Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar (XIMB) hosted Ashwamedh 2026, the annual Business Conclave of X-Ops, the Operations Association of XIMB. The conclave focused on the theme “Beyond Borders: Building Operations for a Geopolitically Fragmented World” and brought together industry leaders, alumni and students to discuss the changing global business environment and the need for resilient operations.
The conclave began with the handing over of tokens of appreciation followed by a traditional lamp-lighting ceremony.
The session was moderated by Prof. Arijit Mitra, who spoke about the changing nature of operations amid globalisation and increasing geopolitical uncertainty. He highlighted that businesses today need to focus not only on operational efficiency but also on building resilience to withstand disruptions.
Mrs. Suman M, Migration Sales Lead, Startups India, AWS, and an XIMB alumna from the 2017 batch, discussed four key phases shaping the global business environment: “The Great Rewiring”, “Supply Chain Under Siege”, “The Splinternet and Data” and “Operating in the New World Order”.
Using Taiwan’s semiconductor industry as an example, she highlighted vulnerabilities in global supply chains and the impact of geopolitical developments on business operations. She also emphasised the importance of assessing geopolitical exposure and developing alternative plans, stressing the need for businesses to have a Plan B and Plan C for critical decision points.
Mr. Manoranjan Mohapatra, Chief Investment Officer, DATOMS, and an alumnus of XIMB’s 1990 batch, discussed five strategic fault lines and the cost of fragmentation compared with resilience. He presented a five-pillar operating model based on diversification, regionalisation, digitalisation, modularisation and scenario planning, supported by a case study.
Mr. Gyanendra Nath, Director, Project Operations and Technical, Vedanta, focused on building future-ready operations in a geopolitically fragmented world. He described resilience as the ability to anticipate disruptions, protect business continuity, recover effectively and continue creating value. He also stressed the importance of balancing efficiency with agility and resilience, along with ethical conduct, stakeholder communication, alternative supply chains and data-driven decision-making.
Mr. Sovit Biswal, GM, Revenue & Operations, Home Easy, and an alumnus of XIMB’s 2006 batch, shared insights from his experience across SaaS, FMCG and operations. He discussed the challenges of managing borderless businesses and explained how operational fragmentation can emerge at different handoffs.
Drawing on examples from leasing, restaurant SaaS and automation for small and medium businesses, he highlighted the importance of strong systems and adaptable operating models. He also urged students to focus on creating differentiated value as automation and artificial intelligence continue to reshape the workplace.
The session concluded with a closing note by Prof. Arijit Mitra, followed by an interactive question-and-answer session with the speakers. The speakers were presented with mementos and alumni T-shirts as tokens of appreciation.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Revanth R, Coordinator of X-Ops, marking the conclusion of a discussion centred on resilience, adaptability and the future of business operations in an increasingly fragmented global environment.