The alumni committee of KSRM organized an alumni session on “Synergizing Innovations and Sustainability through CSR,” featuring three distinguished alumni as panel members on 6th September 2024.
The speakers for the session were Mr. Alok Pandey (MBA, RM batch of 2010-12), Senior Manager, CSR at Mankind Pharma Ltd.; Mr. Pritam Motilal (MBA, RM batch of 2011-13), Senior Manager, CSR at Tata Motors Limited and; Mr. Mashkoor Khan (MBA, RM batch of 2012-14), Project Unit Coordinator at Ambuja Foundation.
In the first round of the discussion each panelist shared their extensive experience and insights on the topic. Mr. Alok Pandey emphasized the importance of understanding CSR laws and regulations and aligning innovations with the community’s needs. He shared examples from rural infrastructure development, stressing that innovations should be accepted by communities, supported by training and capacity-building efforts. He highlighted that without proper need analysis, even well intended innovations could fail. Mr. Pritam Motilal delved into how industries like manufacturing and automotive are integrating new CSR concepts such as Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), Green Finance, and the Triple Bottom Line. He explained the frameworks these industries use to align with sustainability goals and the growing importance of ESG reporting. He pointed out that aligning innovation with environmental sustainability is a major challenge in these sectors. Mr. Mashkoor Khan shared his experience in organic farming and natural resource management, stressing the importance of ground-level connection for successful CSR implementation. He emphasized transparency and clear impact monitoring in CSR projects.
In the second round, the panelists discussed essential skills for CSR professionals. Mr. Pritam Motilal emphasized the need for strong communication, community engagement, strategic thinking, and ethical decision-making. Mr. Alok Pandey highlighted the importance of understanding CSR laws, conducting due diligence, and aligning projects with strategic frameworks. Mr. Mashkoor Khan stressed the value of community connection, transparency, flexibility, and strong relationship-building skills to mobilize stakeholders and drive impact.
