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UTKARSH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2026

Date: 13th - 14th February, 2026 Share on WhatsApp
Venue:St. Joseph’s Institute of Management (SJIM)


St. Joseph’s Institute of Management (SJIM), Bengaluru, organized its annual flagship international leadership conference, UTKARSH 2026, on 13th and 14th February 2026 .Centered on the theme “Shaping the Future of AI with Integrity: Ethics and Leadership in the AI Era,” the conference examined how Artificial Intelligence is transforming the way organizations hire, market, invest, govern, and make strategic decisions. While AI brings unprecedented speed and scale, it also raises pressing ethical concerns—about data ownership, accountability in algorithmic decision-making, and balancing innovation with integrity and fairness.

UTKARSH 2026 brought together eminent leaders, academicians, and practitioners from Marketing, HR, Finance, Operations, and Analytics to deliberate on responsible leadership and ethical governance in the evolving AI-driven world.

Day 1: Leadership Perspectives on Ethics in the AI Era
The conference commenced with the traditional lighting of the lamp, symbolizing wisdom and enlightenment. The ceremony was led by the Chief Guest Mr. G. Venugopal, Associate Vice President, Infosys, along with:

• Dr. Roshan David Pereira SJ, Director, St. Joseph’s Institute of Management
• Dr. Rajiv Noronha, Dean
• Dr. Deepika Joshi, Faculty Coordinator
• Prof. Rajendra Desai, Faculty Coordinator
• Mr. Ayinesh, Student Coordinator
• Ms. Surekha, Student Coordinator

Following the inauguration, Dr. Roshan David Pereira SJ, Director, SJIM, addressed the gathering. In his welcome address, he emphasized that true leadership in 2026 requires the courage to ensure that AI serves the marginalized, that data privacy is treated as a sacred trust, and that technology fosters human connection rather than isolation. His words set a reflective and value-driven tone for the conference.

The Inaugural Address was then delivered by Mr. G. Venugopal, Associate Vice President, Infosys. Speaking from a practitioner’s perspective, he highlighted the journey of Artificial Intelligence — moving from hype to value. He underscored the importance of translating AI potential into meaningful organizational impact while ensuring responsible and ethical implementation.

Parallel sessions featured distinguished speakers:
• Ms. Asha Biradar – Megmind Consulting
• Mr. Christy Joseph – krtrimalQ Cognitive Solutions
• Ms. Sanghamitra Bhargov – Scapia
• Mr. Rajeev Velur – Deccan Herald
• Ms. Suba Lakshminarasimhan – SLN Brand Studio
• Mr. Amith Prakash – Randstad
A plenary session was delivered by Mr. Alen Aruldhas, Group Associate Vice President, DCB Bank.

The afternoon sessions featured:
• Ms. Sunitha Seshadri – HP Inc.
• Mr. Jose Maliakal – Formerly IBM

The day concluded with an engaging Panel Discussion Titled : The Future of Work: Humans,AIand the New Social Contract, featuring:
• Ms. Gargi Verma – Ex-Head HR, sa.global
• Mr. Nikhil Anto – Senior Manager, AON Consulting
• Mr. Rajesh Bernard – Founder, Voizworks
• Mr. Srinath Gururajarao – Founder & CEO, Grovon Solutions

Day 2: Research Paper Presentation
The second day began with the online Keynote Address by
David C. Bauman (PhD), Regis University, Denver, USA. Titled :Responsibly Manging People,Culture and AI for Resilient Organizations.

Research paper presentations followed, encouraging academic discourse on AI governance, fairness, and leadership accountability.

The concluding panel discussion, titled:
“Equity by Design: Can AI Advance Fairness or Will It Amplify Bias?” featured:

• Mr. Moiz Barodawala – Associate Director (HR), Synechron
• Ms. Anuradha – Head, People & Culture, MakeSense Soft
• Mr. Soosai Jude – Senior Director, Movate
• Mr. Ananth P. Mallya – Founder, QuanTech Origin
The success of UTKARSH 2026 was guided by a committed and visionary organising committee:

• Chief Patron: Rev. Dr. Daniel Fernandes SJ, Vice President, BJES
• Patron: Rev. Dr. Roshan David Pereira SJ, Director, SJIM
• Conference Chair: Dr. Rajiv Noronha, Dean, SJIM
• Conference Convenors:
o Dr. Deepika Joshi, Associate Professor
o Prof. Rajendra Desai, Chair – Corporate Relations
• Student Coordinators:
o Mrs. Ainesh Ray
o Ms. Surekha J


The conference concluded with a valedictory ceremony recognizing the Best Paper Presenter, followed by closing remarks from the organizing committee.

Utkarsh 2026 stood as a powerful convergence of academia and industry, inspiring leaders to shape the future of AI with integrity, responsibility, and human values.