Mother Teresa Hall
The Department of Marketing and International Business, organized an insightful panel discussion titled “Data Drops to Digital Dominance” on April 11th April 2026. The session was conducted under the guidance of faculty in-charge Prof. (Dr.) Bikash Ranjan Debata and Prof. Arul Jyothi M, with coordination by Team CORE members Varshini, Nikita, Akansha, Sushil, Nandini, Rajashree, Susant, Aiyman, and Amrutha, and moderation by Ms. Nikita Singh, PGDM 2025–27.
In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, where data drives strategic decision-making, the panel explored how organizations convert raw data into impactful digital outcomes. The discussion brought together eminent experts from industry and academia: Mr. Somshekar N.T., Head of Business Process Transformation at Diageo; Dr. Basavaraj B., Senior Manager of Transformation at Merck Life Science; and Dr. Geeta M Rajaram, Dean of Ramaiah Institute of Management.
A major highlight of the discussion was the transformative impact of Industry 4.0 technologies on business processes. Mr. Somshekar elaborated on how AI-powered process mining tools such as Celonis are replacing traditional manual mapping methods, reducing analysis time from several months to just a few hours while enabling organizations to identify inefficiencies with remarkable precision.
Dr. Basavaraj emphasized the widening gap between conceptual digital strategies and their real-world implementation. He noted that technical knowledge now evolves so rapidly that its relevance often lasts only three to six months. He also discussed the rise of Agentic AI, where autonomous systems execute complete workflows independently, demanding a workforce that continuously adapts and unlearns outdated practices.
From an academic perspective, Dr. Geeta M Rajaram highlighted the role of research as an anticipatory tool that helps organizations detect emerging disruptions before they materialize fully. She stressed that interdisciplinary and evidence-based research frameworks enable businesses to move from reactive responses to proactive innovation strategies. The panel also underscored the importance of embedding ESG principles directly into digital design processes, citing examples such as CO?-neutral supply chains and sustainable product redesigns.
The session further explored strategic frameworks for digital maturity, including data readiness assessments, balancing global standardization with local adaptation, and cross-industry model replication. Practical examples such as retail behavior analytics and data monetization strategies demonstrated how insights can translate into measurable business value. Students were encouraged to adopt tools like Agile Sprints and 30-60-90 Day Plans in their academic and professional journeys.
The discussion concluded with a forward-looking perspective on India’s growing contribution to the global workforce and the need for students to align early with international corporate standards. The panel reiterated that digital dominance is not merely about technology ownership but about the speed, ethics, and effectiveness of adoption in shaping a more inclusive and equitable future.
