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Report on Tea & Talk Session with Premjit Bala Sundaram

The HR Club of ABBS School of Management organized an insightful Tea & Talk session on 22nd February 2025, featuring Mr. Premjit Bala Sundaram as the distinguished guest speaker. The session, titled “Campus to Corporate,” provided students and faculty members with valuable industry insights and practical knowledge about transitioning from academia to the corporate world.

The session started with welcoming the guest, Mr. Premjit Balasundaram, by Debasmita. To honor the esteemed guest, the respected Director of ABBSSM presented a memento to Mr. Premjit Bala Sundaram as a token of appreciation, following which Mr. Premjit Balasundaram was invited to the stage to share his insights with the audience.

Mr. Premjit Balasundaram commenced the session with an engaging discussion on Sustainability. He began by asking the audience, “What does sustainability mean to you?” and encouraged students to share how they were contributing to sustainability efforts on campus.The second-year students enthusiastically explained their initiatives, including a lake restoration project, carbon emission reduction efforts, energy conservation, and solar energy generation on campus.

Mr. Balasundaram then provided an insightful explanation of sustainability, breaking it down into two components: “sustain” and “ability”—the ability to sustain. He elaborated on key aspects of environmental sustainability, highlighting issues like Air Quality Index (AQI), which is significantly impacted by construction dust. He pointed out that in urban areas, AQI levels often exceed 150, whereas they should ideally range between 0-50. He further discussed AQI in Delhi, emphasizing that lung cancer, which was previously associated mainly with smoking, is now increasingly caused by air pollution.

He then addressed the difference between Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), explaining that in India, these concepts are distinct, whereas in Western countries, they are often considered the same.The discussion then shifted to social entrepreneurship and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors. To engage the audience further, he posed a thought-provoking question, asking students about their career aspirations related to sustainability. He presented a list of potential roles, including: Sustainability Consultant, Project Manager,Researcher, Investor, Citizen Activist/Influencer, Policy Maker, Policy Enforcement Officer, Civil Services (UPSC)

Then, Mr. Balasundaram introduced the IBM Sustainability Accelerator, outlining its core principles: Design Thinking and Minimum Viable Product (MVP) development. He elaborated on how these methodologies are applied to develop sustainable solutions and drive impactful change.

Design Thinking: A Human-Centric Approach – Ms. Prema Kumari

Following Mr. Balasundaram’s address, Ms. Prema introduced Design Thinking as a human-centric approach to innovation. She highlighted how futuristic ideas could be transformed into real-world solutions by creating social and economic value. Design Thinking, as she explained, follows a structured methodology: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test.

Conclusion

The session provided a comprehensive understanding of sustainability challenges and potential solutions through technological advancements. The discussion reinforced IBM’s commitment to sustainable development, innovation, and human-centered problem-solving approaches that align with global sustainability goals.

Dr. Madhumathy K
Faculty Co-coordinator, ABBSSM

Dr. Madhumita Chatterji
Director-ABBSSM

Details of Enclosure:

1. Students attendance sheet
2. Students feedback