When India's leading engineering college, IIT Madras, established the off-shore campus in Zanzibar in July 2023, it was the culmination of painstaking process of approvals, faculty recruitment and infrastructure creation there. When the IIT decided that the campus would be headed by one of its faculty - Preeti Aghalayam - it was validation of the distance that women educationists have covered, and the acumen that they possess to not just advance their academic career but also lead an entire educational institution. In this case, on the foreign shores, with a world of cultural differences.
But Aghalayam shrugs off the import of this significant moment and refuses to cast it in 'breaking the glass ceiling mould. "At the end of the day it's not an award.
There is a job to do. And everybody is watching how I am performing. In a leadership role, they will be judging you but will also be a bit inspired by you." That is the freshness of perspective that women leaders now bring to the table-not gloating on their leadership role and looking at through the gender lens but focussing on the job at hand and taking the teams along.
In academia, the tasks at hand can be well-embroiled in bureaucratic quagmire. As Pankaj Mittal, Secretary General, Association of Indian Universities writes in her column in this issue, "Educational institutions are complex environments characterised by bureaucratic structures, budget constraints, and evolving pedagogical paradigms." But she assures, "Women leaders exhibit resilience by fostering collaboration, implementing innovative solutions, and navigating institutional challenges with tenacity and adaptability."
Empathy In Technology Era
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Denne historien er fra March 23, 2024-utgaven av BW Businessworld.
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SHAPING INDIA'S ENTREPRENEURIAL LANDSCAPE: KEY INITIATIVES AND CHALLENGES AHEAD
THE Hon'ble Finance Minister made history in July 2024 by presenting her seventh budget, surpassing the record previously held by Morarji Desai. Beyond this historic milestone, the budget stood out for its trans-formative measures aimed at fostering India's entrepreneurial ecosystem.
BUDGETING IN UNCERTAIN TIMES
AFTER last year's parliamentary elections, the Budget for FY2026 was presented in July 2024, which provided a glimpse of the government's priorities. In a few weeks, the government of India (GoI) will table the Union Budget for FY2026, which is expected to expand on these plans, and provide the new medium-term fiscal path as well.
A VISION FOR 'VIKSIT BHARAT'
INDIA stands at the threshold of a transformative journey toward 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047.
Constitutional Musings
A LEGAL DOCUMENT, even if it sets down the constitution of a country, is at the end of the day, just that – a document.
Turning Stress into Strength: A Path to Purposeful Living
Khera on transforming stress into strength, fostering resilience, purpose for meaningful living, and other insights from his new book Live While You're Alive
BUDGETING FOR BETTER FUTURE
AFFORDABILITY challenges persist for homebuyers; tweaking tax relief on home loans and capital gains in the Union Budget could significantly improve housing accessibility.
"NORTH AMERICA IS OUR LARGEST MARKET
Sona Comstar fully supports the government's vision for localisation and self-reliance in manufacturing under the PLI scheme, asserts SUNJAY KAPUR, Chairman, Sona Comstar & Deputy Chairman, CII Northern Region, during a chat with ASHISH SINHA. Excerpts from the interview
MAHAKUMBH 2025
NOTWITHSTANDING the never ending debate about the beginning of the festival - year and founder - and the dates when it is to be held, there's general agreement that it was started by the 8th Century vedic scholar, philosopher, saint and teacher of Advaita Vedanta Adi Shankara Acharya and that the 12 yearly celebration dates are synchronised with every completed revolution of the planet Jupiter (Brahaspati); also that the venue is mostly in the river bank towns of Prayagraj (Allahabad) at the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical invisible Saraswati, Haridwar (Ganga), Nasik (Godavari) and Ujjain (Shipra).
CATALYSING INDIA'S DIGITAL-FIRST ECONOMY: THE SMART WEARABLES PERSPECTIVE
INDIA'S electronics industry is set to play a key role in the nation's economic growth with domestic production expected to reach $300 billion by 2026.
"THE DELHI MODEL OFFERS THE SUREST ROAD MAP TO BUILDING A DEVELOPED INDIA"
JASMINE SHAH, then vice-chairman of the Delhi government think-tank, the Dialogue and Development Commission, conceived the idea of writing a book about the Delhi Model of governance while Aam Admi Party (AAP) convenor and Delhi's former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia were both at Tihar Jail for the alleged liquor scam in the state. By the time The Delhi Model – A Bold Road Map to Building a Developed India was released, campaigning for the Delhi legislative assembly elections were in full swing. The AAP leader though, stole some time out to discuss the book with BW Businessworld 's Madhumita Chakraborty. Excerpts:
