Winter Conference on Sustainable Business 2025
Expert Sessions
Pre-conference Doctoral Session
The conference opened with a rigorous pre-doctoral programme designed to sharpen research capabilities among emerging scholars.
Prof. Robert Mai, Grenoble Ecole de Management, France
Prof. Mai guided scholars through the logic of causality, experimental design, manipulation checks, and validity. He emphasized methodological precision and its application to contemporary marketing and sustainability research.
Prof. Ashwini Deshpande, Ashoka University
Prof. Deshpande contextualized India's low female labour force participation, explaining how structural and measurement gaps obscure women's economic contributions, and underscored the importance of creating demand for female labour.
Dr. Raj Krishnan Shankar, Professor – Strategy & Entrepreneurship, Great Lakes Chennai
Dr. Shankar outlined the foundations of strong theory, the inductive–deductive continuum, and the importance of conceptual clarity. His guidance offered young researchers a roadmap to develop publishable work.
Fireside Chat
Moderated by Prof. Harish Kumar, the fireside conversation brought together Prof. Mai, Prof. Deshpande, and Dr. Shankar for a candid dialogue on academic publishing. Key insights included:
- clarity of contribution as a prerequisite to avoid desk rejection,
- the dangers of premature submission,
- balancing AI tools with authentic scholarly voice,
- embracing reviewer feedback as an iterative learning process.
The session energised scholars with practical guidance and reassurance on navigating the research journey.
Industry Panel Discussion: Designing for Circularity
A powerful panel featuring Mr. Shrashtant Patara, Mr. Thakur Pherwani, Mr. Abhishek Ranjan, and Ms. Sarika Gosain, moderated by Mr. Sanjay Kahjuria, examined the operational and strategic imperatives of circularity.
Key takeaways included:
- the inevitability of circular models in future supply chains,
- circularity as a value-creation driver rather than a CSR obligation,
- the need for ecosystem-level transformation.
Expert Sessions
Publishing in High Impact Journals
Prof. Balachandran, led an insightful session on structuring manuscripts, framing contributions, and understanding editorial expectations.
Prof. Sudhakar Balachandran, Associate Professor, University of Illinois Chicago
Welcome Address
The conference began with reflections by Prof. Jones Mathew, Principal and Head of Institution, Great Lakes Gurgaon, who highlighted the need for organisations to transition from intention to measurable sustainable action.
Keynote Address
The keynote for WCSB 2025 was delivered by Prof. Russell W. Belk, globally renowned scholar of Consumer Culture.
Prof. Belk explored how sharing, subscription, and streaming economies shape contemporary consumption patterns, identity, and sustainability. His culturally rooted insights offered attendees a nuanced view of shifting consumer ecosystems.
Professor of Marketing; Kraft Foods Canada Chair in Marketing, Schulich School of Business, York University
Special Addresses
Dr. Sanghamitra Bhattacharyya, Professor & Director - Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Development
Unveiling of Report: "Environmental Consciousness of Indian Consumers"
Dr. Sanghamitra Bhattacharyya, Chair – Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Development, unveiled her consumer research report highlighting that visible environmental impact remains the strongest driver of sustainable choices among consumers.
Chief Guest Address by Param Puneet Singh
Mr. Param Puneet Singh delivered the Industry Address, introducing the ATLAS Framework, which underscores adaptability, technological capability, leadership resilience, workforce agility, and sustainability as core pillars. Together, these elements offer a succinct and future-ready blueprint for organisations navigating an increasingly dynamic and fast-evolving business landscape.
Param Puneet Sing, Managing Director, Strategy & Consulting Global Network, Accenture
A special cultural performance curated in collaboration with SPIC MACAY added a reflective and aesthetic dimension to the conference.
The evening concluded with a Gala Dinner, offering faculty, speakers, and delegates ample opportunity to network and build meaningful professional connections.
The conference concluded with a Vote of Thanks delivered by Dr. Sanghamitra Bhattacharyya, expressing gratitudes the collective efforts of all speakers, participants, organisers, and supporting teams whose contributions ensured the seamless execution of WCSB 2025. We look forward to welcoming scholars, practitioners, and leaders for WCSB 2026 and continuing our collective pursuit of a more sustainable future.
Knowledge Partner
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