Jamshedpur: XLRI – Xavier School of Management, in collaboration with the JRD Tata Foundation for Business Ethics, hosted a three-day International Conference on Respect in Business and Leadership from January 9 to 11, 2025. The event focused on integrating respect into business practices and leadership to build ethical frameworks for a sustainable and inclusive global future.
The conference was inaugurated on January 9 by distinguished speakers, including Ms. Soni Sinha, Chief Ethics Counsellor of Tata Steel, who stated, “Respect is a binding force that harmonizes organizational success with social good.” Prof. Dr. Madan Pillutla, Dean of the Indian School of Business, underscored the importance of leadership that values humanity and diversity.
XLRI leaders, including Professor Sanjay Patro, Dean (Academics), and Fr. Donald D’Silva SJ, Dean (Admin-Finance), highlighted the institution’s commitment to ethical leadership. Professor Patro called respect “the invisible currency that fuels ethical leadership,” while Fr. D’Silva emphasized that respect starts with daily actions.
Fr. Kuruvilla Pandikattu SJ, Chair Professor of the JRD Tata Foundation for Business Ethics, launched his book, Ethical Leadership and Sustainable Practices, stressing that sustainable leadership is grounded in respect.
The conference also saw the launch of EthicoSphere, a platform aimed at promoting ethical leadership. Dr. Himanshu Rai, Director of IIM Indore, delivered a keynote advocating for value-driven governance. Fr. George Sebastian, Director of XLRI, highlighted EthicoSphere’s role in creating ethical ecosystems through collaboration.
Keynote speakers included Professor Ram Kumar Kakani, Director of IIM Raipur, and Professor Pawan Kumar Singh, Director of IIM Tiruchirappalli, among others. Industry leaders from Microsoft, IBM, Amadeus Labs, and Vedanta Ltd., participated in panel discussions on ethical leadership.
EthicoSphere aims to inspire global ethical decision-making through ongoing research and collaborations with industry and academia. XLRI plans to host annual EthicoSphere Dialogues to share insights and best practices.
The conference concluded with a renewed commitment among participants to integrate respect and ethics into their professional and personal lives, reinforcing XLRI’s mission to develop responsible leaders for a more ethical global business environment.
