Beyond Borders
Building Operations for a
Geopolitically Fragmented World
13 September 2026 | XIM University, Bhubaneswar
Organised by XIMB Operations Association (X-Ops)
Organised by the XIMB Operations Association (X-Ops), Ashwamedh 2026 brought together distinguished industry professionals and students for conversations around the evolving landscape of operations and the challenges facing businesses in an increasingly fragmented global environment.
With "Beyond Borders: Building Operations for a Geopolitically Fragmented World" as its central theme, the conclave explored how globalization, geopolitical developments and rapidly changing business environments are reshaping the way organizations approach operations, resilience and decision-making.
The Conversation: Building Operations for a Changing World
The event opened with a ceremonial lamp lighting and the presentation of mementos, followed by a session moderated by Prof. Arijit Mitra. The discussion examined the changing nature of operations, the influence of globalization and the impact of global events on operational uncertainty.
A key message emerging from the discussion was that modern operations must go beyond efficiency — organizations must also build the resilience needed to navigate uncertainty and disruption.
Keynote & Industry Perspectives
Rewiring Operations for a New World
Mrs. Suman M, Migration Sales Lead, Startups India, AWS (XIMB alumna, 2017)
Explored four dimensions shaping the new operating environment:
- The Great Rewiring
- Supply Chain Under Siege
- The Splinternet and Data
- Operating in the New World Order
Drawing on the example of Taiwan's semiconductor industry, the session examined supply-chain vulnerabilities and the impact of global developments on operations. The discussion also emphasized building resilient supply chains, assessing geopolitical risks and maintaining contingency plans — including the importance of having Plan B and Plan C for critical decisions.
Designing Resilience Into Operations
Mr. Manoranjan Mohapatra, Chief Investment Officer, DATOMS
Discussed strategic vulnerabilities, fragmentation and the cost of resilience. He presented a five-pillar operating model built around:
Diversify · Regionalise · Digitalise · Modularise · Scenario-plan
The session also included a case-study discussion around building operating models capable of responding to disruption and changing business conditions.
Preparing Operations for the Future
Mr. Gyanendra Nath, Director, Project Operations and Technical, Vedanta (XIMB alumnus, 2003)
Focused on preparing operations for a geopolitically fragmented world. Resilience was discussed as the ability to:
- Anticipate disruption
- Maintain continuity
- Recover from setbacks
- Continue creating value
The session also highlighted the importance of combining efficiency, agility and resilience, alongside ethical conduct, stakeholder communication, alternative supply chains and data-driven decision-making.
Operations, Automation & the Future of Work
Mr. Sovit Biswal, GM, Revenue & Operations, Home Easy (XIMB alumnus, 2006)
Brought perspectives from SaaS, FMCG and operations to the discussion. His session explored the challenges of managing operations across borders and highlighted examples involving leasing, restaurant SaaS and automation for SMBs.
He emphasized the importance of strong yet adaptable operating models and discussed how automation and AI are changing the nature of work. The session encouraged students to focus on creating distinctive value as automation continues to expand.
Key Themes
Geopolitical Resilience
Understanding how global developments can reshape business operations.
Supply Chain Resilience
Building supply chains capable of responding to disruption and uncertainty.
AI & Automation
Exploring the growing influence of AI and automation on operations and work.
Data-Driven Decisions
Using data and scenario planning to support better operational decisions.
Agile Operations
Balancing efficiency, adaptability and resilience in changing environments.
Stakeholder Communication
Recognising communication and collaboration as important elements of resilient operations.
Interactive Engagement: Beyond the Stage
Ashwamedh 2026 concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session, allowing students to engage directly with the speakers.
The event closed with the presentation of mementos and alumni T-shirts to the speakers as a gesture of appreciation, followed by a vote of thanks from Revanth R., Coordinator of X-Ops.
Event Highlight: One Theme. Multiple Perspectives.
Ashwamedh 2026 brought together perspectives from technology, supply chains, operations, automation and strategic decision-making around one central question:
"How can businesses build operations that remain resilient when the world around them is changing?"
The discussions offered students and industry participants an opportunity to explore the operational realities of a geopolitically fragmented business environment.