AI Job Shift Puts Entrepreneurship at Centre of Ashoka School of Business Industry Leadership Summit 2026

Dr. J. A. Chowdary, Founder and Chairman, International Startup Foundation and Former Special Chief Secretary and IT Advisor, Government of Andhra Pradesh, joined Arjun Kumar Nomula, Secretary, Ashoka School of Business, and Dr. Arijit Santikary, Director, Ashoka School of Business, in examining how education, skills and leadership must respond to changing employment models

Artificial intelligence is changing established employment models and placing greater importance on problem solving, entrepreneurship, continuous learning and adaptable leadership, according to discussions at the Industry Leadership Summit 2026 hosted by Ashoka School of Business in Hyderabad.
Held under the theme “Leadership in the Time of Uncertainty,” the summit brought together business executives, human resource leaders, technology professionals, corporate decision makers and academicians to examine strategic decision making, workforce preparedness and the changing expectations facing leaders.

Senior professionals from IBM, Genpact, DBS Tech India, Micron Technology, FedEx, Wells Fargo, AT&T, Seedworks, Truth Labs, EisnerAmper and Sodexo participated in the discussions.
Dr. J. A. Chowdary, Founder and Chairman, International Startup Foundation and Former Special Chief Secretary and IT Advisor, Government of Andhra Pradesh, addressed how artificial intelligence is affecting the traditional relationship between higher education and employment.

“The honeymoon period of getting a degree, waiting for campus recruitment and building a career by simply executing instructions is over. AI is disrupting that model and forcing us to rethink both education and employment. The future belongs to young people who can identify problems, build solutions and create jobs rather than merely look for jobs. Universities must therefore move beyond degrees and credits to nurture competence, entrepreneurship, mentorship and real-world problem-solving. In the age of AI, what matters is not where you studied, but what you can create, solve and deliver,” Dr. Chowdary said.
Arjun Kumar Nomula, Secretary, Ashoka School of Business, said the institution is seeking to connect management education with practical business exposure and entrepreneurship.

“At Ashoka School of Business, our vision goes beyond helping students earn a degree. We aim to shape them into future leaders, entrepreneurs and job creators. Through experiential learning, industry exposure and meaningful engagement with corporate leaders, we want our students to understand real-world challenges, develop a leadership mindset and gain the confidence to build enterprises of their own. Platforms such as the Industry Leadership Summit play an important role in bridging the gap between the classroom and the corporate world,” Nomula said.
Dr. Arijit Santikary, Director, Ashoka School of Business, said interaction between industry and academia gives students greater exposure to decision making and leadership during periods of change.

“The Leadership Conclave provided a meaningful platform for industry and academia to come together and explore the evolving realities of leadership in an uncertain and rapidly changing world. The insights shared by distinguished industry leaders offered our students valuable perspectives on decision-making, adaptability and leading people through change. Such interactions help bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world leadership, enabling us to nurture future leaders who are confident, curious, adaptable and prepared to navigate complexity,” Dr. Santikary said.
The first panel, “Leading through the Fog: The Art of Decision Making and the Way Forward,” examined how executives can make decisions while technology, markets and organisational priorities are changing simultaneously.

Pallavi Singh, Vice President, Genpact, moderated the discussion featuring Anuradha A, Executive Director, IBM; Dr. Venkatram, M.D. and CEO, Seedworks; Vijaya Kadiyala, Executive Director, DBS Tech India; Dr. U Ram Mohan, Principal Director, Truth Labs; and Siva, Director, EisnerAmper.
The panel discussed strategic agility, risk assessment and the growing use of artificial intelligence and data in corporate decisions. Participants also considered the importance of combining technology based insights with professional experience, context and human judgement when organisations do not have complete visibility.
A second panel, “Zero Visibility and the Way Forward: Leading People When the AI Map Is Still Being Drawn,” examined how organisations are preparing employees for changing roles and skill requirements.

Neha Samantaray, Global Head, Enabler, Micron Technology, moderated the session featuring Barnali Bhattacharjee, Head of HR, FedEx GCS India; Gaurri Butti, Executive Director, HR, Wells Fargo; Lt. Col Pragathi Kumar, HR Director, AT&T; and Cireesha Mailavarapu, Associate Vice President, HR, Sodexo.
Participants discussed continuous learning, upskilling and reskilling as job requirements change. The conversation also covered transparent employee communication and the importance of considering people alongside technological requirements during workplace changes.

The summit brought industry and academia together to examine the capabilities management graduates and young professionals may require as artificial intelligence becomes more widely used in business.
Discussions placed particular attention on critical thinking, adaptability, decision making, entrepreneurship and leadership, alongside the ability to work with emerging technologies.

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