XLRI Confers Postgraduate Diplomas on 129 Graduates at the 3rd Convocation of Blended PGDM Programmes

Jamshedpur, September 15, 2026: XLRI – Xavier School of Management hosted the 3rd Convocation Ceremony of the PGDM HRM for Emerging CHROs and Blended PGDM Programmes celebrating the academic achievements of 129 graduating students across Human Resource Management, Business Management and Finance. The ceremony marked an important milestone in the journey of professionals who pursued advanced management education while continuing to engage with their professional responsibilities.

The graduating cohort comprised 36 students of the Eighteen Months Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management for Emerging CHROs, 33 students of the two-year Postgraduate Diploma in Management (Human Resource Management), 41 students of the two-year Postgraduate Diploma in Management (Business Management), and 19 students of the two-year Postgraduate Diploma in Management (Finance).

Mr. Anand Shankar, Chief Transformation Officer, Deloitte South Asia, was the Chief Guest for the occasion. With over three decades of experience across industry, consulting and professional services, Mr. Shankar has held global leadership roles and led large-scale transformation initiatives. Addressing the graduating students, Mr. Shankar congratulated the graduates and acknowledged the support of their families, faculty members and the institution in their journey. Reflecting on the changing nature of work, he noted that the emergence of Artificial Intelligence is making many competencies increasingly accessible, shifting the premium towards human judgement, principles and purpose.

Calling upon the graduates to use their credibility and influence responsibly, Mr. Shankar urged them to be “dangerous” in the sense of having the courage to speak truth and advocate for what is right. He encouraged the graduates to carry their professional knowledge with conviction and use it to make a meaningful difference in their respective fields.

In his address, Dr. (Fr.) Sebastian George, S.J., Director, XLRI, Jamshedpur, reflected on the deeper purpose of education and leadership through references to literature and human experience. He highlighted how individuals discover and preserve their inner goodness even in the face of adversity. He reflected on the courage to uphold justice despite social pressure and the transformative power of an act of kindness.

The XLRI pledge reaffirmed the graduates’ commitment to responsible and ethical management, integrity, inclusiveness, sustainability, fairness and applying their knowledge for the betterment of society.

The Gold Medalists recognised at the convocation were:

1. Deepti Santosh Mulgaonkar – CHRO

2. Abhinav Kumar Thakur – PGDM (BM) Blended Mode

3. Menka Sharma – PGDM (HRM) Blended Mode

4. Sunanda Pradhan – PGDM (Finance) Blended Mode

The convocation reaffirmed XLRI’s commitment to providing rigorous, relevant and values-driven management education to working professionals and emerging leaders. The institution’s blended programmes combine academic learning with professional experience, enabling learners to deepen their managerial capabilities while remaining connected to the realities of contemporary organisations. XLRI’s online learning offerings similarly emphasise academic rigour, real-world relevance and peer learning across diverse professional backgrounds.