Nagpur, October 27, 2023 | The 11th Humanistic Management Conference, themed ‘Leadership for Heritage, Legacy and Humanistic Management,’ was organized at IIM Nagpur on October 27, 2023. The event, organized in collaboration with the international partner, Humanistic Management Network, Switzerland, brought together leaders, scholars, and experts to explore diverse facets of leadership, legacy, heritage, and humanistic management. The conference featured a wide array of activities, including an industry-academic conclave, a world cafe, a boot camp, panel discussions, and academic presentations.
The proceedings commenced with an insightful opening address by the Conference Chair Prof. Mukund Vyas, Dean, Executive Education, IIM Nagpur, who provided a clear overview of the conference’s objectives and its significance. Prof. Vyas revealed that the conference received an impressive 40 abstract submissions, underscoring the growing interest in the themes of leadership and humanistic management.
Dr. Bhimaraya Metri, Director of IIM Nagpur, emphasized the importance of human resource development and the value of cooperation in his introductory speech. He highlighted that NEP 2020 was a vital requirement in the current educational landscape.
Dr. Ernst von Kimakowitz, Co-Founder and President, Humanistic Management Network, University of Lucerne, Switzerland underscored the conference’s role as the inception of a long-term collaboration and noted its distinction as the first international conference in three years. He emphasized the conference’s primary goal of contributing to future generations through rigorous research. Dr. Kimakowitz also elaborated on the three core aspects of Humanistic Management, which encompass the dignity of life and the integration of managerial discussion.
Prof. Rajendra Srivastava, Executive Director, Centre for Business Innovation, Executive Fellows Program in Management, Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, delivered an engaging session on value migration and the global impact of Indian science and technology. He discussed the crucial role of leveraging human capital, technology, ecosystem, and branding. Professor Srivastava stressed the importance of honouring, creating, and enabling promises while also highlight the significance of employee respect and dignity, empowerment, development, open communication, work-life balance, ethical leadership, fair compensation, and other essential elements of humanistic management.
In the industry-academia interaction session, Conference Chair Prof. Deepmala Baghel, Area Chairperson (HASS), IIM Nagpur, emphasized that the conference’s objective was to foster a closer relationship between academia and industry.
Mr. K. S. Cheema, Founder Chairman, KS Cheema Group, emphasized the need to create a legacy that sets an organization apart from others. He called for a shift away from a profit-centric approach and advocated for building a corporate culture that encourages independent thinking, participative management, long-lasting relationships, and work-life balance. Mr. Cheema also stressed the importance of identifying and valuing competent employees.
Mr. Kirit Joshi Co-founder Spacewood, asserted that effective leaders should be able to bring out the best in their teams. He highlighted the significance of empathy, human connection, a clear vision, and a sense of responsibility. He also underscored the importance of adaptability and open-mindedness within organizations.
Dr. Cristina Schwabenland from University of Bedfordshire, Luton, UK, discussed the role of role modelling in business schools and urged the promotion of equitable cultures within the classroom.
Ms. Sara Wurzer from University of Insbruck, Austria, concluded the conference by delving into the understanding of sustainability and its connection to leadership and legacy, offering examples of companies where leadership and legacy have made a profound impact on sustainability performance.
The 11th Humanistic Management Conference served as a valuable platform for the exchange of ideas and insights, aiming to shape the future of leadership, management, and legacy with a humanistic approach.