Speed Mentoring : Nurturing the Next Generation of Professionals

ATLAS SkillTech University, in collaboration with the Bombay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) and Reliance Industries, recently organised a highly impactful speed mentoring event. This event, held at the state-of-the-art urban campus of ATLAS SkillTech University, celebrated gender diversity and inclusion by exclusively inviting women mentees from various backgrounds. The event saw participation from over 60 professionals, including mentees and mentors from esteemed organisations such as TATA Projects, Larsen & Toubro, Reliance Industries, Kotak Mutual Fund, Aditya Birla Group, Ernst & Young, Eureka Forbes, Hafele India and more.

One-on-one interactions between mentors and mentees

The event commenced with a warm welcome address by Dr. Parag Amin, Director of the MBA Program at ATLAS SkillTech University, followed by an introduction to the university by Dr. Malcolm Homavazir, Director of the Internal Quality Assurance Cell.

The highlight of the event was the speed mentoring sessions, which involved a series of short, focused conversations on professional challenges, career development, industry trends and skill enhancement. These one-on-one interactions between mentors and mentees provided valuable insights and guidance. Each mentee had the opportunity to spend approximately 15 minutes with each mentor, resulting in exposure to four different mentors throughout the event. To maximise the effectiveness of the sessions, mentor profiles were shared in advance, allowing mentees to prepare relevant questions beforehand.

Engage with professionals from diverse industries

The event proved to be an exceptional platform for mentees to engage with professionals from diverse industries. Mentors shared their unique career paths and shed light on the challenges they encountered along the way. Given that some of the mentees were educators and students special emphasis was placed on the transition process for students from university to industry, industry expectations and tips for achieving career goals. The mentors also addressed the critical aspects of work-life balance and the challenges faced by modern-day professionals, which resonated with the audience.

A wide range of topics

During the speed mentoring event, the mentees’ curiosity encompassed a wide range of topics, reflecting their dedication to their passion projects, their desire to enhance communication skills, their quest for effective leadership strategies, their aspirations for professional role transitions, and their interest in fostering diversity and inclusion in the workplace. These thought-provoking inquiries showcased the mentees’ drive for personal growth and their commitment to becoming well-rounded and impactful professionals.

Collaboration and knowledge-sharing

Within the span of two hours, the speed mentoring sessions were highly interactive and engaging. Mentors not only addressed the challenges faced by new-age professionals but also had the opportunity to network with one another. The event fostered collaboration and knowledge-sharing among mentors, further enhancing the overall experience.

Eminent panel of mentors

The event boasted an eminent panel of mentors who generously shared their expertise and experiences. The mentors included CEOs, professors, marketing heads, partners, coaches, legal experts, directors and professionals from various domains. Their collective wisdom and diverse backgrounds added immense value to the event:

• Rajan Raje, CEO, Nichem Solutions
• Dr. Nilima Nanda, Associate Professor, Vivekananda Education Society’s Institute of Management & Research
• Udita Shroff, Regional Head of Marketing – South Asia, Middle East, and Africa, Cathay Pacific Airways
• Ateet Sanghvi, Partner, Purple Ventures
• Dr. Rajesh Parekh, Resilience and Wellbeing Coach, Resilient Leadership
• Amber Gupta, Head Corporate Legal & Company Secretary, Aditya Birla Capital Ltd.
• Neelanjan Dev Bharadwaj, Director, Tubacex Group
• Neha Kothari, Assistant Professor, St. Francis Institute of Management & Research
• Anil Radhakrishnan, Director, Accex Supply Chain & Warehousing Pvt Ltd.
• Smitha Iyer, Founder, Decode Inspired Living
• Dr. Rahul Patil, Director, Halliburton Technology India Pvt. Ltd.
• Vinath Hegde, Consultant, Eureka Forbes
• Parag Parmar, Manager – Business Consulting, Ernst & Young
• Pooja Dharewa, Director, KD Practice Consulting Pvt. Ltd.
• Kailash Panjabi, Deputy GM, Reliance Industries Ltd.
• Neetu Kumar, GM-HR, TATA Projects Ltd.
• Preeti Gupta, Group Executive President, Aditya Birla Group
• Suhas Tuljapurkar, Founder & Managing Director, Legasis
• Ashish Aundhkar, Business Head, Hafele India
• Meenakshi Talsera, Technical Training Head, Hefele India
• Avisha Pandey, Business Head, Hefele India
• Rohit Taru, GM – IT & Digital Transformation, Hefele India
• Vikram Singh, Business Head, Hefele India
• Abhishek Bisen, Head of Fixed Income, Kotak Mutual Fund
• Arpita Dutta, Mentor, Coach, Trainer, Facilitator, Founder of Cherryskills Learning Pvt. Ltd.
• Ashith Kampani, Chairman, Cosmicmandal15 Group
• Indeevar Kaul, CFO, Finance Consultancy
• Manish Balwani, Proprietor, Independent Investment Advisor & Wealth Manager
• Suma Venkatesh, Manager, Credit Control, Global Credit Control, Wartsila Singapore Pvt Ltd
• Rohit Luthra, SGM, Reliance Industries Ltd.
• Suhasini Seshadri, Founder, Decode Inspired Living
• Seema Nair, Sr EVP & Head Group HR Office, Reliance Industries Ltd.
• Dr. Rupali Karadkar, IPH

A moment of recognition

The culmination of the event brought a moment of celebration and recognition as both mentors and mentees were honored with certificates presented by the esteemed Bombay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI). Dr. Zuleika Homavazir, Director of IQAC and Professor at the ATLAS ISME, presented the well-deserved accolades of appreciation. This gesture acknowledged the invaluable contributions and the meaningful connections established throughout the event, solidifying the collective commitment to professional growth and development. The certificates served as tangible reminders of the mentorship journey and the enduring impact it will have on the participants’ careers and aspirations.

Bridging the gap between industry and academia

In her closing statement, Dr. Zuleika Homavazir emphasised the significance of every individual present as an integral part of the university. Recognising the importance of producing competent professionals, she invited everyone to actively engage in collaboration, extending support from shaping the curriculum to internships and mentoring. Encouraging industry-academia initiatives, she expressed the shared goal of elevating the next generation to new heights. She highlighted that by bridging the gap between the classroom and the corporate world, ATLAS SkillTech University aims to equip students with practical skills and prepare them for successful careers.

The event successfully provided a nurturing environment for mentees to engage with professionals from various industries, fostering personal and professional growth. The mentees gained valuable insights, expanded their networks, and were inspired by the mentors’ journeys. Overall, the speed mentoring event proved to be a transformative experience for the new-age professionals, paving the way for their future success.