(1) Design Thinking: A Strategic Tool for Corporate Success and Transformational Leadership
The Centre of Management and Humanities (CMH), Punjab Engineering College (Deemed to be University), Chandigarh, conducted a session on “Design Thinking: A Strategic Tool for Corporate Success and Transformational Leadership” as part of the Industry-Academia Expert Lecture Week on 4th March 2025. Mr. Lalit Aditya Kaushal, Senior Training Specialist at Amazon, having experience in learning and development across industry and academia was the Resource Person. The lecture was attended by B.Tech. students of different branches, research scholars, and faculty members of the Centre of Management and Humanities.
Dr. Anju Singla, Head of CMH, welcomed Mr. Kaushal with a floral bouquet and set the tone for the session. Mr. Kaushal emphasized the significance of soft skills in professional growth, detailing how engineers can enhance their presentation, idea pitching, and communication abilities to thrive in the corporate world. He also highlighted creative thinking as the most important element in the hierarchy of soft skills. The session gave a clear understanding of Design Thinking, a creative way to solve problems. Elaborating on the same, he encouraged the students to use David Kelley’s process of design thinking which involves: understanding user needs (empathy), identifying key challenges (define), brainstorming ideas (ideate), creating models (prototype), and testing solutions (test).
The session concluded with an engaging Q&A, followed by a memento presentation to Mr. Kaushal by Dr. Sheetal Lalotra and Dr. Harpreet Kaur, coordinators of the event.
(2) Stock Market as a Mirror of the Indian Economy: Tools and Insights
On the second day of Industry Academia Expert Lecture Week, March 5, 2025, the Centre for Management and Humanities organized an interactive lecture by Mr. Manjeet Singh Dhillon, a Fellow Member of ICSI Company Secretary, Chandigarh. His lecture, titled “Stock Market as a Mirror of the Indian Economy: Tools and Insights,” addressed the evolving needs of businesses worldwide. Dr. Shivani Gupta and Dr. Rakesh welcomed Mr. Dhillon with a floral bouquet, setting a warm tone forthe session. The lecture was attended by students, research scholars and faculty members of the centre of management and Humanities.
In his lecture, Mr. Dhillon emphasized the importance of understanding the interconnection between the stock market and the economy. He highlighted how the stock market reflects the health of aneconomy, with rising stocks indicating growth and falling stocks signaling downturns, which, in turn, influence economic decisions. He elaborated on how comprehending the stock market’s role as a reflection of the Indian economy is crucial for students, as it offers a comprehensive view of the nation’s financial health and economic dynamics. The stock market serves as a barometer of economic activity, reflecting investor sentiment, corporate performance, and market trends. By studying its mechanisms, students can grasp how capital formation occurs, how investments are mobilized, and how price discovery functions—concepts that are fundamental to economic growth.
Mr. Dhillon also discussed several reasons for stock market declines, such as reduced consumption, lower investment, and overvalued stocks. He noted that stock market downturns can also be triggered by economic recessions, political instability, inflation, high-interest rates, poor corporate earnings, investor panic, global crises, or market speculation. These factors reduce investor confidence, often leading to widespread sell-offs and market declines. Additionally, he introduced the concept of the “Decoupling Phenomenon,” where a country’s stock market moves independently of global or economic trends.
Furthermore, Mr. Dhillon discussed various analytical tools essential for making informed investment decisions and understanding the broader economic environment. Knowledge of the stock market helps students grasp economic concepts, manage personal finances, develop critical thinking skills, and create investment opportunities. This fosters financial literacy and prepares them for future careers and financial success. The session concluded with engaging discussion, followed by a memento presented to Mr. Dhillon by Dr. Rakesh and Dr. Sheetal Lalotra, the coordinators of the event.
