While the conclave culminated at the Grand Ballroom of Taj President, Mumbai, its journey began much earlier on the college campus. Throughout the academic year, the student team behind JBC created experiences that fostered engagement and community among students. Character Day, held in August 2025, transformed the campus into a celebration of creativity as students dressed as their favourite fictional characters. Later, the Jingle Ball Carnival introduced a festive atmosphere with music, entertainment, and celebrations that showcased the scale and ambition of the student-led initiative.
Financial Literacy and Smart Investing
The conclave opened with a session by Maulik Bhansali, Chief Risk Officer at Union Asset Management Company Private Limited, who spoke about the importance of financial literacy among young investors. Emphasizing disciplined investing, he encouraged students to focus on long-term goals, understand liquidity, and avoid being influenced by short-term market fluctuations. The session was moderated by Arjit Garg, recognized as India's youngest SEBI Research Analyst.
Scaling Startups and Solving Urban Challenges
The focus then shifted to entrepreneurship and urban mobility with Sankalp Kelshikar, Co-Founder of Cityflo Buses. Drawing from his experience building a successful commuter-focused transportation platform, he discussed the realities of scaling a startup, solving everyday urban challenges, and creating sustainable business models. The session was moderated by Anay Makol.
Banking, Leadership and the Future of AI
One of the most anticipated conversations of the day featured Keki Mistry, Interim Chairman of HDFC Bank. Speaking about careers in finance and leadership, Mistry highlighted integrity, trust, and compliance as the foundations of long-term success. He also shared his views on the growing influence of Artificial Intelligence, noting that while technology will improve productivity, human qualities such as creativity, adaptability, and critical thinking will continue to remain invaluable. The session was moderated by Dharmarajan Sankara Subramanian, Founder and Managing Director of Impactsure Technologies.
Redefining Luxury Hospitality
Rajat Bhatia, Commercial Director of Four Seasons Mumbai, offered insights into the evolving world of luxury hospitality. He explained how modern consumers increasingly value personalized experiences over traditional notions of extravagance, emphasizing that thoughtful attention to detail has become the defining feature of luxury service today. The session was moderated by architect Annkur Khosla.
Hospitality and F&B Leaders Take Center Stage
A major highlight of the conclave was a panel discussion featuring leaders from the hospitality and food and beverage sectors. Moderated by entrepreneur and content creator Sahil Makhija of Headbanger's Kitchen, the discussion brought together Ishaan Bahl, Shlok Savjani, Vik Khatwani, Abhijeet Anand, Enrico Signorelli, Yash Advani, and Simran Advani. The panelists shared candid insights into building consumer brands, managing operational challenges, and sustaining growth in a highly competitive industry. Among the memorable moments was Signorelli's account of how his search for authentic tiramisu in Mumbai inspired the creation of Mami Bombay, illustrating how successful businesses often emerge from identifying unmet consumer needs.
A Common Message Across Industries
Despite representing different industries, the speakers echoed a common message: in an era of rapid technological change, lasting success continues to depend on integrity, informed decision-making, adaptability, and a commitment to continuous learning.
Reflecting on the conclave, Dr. Vijay Dabholkar, Principal of Jai Hind College (Empowered Autonomous), said that “The event serves as a valuable platform for students to engage directly with accomplished industry leaders and gain perspectives that complement classroom learning”.
Dr. Rakhi Sharma, Director – AICTE Program, Jai Hind Business Conclave, added that “The conclave was envisioned as a bridge between academics and industry, enabling students to learn from real-world experiences and leadership journeys”.
Recognizing the Team Behind the Conclave
The success of JBC 2026 was made possible through the guidance of Dr. Vijay Dabholkar, Dr. Rakhi Sharma, and Jyoti Thakur Ma’am, along with the efforts of the student organizing team led by Student Secretary Hamza Bamboat and Deputy Student Secretary Karishmaa Peswani. They were supported by Joint Student Secretaries Hussain Mamawala (Executions), Husain Udaipurwala (Legal & Finance), Janhavi Pokharkar (Hospitality), Kairavi Javeria (Creatives), Aaditi Thite (Events), Sanaa Punwani (Media), Zara Zatkal (Public Relations), and Sidhhveer Wadhwa (Marketing).
Special recognition is also due to Tanisha Hemdev, Vice President of Outreach, along with Outreach Heads Krish Bhatia, Twisha Dhadhi, Yohaan Tampal, and Archi Karia, whose dedication played a key role in bringing JBC 2026 to life.
