Bhubaneswar, June 25: A two-day Entrepreneurship Development Program (EDP) organised with the objective of fostering a culture of entrepreneurship concluded at the Institute of Business and Computer Studies (IBCS), faculty of management sciences of SOA Deemed to be University here, on Saturday.
The event was inaugurated by Dr. Manisha Acharya, Start-up Advisor and Mentor and British Chevening Fellow at the University of Oxford, who stressed on the importance of entrepreneurship in driving economic growth and creating employment opportunities.
The inaugural program was also addressed by Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda, Vice-Chancellor, SOA, Prof. Asima Pradhan, Founder Director, PhotoSplMeDx and former Professor at IIT Kanpur, Prof. Ayasa Kanta Mohanty, Dean, IBCS, Prof. Jyoti Ranjan Das, Dean (Students’ Welfare) and Prof. Manoranjan Dash, Associate Dean, IBCS.
Faculty members and staff of IBCS, delegates and aspiring entrepreneurs attended the program which aimed to equip entrepreneurs with necessary skill and knowledge to set up successful businesses.
Prof. Asima Pradhan highlighted the government’s supportive policies and schemes for fostering entrepreneurship in the region while Prof. Nanda emphasized on the importance of learning which was a never ending process in life.
The need was to always sharpen one’s skill to stay ahead in a competitive world, he said.
Prof. Mohanty stressed on the importance of discipline and life skills in attaining personal and professional success while Prof. Das focused on the need for discipline, dedication and determination in life describing them as three important elements to achieve success.
The program contained inter-active sessions involving experienced entrepreneurs and industry experts which included Ms. Purabee Mishra, COO, Electropreneur, STPI, Bhubaneswar and Mr. Himansu Sekhar Panda, Managing Director and CEO, Skky Skill Academy.
Training sessions were conducted by experts including Mr. Sourabh Khandelwal, Managing Director and CEO of Dahibara Express, Bhubaneswar, who spoke about funding options and discussed the legal and regulatory aspects of starting a business. Dr. Kalpana Sahoo, Associate Professor, SHRM, XIM University, spoke about team building and management while Gaurav Agrawal, Designated Partner and Founder, Nezler Technologies LLP and Head Marketing at Wozku deliberated on marketing and branding.
The valedictory ceremony was graced by Mr. Subrat Dash, CEO, Pipul Hotels and Resorts, Bhubaneswar and Mr. Sitansu Mishra, Chairman, The Shine Group and Prof. Bibhuti Bhushan Pradhan, Pro-Vice Chancellor and Registrar, SOA.
Dr. Soumya Mishra, Coordinator, EDP, and Dr. Ashish Mohanty conducted the program.
