News

Speaker: Mr. Prasoon Singh, Director of Business Operation and Management, Capgemini – India

Venue: GD Goenka University, School of Management (SOM)

Date: February 17

Organized by: School of Management, Operation and Business Analytics Area & Byte Brigade Club

Opening Ceremony

The event commenced with a warm welcome for Mr. Prasoon Singh, led by Afsheen and Anil. Following the introduction, Dr. Smitha Girija, the Dean of the School of Management, was invited to the stage to formally thank the guest for his presence. As a gesture of sustainability and gratitude, the university presented Mr. Singh with a plant pot before the technical session began.

Interactive Session: Q&A Highlights

The core of the lecture was conducted as an interactive Q&A session moderated by Mayra and Amrit. Mr. Singh shared deep industry insights on leveraging analytics for business success:

• From Data to Business Analytics: Mr. Singh explained that while the journey may start with specific sectors like healthcare or energy analytics, it eventually culminates in business analytics. He emphasized that students should not just learn the tools but must develop an "analytical mind".
• The industry-Academia Gap: Addressing a common concern, he noted that MBA programs teach frameworks, while the industry focuses on implementation and results. He advised students to move beyond providing raw data and instead offer outcomes, bullet points, and actionable notes to management.
• Strategic KPIs and Forecasting: He stated that "if everything is important, nothing is important". KPIs should be goal-oriented, focusing on Revenue, Margin, and Cost. For survival in sectors like energy, accurate long-term forecasting is vital.
• Embracing Generative AI (GenAI): Mr. Singh labelled GenAI as a "friend" that improves productivity. He cautioned that while humans are still needed for judgment, those who do not learn to work with AI will eventually be replaced.
• Operational Maturity: He outlined a four-step model for business analysis:

Descriptive: What is happening?

Diagnostic: Why is it happening?

Predictive: What will happen next?

Prescriptive: What is the solution?

Career Guidance and Industry Readiness

Mr. Singh provided practical advice for students stepping into the professional world:

• Attitude Over Technical Skills: He revealed that many companies now hire based on attitude, as technical skills can be taught.
• Ownership: He redefined the role of a business analyst from a "job" to an "ownership" of the company’s success.
• Preparation: He urged students to be "company ready" by researching a firm’s goals and demonstrating how they can add value (e.g., increasing a company’s worth from 1 million to 1.5 million) before an interview.

Ending of the Session

The session concluded with a note of high energy and gratitude. The student hosts, Amrit and Mayra, thanked Mr. Singh for bringing "textbook concepts to life". Gratitude was also extended to the faculty and the operations team for organizing the event. The lecture ended with a group photograph involving the guest, faculty, and students, marking the successful completion of the expert insight session