Alumni Conclave

FMB Connect: Business Beyond India & FMB Award Nite

SPJIMR’s Centre for Family Managed Business organised its annual flagship event, FMB Connect 2019, on February 9 at Taj Santacruz, Mumbai. A platform for knowledge sharing and networking opportunities for alumni, FMB Connect recognizes them with the prestigious ‘FMB Awards’. The World Trade Centre (WTC), Mumbai, was the knowledge partner for the event this year. The event focused on the theme ‘Business Beyond India’ which captured the synergy between SPJIMR FMB’s mission of promoting alumni interest and WTC’s focus on promoting international trade and development, especially among SMEs.

The conclave presented an opportunity to members of family-owned businesses to understand the business potential in India and beyond. Consulates from Italy, Taiwan, Western Australia, Gabon, Poland, Basque (Spain), South Africa, Queensland (Australia) and Afghanistan made presentations to highlight the trade, investment and business opportunities in their countries.

The concave had plenary sessions and high-powered panel discussions on diverse topics. The first plenary session on Facilitating Exports was a workshop. Moderated by Batch 2 FMB alumnus, Mr. Gunjan Saboo, President - Mala International, the facilitators were Mr. Michael Green, General Manager – India (Sannam S4) and Ms. Mridula Mishra, Co-Founder and Director (ESPIAL – EDGE). They spoke about the importance of having a global mindset for businesses and shared case studies of SMEs that succeeded while going international with their businesses....

Later, a high-powered panel comprising Mr. Edgard D Kagan (Consulate General of United States of America), Ms. Rupa Naik, Senior Director (WTC Mumbai), Mr. Neeraj Gambhir, Founder and Managing Partner (Incipia Advisors), Mr. Siddhartha Rastogi, MD (Ambit Capital) and Mr. Vikal Kapoor, CEO (Dapps Inc) wasmoderated by Dr. Tulsi Jayakumar, Professor - Economics & Chairperson, FMB (SPJIMR).The panellists discussed the various dimensions of carrying out trade under the current scenario of global trade wars, and how India could still benefit within this VUCA environment.

This was followed by a panel discussion on Currency and Trade Finance. Moderated by Ms. Lata Venkatesh, Executive Editor (CNBC-TV 18), the panel comprised Mr. G Padmanabhan, Chairman (BOI) & Former Executive Director (RBI),

Mr. V.G. Kannan, CEO (Indian Bank Association) & Former MD (SBI), Prof. Ananth Narayan, Associate Professor – Finance (SPJIMR).The panellists discussed the impact of the currency movements, especially,on SMEs in the current business environment and the options for trade finance.

Later, a panel discussion on ‘Partnering Foreign Companies’ was moderated by Mr. Gaurav Sathaye (Director, United Speciality Inks Private Limited& FMB 9 alumnus). The speakers were Mr.Sanket Gala (Freudenberg Gala Household Product PL& FMB 10 alumnus), Mr. RajeshKumar Selvaraj, General Manager -Project Engg (Techint India Pvt. Ltd.) and Mr. Pramod Sant, Vice President and Head of Exports/Imports and Customs (Siemens Ltd).The panellists touched upon issues encountered when working with global companies.

Ms. Birgit Liodden (Director of Sustainability – Oslo Business Region) spoke about the importance of 'Innovation and Sustainability'.

“As part of our mission to facilitate alumni to explore new territories and chart new growth trajectories, as also to recognise their achievements, we have been building FMB Connect as the appropriate platform to achieve multiple goals. This year, we took FMB Connect a notch higher by forging a meaningful partnership with WTC. The experience was exhilarating and the response gratifying,” said Dr. Tulsi Jayakumar, Chairperson-FMB, SPJIMR.

The Chief Guest at the award ceremony, Mr. Siddharth Roy Kapur, MD and Founder of Roy Kapur Films, felicitated the FMB alumni and the recent graduates, who were recognised for their achievements in business and academics, respectively. A set of external awards were also given away on the occasion.

The event concluded with a speech from Dr. Ranjan Banerjee, Dean, SPJIMR, on the Made-in-India Owner of Businesses.“For India to move to the next level, our best family businesses have to succeed on a global stage. FMB connect provides tailored and engaging input on technical and behavioural dimensions of global success,” said Dr.Banerjee.

Glimpse from the Conclave

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Partnering Foreign Companies

Case studies of foreign companies which have invested in India and Indian companies which have successfully expanded their global footprint

Speakers:

Mr.Pramod Sant, VP and Head of Exports / Imports and Customs, (Siemens Ltd)
Mr. RajeshKumar Selvaraj, General Manager - Project Engineering (Techint India Pvt ltd)
Mr. Sanket Gala, Sales Manager - Institutional & CSD (Freudenberg Gala Household Product PL) - FMB 10
Moderator - Mr. Gaurav Sathaye, Director (United Speciality Inks Pvt Ltd) - FMB 9

Global Trade Wars

India's Boon or Bane: Panel discussion on analysing modes of global trade wars and India's position in the scheme of things amidst global trade wars; Strategies to cope/ optimize in the global scenario.

Panel speakers:

Mr. Edgard D. Kagan, U. S. Consul General [Consulate General of United States of America]
Ms. Rupa Naik, Senior Director [WTC Mumbai]; Mr. Neeraj Gambhir, Founder & Managing Partner [lncipia Advisors]
Mr. Siddhartha Rastogi, MD [Ambit Capital]
Mr. Vikal Kapoor, CEO [Dapps Inc.] and
Dr. Tulsi Jayakumar (Moderator), Professor - Economics & Chairperson, FMB [SPJIMR]

Currency and Trade Finance

Currency and Trade Finance: Powering trade’: Fireside chat on Modes of trade finance; How to deal with currency volatility; Hedging: under what conditions and how?

Speakers:

Mr. G. Padmanabhan, Chairman at BOil and Former Executive Director at RBI]
Mr. V. G. Kannan, CEO [Indian Bank Association] and Former MD [SBIJ]
Prof. Ananth Narayan, Associate Professor - Finance [SPJIMR]
Ms. Latha Venkatesh (Moderator), Executive Editor [CNBC-TV 18)

Being a Made-in-India owner in a globalised world

SPJIMR Dean speaks about Indian Family Business going global in today's globalised world.

Speaker: Dr Ranjan Banerjee