SIMS International Lecture Series Kicks Off with Insightful Session on Workplace Equity

Pune, 10th December 2024: The International Lecture Series at SIMS, Pune, is ideated by Brig. (Dr.) Rajiv Divekar, Director, SIMS & Dean, Faculty of Management, SIU, and is conducted under his guidance. This platform enables students to engage with international experts and gain valuable insights into contemporary global challenges.
On December 9, 2024, the first guest lecture titled “Shattering the Glass Ceiling at Work” was conducted in an online format for MBA students. The session focused on addressing barriers to professional advancement, particularly those faced by women and marginalized groups, and emphasized achieving equity and leadership in the workplace.
The guest speaker, Dr. Rumpa Roy, Director of the Quality Assurance and Development Center at Gulf University, Bahrain, brought over a decade of experience in driving quality and organizational transformation. A Ph.D. holder in Economics from Andhra University, Dr. Roy is known for her expertise in securing international accreditations such as CIPD, ACCA, CIPR, and IET.
Dr. Roy’s lecture explored the ‘glass ceiling’ phenomenon, examining systemic barriers like unconscious biases, stereotypes, and lack of mentorship. She shared actionable strategies to overcome these challenges and highlighted the importance of leadership skills such as negotiation, self-advocacy, and resilience. Drawing from real-world examples of successful women leaders, she also discussed how organizations can foster equity through transparent policies, mentorship programs, and cultural transformation.
The session saw active participation from the 72 attendees, who engaged in discussions on workplace inequities, leadership challenges, and strategies for driving inclusive organizational change.
Dr. Reena Lenka, who coordinated the event, ensured its seamless execution and active engagement from participants. The session provided valuable takeaways, offering students practical insights into addressing systemic barriers and advancing SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
The International Lecture Series continues to empower SIMS students with knowledge and perspectives that prepare them to lead with inclusivity, innovation, and resilience in their future careers.