The flagship initiative of the Dr. Pritam Singh Foundation—the annual ‘Pritam Singh Memorial Foundation–FORE International Management Conference (PRISM-FIMC 2025)’—was hosted by FORE School of Management (FSM) over three days in New Delhi from November 22–24. Staying true to Dr. Pritam Singh’s legacy, the conference offered a dynamic platform featuring high-impact keynotes on leadership and transformation, strategic panel discussions, awards, and rich exchanges among global leaders from industry, academia, public policy, and diplomacy.
The inaugural ceremony included the presentation of the Dr. Pritam Singh Corporate & Academia Leadership Awards, honoring exemplary contributions to leadership excellence and organizational transformation.
Prof. Sriparna Basu, Professor & Dean (Academics), FORE School of Management, highlighted the academic importance of the deliberations, stating:
“PRISM-FIMC 2025 comes at an important moment, as geopolitical shifts, rapid technological advances, and mounting environmental pressures reshape the world we live in. In such an era of disruption, it is vital to develop leaders who think deeply, act ethically, and can navigate the complex intersections of society, business, and public policy. This conference has provided a meaningful space to explore how we can strengthen responsible governance, use technology to widen opportunity, and redefine progress with people and the planet at its core. I sincerely thank all participants for their thoughtful contributions, which have reinforced our collective commitment to building a more responsible, equitable, and sustainable future.”
Earlier, in his opening remarks, Prof. Subir Verma, Director, FORE School of Management, emphasized the scale and significance of PRISM-FIMC 2025, noting the diversity of speakers and conversations that brought together cross-sector leaders to shape India’s evolving management and leadership narrative.
Addressing the inaugural plenary, Dr. T. G. Sitharam, Chairman, AICTE, chief guest for the event, underscored the necessity of responsible innovation in higher education:
“We are living in an era of unprecedented disruption. Technology, geopolitics, and climate-related challenges are reshaping the world in ways we have not seen before. In times like these, leadership must evolve—it is no longer about authority but about adaptability, responsibility, and collaboration. India has the talent and potential to lead globally, and our education system must prepare students to be future-ready. As a nation, we must aim to create leaders who are ethical, resilient, and committed to building a sustainable and developed India by 2047.”
Mr. P. Dwarkanath, President, PRISM Foundation and Former Chairman, GSK, reflected on Dr. Pritam Singh’s lifelong mission:
“Dr. Pritam Singh dedicated his life to nurturing leaders and building meaningful bridges between academia and industry. This conference reflects his conviction that collaboration, shared insight, and continuous learning are essential to leadership. As we honour his legacy, we reaffirm our commitment to carrying his vision forward—supporting emerging leaders and strengthening institutions grounded in responsibility and purpose.”
Bringing an international dimension to the discourse, Dr. Andreas Emser, Dean, Frankfurt School of Finance & Management (Germany), stressed that “Responsible leadership is no longer optional—it is a global expectation, and leaders must balance competitiveness with ethics and sustainability.”
Senior leaders from EY, Indian Oil, MakeMyTrip, HSBC, GAIL, KPMG India, Axis Bank, and several other organizations contributed insights on leadership models for a technologically disruptive era, people-first strategies amid socio-economic volatility, and geopolitical forces influencing global business.
In his keynote on leadership in a digitally transforming world, Krishnan Ramachandran, MD & CEO, Niva Bupa, observed:
“We are living through a period of rapid and continuous change, and leaders must be prepared to navigate disruption with clarity and purpose. Our journey has shown that strong talent, a clear strategy, and disciplined execution can help organizations grow even in uncertain times. At Niva Bupa, our purpose—to give every Indian the confidence to access quality healthcare—guides our decisions, strengthens our resolve, and enables us to build high-performing teams committed to resilience in an evolving world.”
During the Ambassadors’ Panel, moderated by Dr. Nalin Mehta of Moneycontrol, former ambassador Dr. Dilip Sinha noted:
“Geopolitics today influences business, technology, and global cooperation more deeply than ever before. Responsible leadership requires an understanding of these shifting dynamics. Institutions like FORE School of Management play an essential role in helping students and professionals explore how international developments shape policy and industry.”
Former Ambassador to the USA, Mr. Arun Singh, added:
“The global order is undergoing significant transformation, and India’s role is becoming increasingly central. Leaders must be equipped to understand how global trends impact economic and strategic decisions. Platforms that bring together academia, diplomacy, and industry prepare young professionals to operate with clarity in a complex world.”
The conference also highlighted recent publications, including Organization Resilience and Leadership Issues in the Dynamic Era (Proceedings of PRISM-2024), edited by Dr. Deepti Dabas Hazarika, Dr. Arnab Chakraborty, Dr. Shiwangi Sharma, Dr. Apurva Chauhan, and Dr. Neha Yadav, as well as The Strategy Paradox: Practical Approach for Real-world Challenges by Dr. Yasho V. Verma.
The conference concluded with the Directors’ Forum, the Valedictory Ceremony, a book launch, and the announcement of the Best Paper Awards:
- 1st Prize: Abdul Rahim Munshi & Pushpak Deshpande
- 2nd Prize: Anjali Thukral, Ms. Nidhi Aggarwal, Dr. Chand Prakash Saini & Prof. Pooja Kapoor
- 3rd Prize: Vanshika Sabharwal, Mr. Rahul Chidambaram & Dr. Ritesh Dwivedi
- Leadership Best Paper Award: Lakshman Singh (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited)
The conference also hosted the ELC Competition, where students presented leadership and innovation-driven solutions. Awards were presented by senior academic dignitaries, recognizing:
- Pritam Singh Corporate Transformational Leadership Award: Dr. Pankaj Bansal, Co-founder & Managing Partner, Caret Capital; Co-Founder, Taggd
- Pritam Singh Corporate Lifetime Achievement Award: Mr. R. P. Singh, Director – HR & Legal, IFFCO
- Pritam Singh Academia Transformational Leadership Award: Dr. T. G. Sitharam, Chairman, AICTE
- Pritam Singh Academia Lifetime Achievement Award: Prof. K. R. S. Murthy, Former Director, IIM Bangalore
Results of the PRISM Emerging Leaders’ Competition were also announced:
- Winner: Ashok Leyland Foundry Division, Ennore
- First Runners-up: L&T Precision Engineering and Systems
- Second Runners-up: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi
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