The WPU Goa One-Day Leadership Conclave on “Leadership That Delivers” marked a landmark moment in the institutional journey of WPU Goa campus. Co-organised in partnership with BNI Goa Region, the conclave convened over 250 participants for an immersive evening of world-class leadership dialogue, institutional recognition, and community investment.
The gathering brought together industry leaders, corporate professionals, MSME owners, startup founders, entrepreneurs, and academics — united by a shared conviction that leadership has never been more consequential than it is today.
Conceptualised under the institutional vision of Dr. Rahul V. Karad, Executive President, WPU Goa, and convened by Dr. Urvashi Makkar, Dean of the Ramcharan School of Leadership, MIT-WPU Pune, the conclave established WPU Goa as a genuine hub of leadership thought and professional community in Goa.
“WPU Goa is being built not merely as a place of education, but as an ecosystem that connects leadership, industry, recognition, and transformation. Every event like this conclave is a demonstration — not just a promise — of that vision.”
— Dr. Rahul V. Karad, Executive President, WPU Goa
| Event at a Glance | |
|---|---|
| Organised By | WPU Goa Campus |
| Co-organised By | BNI Goa Region |
| Patron | Dr. Rahul V. Karad, Executive President, WPU Goa |
| Convener | Dr. Urvashi Makkar, Dean RSoL, MIT-WPU Pune |
| Keynote Speaker | Prof. Ram Charan, Global Advisor to CEOs & Corporate Boards |
| Thought Session I | Mr. Sunil Kaul, Former Group President & CTO, ANAND Group |
| Thought Session II | Mr. Ashwini Malhotra, Vice Chairman & MD, Weikfield Foods Pvt. Ltd. |
| Total Participants | 250+ (Industry leaders, corporates, startup founders, entrepreneurs, academics) |
| Awardees | 25 leaders across 4 award categories |
| Scholarships | 8 meritorious students from the 10+2 level |
Session: Leadership Deep-Dive · 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM (90 Minutes)
One of the most sought-after management advisors in the world, Prof. Ram Charan has worked for over five decades with CEOs and boards of globally iconic organisations including GE, Bank of America, DuPont, Novartis, Dell, and Honeywell. A prolific author of 30+ books — including Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done (with Larry Bossidy) — he holds a doctorate from Harvard Business School where he was a Baker Scholar.
His exclusive 90-minute Leadership Deep-Dive anchored the conclave in the principles of exponential organisational growth, customer obsession, long-term market leadership, and the irreplaceable value of people as the primary competitive asset.
“The most important resource any organisation has is not capital, not technology, not even its customers. It is the quality of its leadership at every level. And leadership quality is a function of deliberate, sustained, and honest investment in people.”
— Prof. Ram Charan
Session: Lead to Grow: Leadership for MSMEs · 6:00 – 6:20 PM
With four decades of hands-on experience in India’s premier automotive manufacturing sector, Mr. Kaul led transformative initiatives at the ANAND Group — one of India’s most respected automotive components manufacturers with combined revenues exceeding INR 10,000 crore. His session delivered practitioner-grounded insights covering cash flow discipline, governance as competitive advantage, quality culture (“Office Quality”), and the 4W1H innovation framework.
“Leadership is not about having all the answers. It is about creating belief when results are not yet visible. It is about building systems that outlast individuals. Most importantly, it is about transforming mindset before transforming business.”
— Mr. Sunil Kaul
Session: Leadership for Sustainable Growth · 6:20 – 6:40 PM
As steward of one of India’s most enduring food brands since 1956, Mr. Malhotra spoke from personal conviction and multi-generational business experience about what sustainable leadership truly means. His session presented a model in which ethical values — integrity, trustworthiness, care, and commitment — sit at the intersection of value delivered to employees, customers, and investors. He illustrated environmental sustainability through Weikfield’s solar-powered Bakori mushroom plant, which generates 17 lakh units of power annually and reduces carbon emissions by 1,400 tons per year.
“Economic Value + Ethical Values + Environmental Sustainability = Sustainable Profits. This is not idealism. This is the only business model that works across generations.”
— Mr. Ashwini Malhotra
The three sessions together generated a rich, multilayered body of leadership wisdom. Despite distinct backgrounds and areas of focus, the three speakers converged on deeply shared convictions about what leadership truly demands.
Twenty-five distinguished leaders from Goa’s corporate, startup, MSME, and sustainability sectors were felicitated across four award categories — celebrating leadership that delivers at every scale, in every sector, with integrity and impact.
| A. Corporate Leadership Excellence Award (7 Awardees) | |
|---|---|
| Awardee | Organisation |
| Mr. Shekhar Sardesai | Kineco Aerospace |
| Ms. Rita Mody Joshi | Rita Mody Joshi |
| Mr. Pawan Koul | IFB Industries |
| Dr. Sangam Kurade | Kurade’s Mushrooms |
| Mr. Milind Mohan Anvekar | Open Destinat |
| Mr. Chirag Warty | Ved Sanjeevani |
| Mr. P.B. Prasad | PBP EcoAqua Enterprise |
| B. Startup Innovation Award (6 Awardees) | |
|---|---|
| Awardee | Organisation |
| Mr. Syamsundar Ivaturi | DishaAI Edutech Solutions Pvt. Ltd. |
| Mr. Ryan Vaz | Infinyt3d Pvt Ltd |
| Mr. Gautam Govind Kharangate | Rashtra TV |
| Ms. Asha Arondekar | Global to Local |
| Mr. Ankur Kankonkar | Incluseer – Anklytix Technologies LLP |
| Mr. Yatin Sanjeev Kanekar | Infipre IT Services OPC Pvt Ltd |
| C. Small & Medium Enterprise Excellence Award (6 Awardees) | |
|---|---|
| Awardee | Organisation |
| Ms. Shweta Goe | Nitai Home Decor |
| Mr. Rupesh Gawas | Farm Express |
| Mr. Rasik Naik | Finishing Touch |
| Mr. Dinesh Dhulapkar | Powertech Automation System |
| Mr. Arman Bankley | AR-Mine’s Industries |
| Ar. Anup Gadgil | Ochre Design Group |
| D. Sustainable Leadership Excellence Award (6 Awardees) | |
|---|---|
| Awardee | Organisation |
| Mr. Vinay Verma | Powertrac Corporation |
| Mr. Malcolm Afonso | Afonso SpatialCraft LLP |
| Mr. Jitendra Agarwal | Anemos Energies Pvt Ltd |
| Mr. Gourav Pokle | YIMBY |
| Mr. Ajay Gramopadhye | The Sustainable Green Company |
| Mr. Rajkumar G. Kamat | EP Biocomposites Ltd. |
Among the most emotionally resonant moments of the evening, WPU Goa announced merit-based scholarships for 8 outstanding students from the 10+2 level. Recipients receive cash awards of ₹30,000 and ₹10,000 with fee support across three years of their graduation programme.
Recipients were selected on the basis of meritorious academic performance with consideration for marks obtained, board context, and association with the WPU Goa campus ecosystem. The scholarship announcement was met with warm, sustained applause from all 250+ participants.
| Sr. | Student Name | Board |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Percy Xavier Lobo | Goa State Board |
| 2 | Brooke Anne D’Silva | MH State Board |
| 3 | Vania Maria Lira D’Souza | Goa State Board |
| 4 | Christiano Florindo D’Souza | Goa State Board |
| 5 | Torres Antonio Russel Coelho | MH State Board |
| 6 | Meldroy Melwyn Fernandes | Goa State Board |
| 7 | Simaran Dilivia D’Lima | Goa State Board |
| 8 | Nigel Aaron Barco | CBSE Board |
The Leadership Conclave was not a one-time event — it was the first visible expression of WPU Goa’s long-term commitment to building a leadership ecosystem in Goa. Dr. Rahul V. Karad has outlined an ambitious roadmap for the years ahead.
Annual Leadership Conclave
To be institutionalised as a flagship annual event, growing in scale, speaker quality, and community impact year on year — becoming a marquee fixture in Goa’s professional calendar.
MSME & Startup Support Ecosystem
Developing incubation, mentoring, and capacity-building programmes for Goa’s entrepreneurial community, leveraging the expertise, networks, and resources of WPU Goa.
Academic-Industry Co-Design
Working with industry partners to co-design curriculum, research projects, and learning experiences ensuring WPU Goa graduates are immediately relevant and effective in the professional world.
Scholarship & Talent Pipeline
Expanding the merit-based scholarship programme annually, with a goal of doubling recipients by 2027–28 and creating structured pathways from scholarship to employment.
WPU Goa Leadership Network
Formal establishment of a structured network comprising inaugural awardees, future cohorts, conclave speakers, and institutional partners — with quarterly engagement platforms.
Research & Policy Engagement
Developing research programmes in partnership with government, industry, and civil society that address the specific development challenges and opportunities of Goa.
