Parul University hosted Udyam 2026, Bridging Academia and Industry Through Power-Packed Leadership Dialogues

Vadodara-based Parul University came alive with the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation at Udyam 2026. The vibrant platform saw the presence of the most iconic business leaders from the industry who engaged in impactful conversations on leadership, fintech, entrepreneurship, infrastructure, and the future of work, thus creating a knowledge exchange ecosystem for students to gain insights from the real-world industry.

The event had a prestigious list of distinguished guests, such as the Resident Director and Adjunct Professor of Georgetown University McDonough School of Business, and former CHRO of Coca-Cola, P. V. Ramana Murthy, Chief Executive Officer of Bikanerwala Suresh Goel, Chief Technology Officer of Capegemini Mukesh Jain, Chief Operating Officer of TATA Projects Neeraj Agrawal, Chief of Compliance of Razorpay Vijay Thakral, Chief Business Officer of BSE India Sunil Ramakhiani, and renowned Indian Human Resources Development expert T. V. Rao.

P. V. Ramana Murthy, in his speech, talked about leadership through humility, talent re-imagination, and the human capital dynamics in the AI world. He also emphasised the need to be adaptable in technology and added that good ethics and people leadership strategies are also important.

Sharing his insights on how a legacy Indian brand like Bikanerwala evolved, Suresh Goel shared the journey that started from a small outlet in Chandni Chowk to a renowned brand all over the world, and the importance of consistency, quality, and consumer-centric innovation. Mukesh Jain, a representative from the technology industry, shared his insights on the future of digital transformation, AI, and the need for upskilling to remain relevant in the rapidly changing business environment.

Vijay Thakral spoke about digital payments, regulatory environments, and compliance culture, reiterating that trust is the backbone of the digital financial system while also pointing out the Indian UPI success story as the world’s best example of an interoperable payment system. Sunil Ramakhiani interacted with the students on capital market participation, financial literacy, and disciplined investment.

Highlighting the importance of infrastructure in nation-building, Neeraj Agrawal spoke about innovation-driven efficiency, automation, and system-based execution, encouraging students to work on real-world Indian problems with empathy and accountability. Adding strength to the leadership dialogue, T. V. Rao spoke about emotional intelligence, organisational development, and trust-based cultures as the building blocks of high-performing organisations.

The “BBA Bazaar” further added an experiential element to the fest, which celebrated innovation and entrepreneurship and represented the university's strong focus on experiential learning and developing entrepreneurial skills in students. The bazaar turned the campus into a living business environment where students demonstrated innovation, branding, pricing, and customer engagement practices while gaining hands-on experience in revenue creation and entrepreneurship.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Parul Patel, Vice President (Student Affairs & General Administration), said, “Udyam 2026 is a testament to our passion to foster an entrepreneurial mindset and leadership qualities in our students. Through the confluence of world-class leaders and initiatives such as the BBA Bazaar, we are not only encouraging innovation but also enabling our students to turn their ideas into impactful ventures that make a difference in society.”

With the presence of such accomplished leaders and thought-provoking discussions, Udyam 2026 was able to successfully connect the academia and the industry, thus reiterating the commitment of Parul University towards experiential learning and overall development of students, while concluding with a strong message to the students to develop curiosity, make genuine networks, become comfortable with discomfort, and innovate responsibly.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of Parul University and do not reflect/represent those of Shiksha.