental growth but from bold, meaningful experimentation, driven by collaboration and a commitment to societal impact. We believe that industry-academia partnerships, especially with Global Capability Centres, can create immense value for talent development and innovation. At WeSchool, we are ready to work alongside GCCs to co-create solutions, address real-world challenges, and develop future-ready leaders for India.”
The conference saw participation from eminent leaders across industry and academia, including Guddi Rawat, Vice President – CXM, Analytics, Dentsu Global Service; Apurv Kodgule, Innovation Consultant, Capgemini; Ketan Bhagwate, CEO & Co-Founder, KAS Global Commerce; Raajiv Sachdeva, Chief Operating Officer, Datamatics Business Solutions; Dr. Amit Walinjkar, Director – Financial Services Sector, KPMG India; Jnanendra Mishra, Director, PwC; Rahul Goyal, Managing Director, TIAA; Anirban Dass, VP – Asia Pacific Payroll and Professional Services, Strada; Devdatta Kulkarni, Director – Interoperability, Relatient; Sandeep Prabhani, Global Head Digital Business Operations, ATOS; Anil Tari, Technology GCC Leader & SAP Global Deployment Director, CIO, APAC, Ingram Micro; Mamata Morwankar, Head of Investment APAAC, Omnicom Media Group Asia Pacific (virtual); Noopurr P Shuklaa, Senior Director, Editorial & Dubbing Operations, Deluxe Entertainment Distribution India Pvt. Ltd.; Atul Samalia, Commercial Centre of Excellence – Strategic Deals, LTIMindtree; Milind Pednekar, Consultant, GCCs; Ketan Patkar, Tech & Strategy Consultant – Financial Services, PwC India; Dr. Narendra Tomar, Senior Account Director, Resmera Solutions PVT LTD.
The conference concluded with the formulation of a joint action roadmap for GCCs, academia, and policymakers, providing concrete recommendations on talent pipelines, future skills, and leadership development. The discussions reinforced India’s positioning as both GCC Capital and Global Innovation Capital while showcasing WeSchool’s leadership role in nurturing human capital and supporting PM Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
