Warm reminiscences from his faculty colleagues, gratitude from his PhD students, a ‘bidai geet’ (farewell song) and resounding applause for his distinguished career as a teacher, researcher and administrator marked the farewell of Dr. Rahul Dé, former Dean Programmes and faculty in the Information Systems area at IIM Bangalore, who retired on 31 December 2024.  

The Centre for Capital Markets and Risk Management (CCMRM), a Centre of Excellence at IIM Bangalore, conducted a two-day specialized certificate programme on the Bloomberg database and NSMART on 23 and 24 December 2024.

With a focus on real-world application, the programme encouraged participants to retrieve, analyze, and interpret complex economic, accounting, and financial data. Leveraging the advanced capabilities of Bloomberg Terminal, the IIMB certificate programme equipped participants with an assortment of essential skills in financial management and analysis.

‘Unraveling Prosumption Behavior for Online Reviews during Environmental Uncertainty: A Stimulus-Response Perspective’, co-authored by IIMB PhD scholar Manisha Rathi, from the Information Systems area, has been published in the Information Systems Frontiers (ABDC: A) journal.

 Co-authored with Prof. Adrija Majumdar, IIM Ahmedabad, and Prof. Sawan Rathi, IIT Bombay, the study examines the ways in which environmental disruptions can reshape online interactions, specifically online review behavior.

Among the various newfangled inventions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic was the creation and consumption of online reviews. The study examines “prosumption”— ‘production’ and ‘consumption’ behavior among individual reviewers using data from restaurant reviews across U.S. cities with varying levels of COVID-19 impact.

IIM Bangalore PhD scholar Manan Alpeshbhai Gandhi, from the Organizational Behavior & Human Resource Management area at IIM Bangalore, has published two case studies at the IIM Ahmedabad Case Center, in collaboration with Prof. Vishal Gupta, IIMA.

The cases examine the planning, execution, and impact of the Pramukh Swami Maharaj (PSM) Shatabdi Mahotsav, a month-long centenary festival held on a sprawling 600-acre site near Ahmedabad, Gujarat, from December 2022 to January 2023. Case study 1 provides an overview of the event’s grand scale, showcasing the diverse attractions, including a 67-foot replica of the Akshardham temple, vibrant exhibits, cultural performances, and extensive infrastructure to accommodate visitors of all ages and backgrounds. Case study 2 contextualizes the organizational feat of constructing PSM Nagar within a time span of 9 months, while simultaneously mobilizing a total of 80,000 volunteers.

Three students from IIM Bangalore’s MBA for Working Executives program (PGPEM)—Gethaara Gowri Gowthami, Lakshmi R, and Naveen Raj S—have secured National First Runners Up in the Innovate for Social-Impact strategy competition organized by the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta. The event challenged participants to devise an innovative sustainable solution for real-world problems in the retail sector. Team Creative Catalysts excelled with EatWise, which sought to transform India’s restaurant and food delivery industry by integrating sustainability and ethical practices through tech-driven innovation.

In: Handbook of Aging, Health and Public Policy.

Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-1914-4_235-1

Abstract:

The concurrent climate crisis is a humanitarian global challenge serving up significant climate anxiety and concern due to the phenomenon’s disproportionate effects, which can disadvantage some of the most vulnerable groups, including the older adults. Clarion calls for climate change advocacy and action are increasing in recent years with glimpses of climate hope. However, the discourse tends to turn subtly or overtly discriminatory towards either younger or older generations, depending on the context, place, and frame. Harbouring discriminatory dispositions in climate discourse can be deeply problematic in today’s rapidly aging world as not only do they amplify existing disparities among different age cohorts but can also disregard the vulnerabilities experienced by the older adults.

While there is consensus that the fight against climate change requires a multipronged community-led approach, it also necessitates an intersectional lens soliciting intergenerational collaboration and inclusive collective action. The author highlights the unfortunate spectre of ageism in the battle against climate change and elucidates how ageism in its implicit, explicit, subjective, and objective forms impacts the participation and perceptions of people across various age cohorts. He re-emphasizes the need to elicit diverse supportive action to overcome climate anxiety and best harness the demographic as well as longevity dividend in combinedly supporting climate change advocacy and action. He also highlights the exemplar contributions of older adults in India who are visible as climate leaders and changemakers (Padma Shri Tulsi Gowda, Padma Shri Saalumarada Thimmakka, and Bittu Sahgal) who have led and motivated the younger generations, showcasing the enormous potential of intergenerational collaboration and inclusive collective action for climate change.

CADRE, an online dispute resolution (ODR) platform from Cohort 6 of Velocity, the Revenue Stage Incubation Program at NSRCEL, has raised $200,000 in its ongoing pre-series A funding round. CADRE ODR leverages AI-driven technology to provide dispute resolution. Addressing inefficiencies in traditional systems, their platform reduces resolution timelines to 45-60 days, offering a faster alternative to conventional methods.

Ukhi, from Cohort 5 of Velocity and also part of the Circular Economy Incubation Program run in collaboration with Pernod Ricard India Foundation, raised $1.2 million in a round led by Venture Catalyst & Angel Avtar Monga.

Ukhi develops biodegradable biomaterials from agricultural residues to empower the packaging industry with eco-friendly solutions. Their patent-pending technology transforms lignocellulosic waste into compostable materials, offering a scalable alternative to plastics.

Swetha K.C., founder of Vidhyunmana Technologies from Cohort 15 of Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women, was honored with the prestigious Gold Award 2024 in the Scale-up-Service Sector category and recognized as a Unique Woman Achiever by UBUNTU: Consortium of Women Entrepreneurs Association.

Anooja Bashir, founder of FlexiCloud from Cohort 9 of Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women, won the TiECon Startup Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

FlexiCloud.in is a Linux-only web hosting company offering services tailored to meet any website-based needs. With shared hosting plans, they combine the latest technologies with a customer-friendly approach to deliver hosting solutions.

IVillage, founded by Aryah Mahajan from Cohort 6 of Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women, was awarded the SME Champion-Gender Inclusive Workplace Award at the UN Women Asia and the Pacific Women’s Empowerment Principles Awards Ceremony.

IVillage creates eco-friendly cotton bags for corporates, promoting sustainability and empowering rural women in Uttar Pradesh with employment and financial independence. As part of the Pardada-Pardadi Foundation, they also support girls’ education and vocational training, driving social and environmental impact.