Columbia Business School held its 20th Annual Business Conference on February 8, focusing on India’s growing global influence and the future of its economic relationship with the United States.
Taking place at Geffen Hall, the conference was themed “India on the Global Stage: Powering the Next Wave of Growth.” The event was inaugurated with opening remarks from India’s Consul General in New York, Binaya Srikanta Pradhan.
The conference is described by organizers as “the largest India-centric forum in New York” and has been an annual feature since 2006. It was sponsored by the State Bank of India in New York and organized by the South Asia Business Association (SABA). The student-led event typically draws around 300 participants, including students, faculty, alumni, industry professionals, and entrepreneurs. It serves as a platform for networking, learning, and strengthening U.S.-India business relations.
This year’s event focused on India’s diverse economic landscape, growth trajectory, and the challenges ahead. Discussions revolved around how Indian businesses are navigating economic uncertainties to achieve sustainable growth.
According to SABA’s website, the conference featured over 30 speakers and drew 300 attendees. Participants engaged in discussions on India’s economic policies, trade opportunities, and industry trends through panel discussions, fireside chats, and interactive sessions.
“India Business Conference offers a forum to deliberate on the most relevant topics shaping India today. In short, the conference brings together voices at the frontier of their industries as they share their stories, challenge conventional wisdom, and provide insight into the future they are writing – the future of a ‘new’ India,” SABA stated.
Notable speakers at the conference included Sri Rama Mohan Rao Amara, Managing Director of International Banking, Global Markets, and Technology at SBI; Ashish Chauhan, CEO of the National Stock Exchange of India; celebrated chef Vikas Khanna; Vijay Subramaniam, CEO of Collective Artists Network; Vivek Vikram Singh, CEO of Sona Comstar; Puneet Singh Jaggi, Founder of BluSmart Mobility; Arvind Gupta, CEO of MyGov India; Sandeep Vardhan, CEO of Coinopoly; Ritika Patni, CEO of ArtH; Dr. Neetika Ashwani, CEO of KRIASH; Phalgun Kompalli, Founder of upGrad; and Bhaskar Majumdar, Managing Partner at Unicorn India Ventures.
A key session was a fireside chat titled “Bridging Borders: The Future of U.S.-India Trade Relations,” featuring Mark Linscott, Senior Advisor on Trade at the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF). He discussed various aspects of the U.S.-India trade relationship, including its historical background, the impact of policies implemented during the Trump administration, and the future direction of bilateral negotiations.
Another major panel, “Betting on India’s Entrepreneurs: Venture Capital’s Role in India’s Growth Story,” was moderated by Pravin Patil, Founding Partner at Prana Ventures. The panel included Vinny Pujji of Left Lane Capital, Bhaskar Majumdar, Pratibha Vuppuluri, General Partner at Plum Alley, and Rajul Garg, Managing Partner at Leo Capital.
Chintu Patel, Founder and CEO of Amneal Pharmaceuticals, spoke on “The Supply Chain of Care: India’s Role in Global Pharma.” According to a LinkedIn post from the event organizers, Patel highlighted India’s potential to become a global leader in affordable pharmaceutical innovation within the next decade. He stressed the importance of eliminating inefficiencies in the sector and transitioning from a volume-driven approach to a value-driven strategy in drug discovery. “He emphasized the need to eliminate inefficiencies and shift from a volume-driven approach to a value-driven mindset in drug discovery. Moreover, knowing when to pursue organic versus inorganic growth is critical to long-term business strategy,” the organizers shared. Patel expressed confidence that India has the potential to redefine the future of global healthcare.
Phalgun Kompalli, Co-founder of upGrad, offered insights into entrepreneurship. He emphasized perseverance, stating, “Stay the course, despite the numerous hurdles. If you stay the course, it’s going to be a rewarding journey and eventually, you build something.”
Vijay Subramaniam of Collective Artists Network discussed the evolving landscape of content creation and distribution. He pointed out that independent creators are increasingly becoming their own distribution networks, using platforms like YouTube and Netflix. “People will never stop doom scrolling and actors shouldn’t box themselves into just the big screen,” he said. Adding on India’s global rise, he remarked, “With India on the global stage, this is just the beginning!”
Another featured speaker was Warren Kevin Harris, CEO and Managing Director of Tata Technologies.
The event received support from several sponsors, including SBI New York, Tata Group, the Motwani Jadeja Foundation, the Consulate General of India in New York, the Jerome A. Chazen Institute for Global Business, and the Columbia Business School Office of Student Affairs.