The proceedings started with the formal lighting of the lamp, followed by an invocation prayer conducted by Dr (Fr) Donald D'Silva, SJ, Dean of Administration and Finance, where he invoked blessings for the incoming batch.

Dr (Fr) Sebastian George, SJ, Director of XLRI welcomed the guests and set a thought-provoking tone by making Martin Seligman's "learnt helplessness" experiment a metaphor. He reinforced resilience, proactive learning and performance integrity, urging students to rise above failure and procrastination.

Dr Sanjay Patro, Academic Dean spoke about XLRI's history, its expansion to keep pace with industry needs and peer learning and experiential exposures. He commended students for choosing a program that demands commitment but guarantees transformation.

Mr Harish Rajagopalan, CHRO, CRED appreciated the group for taking up such a well-rounded and applicable program. Referring to XLRI's image of leadership development, he asked participants to adopt the AI age through merging experience and theory. He pointed out strengthening the four leadership traits of decisiveness, mission orientation, systematic problem-solving and trustworthiness on the foundations of competence and empathy.

PGDM (Finance) Director,Dr H.K. Pradhan defined the vision and innovation of the program in terms of metaphors about clarity, reinvention and balance. He acknowledged difficulties that working professionals face and assured them about the brain's incredible plasticity. He stressed the need for continuous self-investment and collective learning.

XOL Associate Dean, Dr Giridhar Ramachandran welcomed the participants warmly and concisely. Drawing attention to the changes of past graduates he highlighted the cohort diversity, learning in community, disciplined consistency and communication. He was thankful to the families and employers who facilitated the students' educational pursuits.

The event concluded with hope, motivation and a call to adopt the academic rigor, camaraderie and development that XLRI has to offer — for the greater good.