‘CEO’s Agenda towards Climate Action’ unites ESG leaders for discussions on climate action

Part of GNAM, CenComm program draws participation from global B-schools

19 November, 2024, Bengaluru: As part of the Global Network for Advanced Management (GNAM) program, the ‘CEO’s Agenda towards Climate Action’—a debut program on climate action led by Prof. Deepti Ganapathy, Chairperson, Centre for Management Communication (CenComm) at IIM Bangalore, saw two industry leaders, Mr. Madhu Singh, Vice President of Electric Mobility, TVS Motors and Mr. Shikhar Jain, Executive Director-CESD, Confederation of Indian Industry, deliver guest sessions.

The guest sessions examined how strategic climate action in industries can significantly contribute to the nation’s climate goals.

Mr. Madhu Singh provided a comprehensive overview of TVS Motors’ sustainability initiatives, particularly their work at the Hosur plant. The facility, which has now become a model of environmental stewardship, is committed to conserving thousands of species of flora and fauna. The company’s push toward greener alternatives, particularly their strides in electric vehicles (EVs), stood out as a testament to their commitment to sustainable innovation.

“I was impressed by the initiations taken by the firm for reduction in their water consumption, massive reduction in GHG emission, 4 per cent of their workforce have differently-abled needs and more than 90 per cent of their energy needs are met by renewable sources,” said Esha Gupta, MBA graduate at University of New South Wales, Sydney, attending the course.

Mr. Shikhar Jain delivered a presentation on climate action, framing it not just as an environmental responsibility but as a strategic business imperative. He emphasized how sustainable practices are no longer optional for businesses seeking long-term success and how ESG frameworks now hold substantial value for investors. “The session’s outcomes explored the impact of ESG regulations on global trade, particularly in relation to India's Panchamrit Strategy, which was announced at COP 26,” opined Simmy Kumari Rajak, a second year MBA student at IIM Bangalore.

Together, the guest sessions promoted a holistic understanding of how industries can align their sustainability goals with global climate action to deliver value to stakeholders.

“It was valuable to get a perspective on how industry thinks about ESG and to hear about the ground reality of how businesses in India evolve, to keep up with Climate Change risks,” said Rangoli Gupta, Oxford MBA 2023-24 graduate who was part of the programme.

Launched in 2012, the Global Network for Advanced Management includes 32 leading business schools from diverse regions, countries, cultures, and economies in different phases of development. A common motivation of member schools to connect is to position their students, faculty, staff, alumni and other constituencies so that they can deepen their understanding of differences and commonalities in their economies and increase their effectiveness.

Neeraja H S, Sustainability Strategist and Founder of Ecomorphosys, took the participants around the IIM Bangalore campus on a sustainability walk, while discussing the carbon footprint 2023 report.

Indian Institute of Management Bangalore is the only Indian management school to be a member of the Global Advanced Network for Management (GNAM). The main objective of the network is to prepare students to be better managers in a global world. Through its access to courses and short programmes, GNAM sparks innovation and create value, in addition to connecting global B-schools, their resources, and their stakeholders.

The course CEO’s Agenda towards Climate Action is the first of its kind in the country- that lays emphasis on climate communication and leadership in order to strengthen Climate Adaptation, Resilience and Mitigation. Designed by Dr. Deepti Ganapathy, Chairperson of the Centre for Management Communication, who is a leading voice and an advocate for Climate Action in the region, it combines practical insights with immersive learning experiences.

IIM Bangalore students welcomed the foreign exchange participants with a jute bag, water bottle, notebook made of recycled paper and a copy of the book Media and Climate Change Making Sense of Press Narratives.

Testimonials

Last month I attended the Global Network Week at IIM Bangalore campus on the CEO's Agenda - Towards Climate Action” led by Prof. Deepti Ganapathy.

With 17 years in media and consulting, she’s a powerhouse of knowledge in strategic communication, climate action, and social media. Prof. Deepti brings a multidisciplinary approach to the classroom, bridging corporate strategy, social media, and sustainability. Her journey spans international collaboration with scholars across continents (yes, she’s got a global network from Spain to New Zealand). As co-founder of INDEEP, she also champions social impact beyond academia.

Esha Gupta

Australian Graduate School of Management, University of New South Wales, participant of the GNAM week.

Last month, I had the incredible opportunity to participate in the Global Network for Advanced Management Week at IIM Bangalore. The week focused on critical topics like sustainability and net-zero ambitions, explored through the lenses of business communication, perception, and commitment.
Coming from a different background, this experience was new and truly enriching for me. Studying in the IIM environment and learning from the brilliant professor, Deepti Ganapathy, provided a fresh perspective on the challenges and opportunities in sustainability. The diverse mix of students and experts from various industries made the discussions even more insightful and rewarding.
A big thank you to Indian Institute of Management Bangalore for organizing such an impactful program, and to all my colleagues for making it so memorable. Excited to apply these learnings and make a meaningful impact!

Sanchit Khanna

Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, participant of the GNAM week.

“It was valuable to get a perspective on how industry thinks about ESG and to hear about the ground reality of how businesses in India evolve, to keep up with Climate Change risks,”

Rangoli Gupta

Oxford MBA 2023-24 graduate, participant of the GNAM week.

The way Prof. Deepti Ganapathy integrates strategic communication with climate action insights is truly inspiring. Your eco takeaways are spot-on, especially the idea of using relatable imagery over fear to motivate action—such a powerful shift in perspective!

Aldrich Valerian

Australian Graduate School of Management, University of New South Wales, participant of the GNAM week.

“The session’s outcomes explored the impact of ESG regulations on global trade, particularly in relation to India's Panchamrit Strategy, which was announced at COP 26.”