MET Institute of Management commenced the first half of the "10th Two Day International Research Conference on Reimagining Business, Finance & Governance: The 2050 Outlook" organised by the research committee along with the Institution's Innovation Council (IIC) on April 10, 2026, with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp, symbolizing the pursuit of knowledge and marking an auspicious beginning. The inauguration was led by Dr. Swati Lodha, Director, MET IOM, who welcomed the distinguished guests, speakers, and participants. In her address, she reflected on the current geopolitical landscape and emphasized the importance of research as a collaborative and interconnected process that cannot function in silos, while also appreciating the efforts of the research committee and acknowledging Dr. Sagar Gaikwad and Dr. Nirmala Joshi.

Mr. Vineet Shastry, Associate Vice President Listings (Mainboard) & (SSE) National Stock Exchange, delivered an insightful session focusing on the evolution and future of capital markets. He emphasized that capital markets are fundamentally driven by knowledge, research, and informed decision-making, highlighting how investor success depends on analytical understanding rather than just capital. He also spoke about the need for continuous reimagination in finance, introducing emerging areas such as new financial instruments, data- driven investing, and the growing role of technology in reshaping how markets function and how individuals participate in them.

Mr. Kaoshal K., Senior Manager, Social Stock Exchange at the National Stock Exchange, addressed the role of financial markets in enabling social impact and bridging trust deficits. He highlighted the challenges within the social sector, emphasizing that despite widespread efforts, the lack of trust and accountability often limits real impact. He explained how the Social Stock Exchange aims to address this by introducing transparency, outcome-based funding, and structured mechanisms that ensure resources are effectively utilized for measurable and meaningful change.

Adding a reflective perspective, Dr. Dhanashri Hardas, Chairperson of the Women’s Entrepreneur Wing at the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, emphasized the importance of anticipating change and making conscious choices, noting that business success extends beyond profits and is shaped by values and decision-making. The session marked the conclusion of the first half of the conference, leaving the audience with meaningful insights and a forward-looking perspective.

MET Institute of Management launched the MET IOM Consulting Casebook 2025–2026 during the International Research Conference, reinforcing MET IOM’s commitment to bridging academic research with practical consulting insights.

A key addition to this year’s Casebook is the chapter on “AI in Consulting”, reflecting the rapidly evolving business landscape. It explores how Artificial Intelligence is transforming consulting through faster decision-making, deeper data analysis, and more innovative problem-solving approaches which equip students with future-ready skills.

The Casebook has been developed by students, showcasing their initiative, collaboration, and strong focus on building practical, industry-relevant knowledge in the consulting domain.

We sincerely thank Dr. Swati Lodha, Director, MET IOM, and Dr. Manmeet Barve, Dean - Academics, MET IOM for their constant guidance and mentorship in making this edition possible.

The Team Behind the Casebook:
President: Shreyash Wakchaure
Vice President: Mrunmayee Mayekar
Team Members: Sanjana Karnik, Aishwarya Shinde, Kaustubh Korpe, Aishwarya Pawar, Aditya Deshmukh, Paras Shah, Sadhvi Boga, Jhanvi Vadodriya, Ambika Natholia, Jhanvi Manjrekar, Yash Bavdane.

As part of the second half, an insightful pre-conference workshop on “Use of Artificial Intelligence in Business Applications” featured eminent industry experts.

Mr. Prabhu Elangovan, Head of Product & Technology at Jubilant Payment Corporations Pvt Ltd, highlighted how AI is transforming fintech through data-driven decision-making, hyper- personalization, fraud detection, and operational efficiency. He also emphasized India’s evolving digital ecosystem, supported by initiatives like UPI, DigiLocker, and regulatory frameworks under the Reserve Bank of India.

Ms.Leena Dadlani, Assistant Vice President at Barclays Bank UK PLC, focused on the changing AI-driven career landscape, highlighting emerging roles such as data engineers, data scientists, and prompt engineers. She encouraged students to upskill, build domain-specific expertise, and develop technical foundations like Python to stay competitive.

Dr. Satvinder Madhok, Vice President at Wipro, emphasized the importance of data governance, cybersecurity, and AI compliance frameworks. He highlighted the demand for “T- shaped professionals” who combine domain expertise with AI skills, noting that such profiles are highly valued and experience accelerated career growth.

The workshop provided a comprehensive understanding of how AI is reshaping business applications while equipping participants with insights for future-ready careers.

MET Institute of Management successfully conducted Day 2 of the 10th Two Day International Research Conference on 11th April 2026, continuing its focus on academic excellence and knowledge exchange.

The day featured Paper Presentation Track 01 (Faculty Track), where research experts and academicians presented insightful work across management domains, guided by esteemed session chairs including Dr. Pramod Nandardhane, Dr. Sameer Lakhani, Dr. Maya Hande, Mr. Vijay Gawde, and Dr. Mishu Tripathi.

Paper Presentation Track 02 (Student Track) showcased research by students of MET Institute of Management, reflecting strong analytical thinking and practical application. The session was chaired by Dr. Pavan Patil and Dr. Disha Shah.

The conference concluded with the Award Ceremony, recognizing outstanding contributions.

Faculty Track Winners:

Dr. Swapnil Bachav and Ms. Vasanti Nikram for their paper on ‘The impact of AI tools on student academic performance and learning through Data Analytics.’

Student Track Winners:

1st Place:
Sonali Shedge, Aishwarya Pawar, and Divya Mogaveera for their ‘Study on Astro Numerology and Stock Market performance.’

2nd Place:
Aqib Kunwar, Sunny Jeswani, and Hazel Das for their research on ‘Virtual water, water credits, and sustainability in the IT industry.’

3rd Place:
Rutuja Bhalerao, Yash Gugale, and Rushikesh Kumbhar for their ‘Study on adoption of UPI- based transactions by micro-entrepreneurs.’

The event concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Dr. Sagar Gaikwad, Assistant Professor, MET Institute of Management. Day 2 of conference marked a successful conclusion, reinforcing MET IOM’s commitment to research-driven learning and academic collaboration.

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