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The Leadership Talk (LT) series at the School of Governance and Public Affairs (SGPA) is a distinguished academic platform that bridges theory and practice for postgraduate students. It provides a space for interaction with policymakers, industry leaders, and scholars who share insights on Policy, governance, leadership, and Management.

The Leadership Talk series embodies SGPA’s commitment to nurturing ethical, analytical, and impact-oriented leaders equipped to address complex policy challenges and advance inclusive and sustainable governance in the public and corporate spheres.

1) A Leadership Talk on “Business and Human Rights: A Public Policy Perspective” conducted on 14^th August 2025 explored leadership beyond numbers and policies,delving into its true purpose and responsibility.

Mr. Sheikh Mairajul Haque (Cofounder, AcreRise) emphasized the real estate sector’s transformative role—not just in driving GDP, but in creating opportunities, shaping cities, and improving livelihoods. He underscored that growth is sustainable only when rooted in sound policy, regulation, and skill development.

Mr. Sandeep Kumar Pattnaik (Centre for Public Policy Alternatives) revisited the POSCO Odisha case, stressing that industrial progress must align with human rights, environmental care, and equitable growth. As he aptly noted, “Business is not just for profit — it must respect human rights.”

2) SGPA hosted a Leadership Talk on “Future Skills & Smart Governance: Shaping the Next Era of Business“on 6th August 2025. Dr. Ajit Kumar Kar, DGM & Head – L&D at IMFA Ltd., Bhubaneswar, was the keynote speaker.

The session highlighted the importance of personal branding, especially through platforms like LinkedIn, along with the role of design thinking and agile problem-solving in today’s complex environment. Dr. Kar emphasized clarity, adaptability, and vision in a VUCA world, and the value of DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) in leadership. He also encouraged students to assess their career positioning and gave insightful advice to the students for exploring relevant professional networks.

3) Leadership Talk on Smart City Policy and Urban Development in India: 11th September 2024. SGPA hosted a roundtable leadership talk on ‘Smart Cities and Urban Development in India’ by a renowned policy practitioner, Mr. Siddhant Vernekar, Director of FIDR. This talk focused on the concept of smart cities and their role in modern urban development. Mr. Vernekar provided insights into how technology and innovative practices can transform urban environments.

4) IMPACTx LeadershipTalk: SGPA hosted a IMPACTx Leadership Talk on “Public Policy, Business, and CSR in a Sustainable World” on December 15, 2023. Esteemed chief guests, Ambika Nanda (General Manager (CSR), Tata Consultancy Services) and Ms. Priya Mohapatra (Head, CSR, Tata Consultancy Services), shared invaluable insights. The event drew active participation from students, faculty, and industry professionals, fostering meaningful discussions on the intersection of public policy, business strategies, and corporate social responsibility.

5) SGPA organized a Leadership Talk by John Romus on November 22, 2023. Fr. Romus, a former Professor of Philosophy and Theology at Morning Star College, Barrackpore, Kolkata, served the institution for 29 years and also held the position of Dean of Theology.During the session, he shared profound insights on leadership rooted in values, ethics, and self-awareness. He emphasized the importance of integrity, empathy, and purpose in shaping responsible leaders. The talk encouraged students to reflect on their personal leadership journeys and the moral dimensions of public life.

6) On 25th August 2023, world renowned epidemiologist Dr. Thomas Clasen, delivered a leadership talk at SGPA. Prof. Clasen is a Professor of Environmental Health and holds the Rose Salamone Gangaros Chair in Sanitation and Safe Water at the Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, USA. SGPA has a MoU with Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University.
The talk was on the importance of leadership in public health and provided valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities in the field of environmental health.

7) Devjit Mitra and Mr. Prachur Goel from the Socratus Foundation delivered a Leadership Talk on January 14, 2023. The session, titled “Public Problem Solving,” was attended by both undergraduate and postgraduate students of SGPA. Mr. Prachur Goel engaged the students in an interactive discussion, emphasizing the significance of structuring policy problems as a crucial step toward addressing pressing challenges in governance and policymaking. Meanwhile, Mr. Devjit Mitra provided insights into the innovative work being undertaken by the Socratus Foundation and highlighted how they approach complex policy issues — often termed wicked problems — through a blend of creativity, collaboration, and strategic thinking. The session inspired students to view governance through the lens of problem-solving and innovation.

8) SGPA hosted a Leadership Talk on 22^nd January, 2022 delivered by Lopamudra Priyadarshini, General Manager: CSR, Sustainability & CR, Land, R&R, PR & Communications, Hindalco Industries Limited, Aditya Birla Group, on “Instilling Social Responsibility in the Business Leaders of Tomorrow” She talked aboutCSR initiatives and  how CSR and Public Policy are linked together and distinguished between leadership and management.

9) The School of Governance & Public Affairs (SGPA) successfully hosted a Leadership Talk on 13^th November, 2021. The leadership talk was graced by three eminent persons on. Apurba Chatterjee started the session by sharing insights on the “Public Sector Consulting: Learning from the Industry”. She shed some light on the business model of IRAPSO, the mission and vision and also highlighted the initiatives that they had undertaken in the backdrop of the pandemic and how it has benefited the organization as a whole. She also discussed about the Tri-sector Partnership for Inclusive Development and showed us path that what should we do as a Policy student. 

• Mr. Akash Mukherjee highlighted on the topic “Communication as a bottom-up approach”. He has worked in various fields of NGO’s and Consulting. He spoke on the different work cultures and how to adapt to change when the obstacles debilitate our thinking.
• Mr. Jayant Nahata IAS (AIR 56, UPSC CSE 2020) shared his “Journey from IIT to Civil Services“. He believes that if you want to prepare for UPSC, you have to move forward with a better strategy. They say that you will not reach your destination unless you strive for it daily. According to him, hard work, the right strategy, maximum revision, answer writing and a positive attitude are vital for success. 

10) SGPA hosted a Leadership Talk on “Working with Governments – Pathways in Public Policy” on January 29, 2021. Tanya Kak (J-PAL) shared her experiences of working with government stakeholders and how such collaborations shape effective policy outcomes.
She discussed the two key pathways in policymaking—International and National—emphasizing the latter through her experiences in the LAMP Fellowship and at J-PAL. Her talk offered students a practical understanding of how evidence-based policymaking drives development goals.

11) A Leadership Talk on “Evidence and Innovation for Policy Makers” was delivered by Pankaj Mall (Astittva Foundation) on December 16, 2020. He emphasized the importance of evidence-based policymaking in driving meaningful social change. He explained how aligning the roles of users, consumers, and voters within one framework can create impactful solutions. The session highlighted how ground-level insights serve as the foundation for innovation and effective policy design.

12) SGPA organized a Leadership Talk on “The Art of Foxy Thinking and Public Policy” on November 6, 2020.
Rajat emphasized the importance of maintaining an open and adaptive mindset as a public policy analyst. Drawing from his own experiences, he discussed how foxy thinking fosters creativity and innovation in policymaking.
He highlighted the need to approach problems through multiple perspectives rather than relying on a single framework.