Speaking about the rapid pace of technological and organisational change, Dr. Zode highlighted adaptability, resilience, emotional intelligence, coordination and human connection as key capabilities for the workforce of the future. He also stressed the need for stronger industry-academia collaboration to keep management education aligned with changing business realities.

Held on the theme “The Future of Industries: What Will Shape Tomorrow’s World?”, Utkarsh 8.0 brought together senior HR professionals and industry leaders to discuss artificial intelligence, automation, emerging industries, changing business models, future skills, reskilling, leadership and evolving employee expectations.

Dr. Bhimaraya Metri, Director, IIM Nagpur, in his Welcome Address, highlighted the scale at which technology is transforming industries. Referring to developments such as 3D printing and artificial intelligence, he stressed the need for organisations to view technological disruption as an opportunity and build a growth-oriented, data-driven workforce.

Prof. Alok Kumar Singh, Dean – Executive Education, IIM Nagpur, presented an overview of the institute’s Executive Education programmes and highlighted IIM Nagpur’s growing engagement with working professionals and organisations. He emphasised the importance of collaboration between industry and academia.

The conclave featured three broad panels covering Emerging Industries, Automation and the Workforce of 2035; Customer Expectations, New-Age Business Models and Changing Talent Requirements; and Future-Proof Careers, Reskilling, Leadership and Employee Experience.

The discussions featured industry leaders including Dr. Charu Jain, Mr. Asit Khuntia, Mr. Rushad Shah, Ms. Prakriti Mehta, Ms. Deepshikha Thakur, Ms. Ruchi Mago, Ms. Nupur Jain, Ms. Samriti Malhotra, Mr. Ashish Banka, Ms. Reessha Chughh, Ms. Aditi Mukherjee, Ms. Mrunal Mahakal, Ms. Urvashi Gupta, Mr. Subhanish Malhotra, Mr. Atul Mishra, Mr. Sushil Barkur, Ms. Megha Thapar, Mr. Arun Pratap Singh, Mr. Indranil C, Mr. Vishal Saxena, Mr. Suhas Paradkar, Mr. Rajesh Kumar Singh, Ms. Rajbir Kaur, Ms. Nishi Srivastava, Mr. Meghesh Nandi, Ms. Vrinda Parasnis, Ms. Deepti Mehta, Mr. Kabir Gaikwad, Mr. Hari Menon and Mr. Shibu Singh.

Mr. DK Bakshi, Chief Mentor & CEO, Global Talent Company, delivered the concluding lecture, offering a forward-looking perspective on workforce planning and the disruptions organisations may face in the coming decade.

A key message emerging from the conclave was that AI and automation are changing work rather than simply eliminating jobs. As technology and business models evolve, organisations and employees will need to continuously develop new skills, while adaptability, leadership, resilience and emotional intelligence will remain critical.

Prof. Shailendra Nigam, Chairperson – Placements, IIM Nagpur, was also present along with faculty members, staff and students. Mr. Rahul Chaturvedi, Placement Officer, IIM Nagpur, delivered the Vote of Thanks.

Utkarsh 8.0 provided IIM Nagpur students an opportunity to interact with industry practitioners and understand contemporary challenges facing organisations, while reinforcing the importance of sustained industry-academia engagement in preparing future managers for a rapidly changing world of work.

Gurugram, 21^st July 2026: CarDekho Group has launched Amber, an AI-powered employee listening platform, extending the company’s AI-first approach from customers to its own people. Amber retires the annual engagement survey in favour of continuous, confidential conversations across the employee lifecycle.

Amber reaches employees at the moments that matter, including onboarding, role changes, manager transitions, milestones and exits, through channels they already use, such as WhatsApp and email. Employees respond when and where they choose, in minutes, not through hour-long annual forms. The result is a listening experience built around the employee’s day, not HR’s calendar.

Amber’s AI analyses sentiment surfaces recurring themes and flags emerging risks in real time. Managers see aggregated team insights, while HR and business leaders see a live view of workforce sentiment alongside outcomes such as retention, wellbeing and team performance. Engagement at CarDekho is now tracked, reviewed and acted on with the same rigour as any operating metric, because engaged teams demonstrably perform, stay and grow.

“Annual surveys tell you what went wrong last year. Amber tells us what our people are experiencing this week and gives leaders the evidence to act on it. We believe engagement drives performance, not the other way around. Amber lets us manage that link with real data, in real time, while every individual voice stays confidential,” said Mr. Manish Wadhwa, Chief Human Resources Officer, CarDekho Group.

Every Amber conversation opens with a clear Trust Statement: individual responses stay private, and only aggregated insights inform decisions. Employees speak freely, and the organisation acts on patterns, never on persons.

India, 26 June, 2026: AU Small Finance Bank (AU SFB), India’s largest Small Finance Bank and among the first in over a decade to receive in-principle approval to transition into a Universal Bank, has been recognised among the Top 10 – India’s Best Companies to Work For 2026 by Great Place to Work. This recognition represents the gold standard of workplace excellence, underscoring a strong culture anchored in Trust, Pride, and Camaraderie.

The recognition was received by Mr. Manoj Tibrewal, Group Head – HR, Infra, Admin & Marketing, at a recently held awards event.

Great Place To Work® is the global authority on workplace culture, backed by over 30 years of research and insights from more than 100 million employees across 170+ countries. Its rigorous and globally benchmarked methodology evaluates organisations on employee trust, leadership effectiveness and the overall workplace experience.

The assessment is based on the Trust Index Survey (75% weightage) – which captures anonymous employee feedback on credibility, respect, fairness, pride and camaraderie – and the Culture Audit (25%), which evaluates leadership philosophy, values and people practices. The certification reflects AU SFB’s ability to foster a consistent and inclusive work environment where employees feel empowered, valued and engaged.

Commenting on the recognition, Mr. Sanjay Agarwal, Founder, MD & CEO, AU Small Finance Bank said, “At AU Small Finance Bank, our people are at the core of everything we do. This recognition reinforces our belief in building a culture rooted in trust, inclusivity and purpose – where every employee is empowered to perform, grow and contribute meaningfully. As we continue our journey towards becoming a Universal Bank, we remain committed to strengthening our people practices and enhancing employee experience at every touchpoint.”

Over the years, AU SFB has consistently been recognised for its people-first philosophy, underpinned by strong values, inclusive leadership and a robust employee engagement framework. With a workforce of over 59,000+ employees serving more than 1.2 crore customers across India, the Bank continues to invest in initiatives that enable growth, well-being and long-term career development.

The recognition reflects Ardee Industries’ emphasis on building a skilled, safety-focused and performance-driven workforce alongside the scaling of its manufacturing operations. As of March 31, 2025, the company employed 207 personnel, up from 127 employees in FY24 and 74 employees in FY23, highlighting the steady expansion of its operational and technical teams in line with business growth.

Ardee Industries is significantly dependent on its technically skilled workforce for timely and quality-oriented manufacturing operations. To maintain and enhance workforce capabilities, the company conducts regular training and development programmes, including workshops, seminars and on-the-job training. These programmes focus on safety practices, environmental compliance, quality standards, equipment handling and raw material management. Employees are also provided with appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to ensure safety during manufacturing processes.

In addition, the company undertakes partner-led training programmes on ISO standards and continuous improvement initiatives, aimed at improving operational efficiency, strengthening quality systems and supporting workforce retention. These initiatives are designed to keep employees aligned with evolving industry practices and technological advancements in the lead recycling sector.

Great Place To Work® certification is globally recognised and is based on confidential employee feedback and rigorous people analytics, evaluating trust, pride and workplace practices across organisations. The certification underscores Ardee Industries Limited’s commitment to fostering a high-trust, inclusive and capability-led workplace culture.

The certification comes at a time when Ardee Industries has been scaling its operations across India and international markets. As of March 31, 2025, the company exported products to customers across seven international markets, including the Singapore, Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Japan, Switzerland, South Korea and the UAE, while maintaining a strong domestic presence across 10 Indian States. The company serves over 50 customers and its product portfolio comprises of pure lead and lead alloys such as lead calcium alloys, lead antimony alloys, lead tin alloys, lead silver alloys and lead cadmium alloys which find applications in critical industries such as energy storage, e-mobility, automotive and chemicals.

Ardee Industries operates an integrated, environmentally responsible manufacturing facility spread across 7.61 acres in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, with an installed capacity of 104,025 MTPA, supported by advanced machinery for recycling and pollution-control systems. Over the last three fiscal years, the company has significantly expanded capacity while strengthening operational processes and workforce capabilities.

Overall, the certification reinforces Ardee Industries Limited’s focus on building a high-trust, performance-driven organisation aligned with long-term growth and sustainability objectives.