Pune: Advising students not to fear artificial intelligence and to continuously learn and adapt, Sanjeev Rastogi, CEO of the Adani Global Capability Centre at Adani Corporate House, emphasized the importance of avoiding job hopping due to dissatisfaction. Instead, he encouraged students to explore role changes within their organizations and extract valuable lessons from each position.
Rastogi, along with Vinayak Pai, Managing Director and CEO of Tata Projects Limited, served as chief guests at the annual convocation ceremony of Christ (Deemed to be University), Pune Lavasa Campus, held on Saturday. A total of 492 students received degrees in various disciplines during the event.
Rastogi also advised students to ignore comparisons regarding salary or brand with peers and to concentrate on building strong fundamentals and capabilities. He recommended always having a three-year plan, even if it changes or fails, and urged students to be willing to learn beyond their degree or role. He stressed the importance of developing the ability to speak clearly, create an impression, and articulate ideas effectively.
Emphasizing the need to reach out, Rastogi said, “When you are in trouble, always have open communication. Mental health is becoming an issue. People sulk, people don’t talk. Please talk. Your best friends or your parents or your teachers,” he advised.
Pai, who addressed the convocation in the morning session, instructed students not to box themselves or their capabilities, especially based on academic scores. “I can tell you, all the Indian executives at the top of the IT heap, Satya Nadella and others, they were never at the top of their class. They never let a marksheet define what their capabilities are. So step out of the box of what you think you are capable of,” said Pai. He added that “degree opens doors,” but it is “character that defines how far you go.”
Calling profession, self, family-friends, and society as the four pillars of long-term fulfillment, peace, and happiness, Pai asked students to keep skilling themselves while always doing the right thing. He emphasized focusing on physical and mental health, investing time in building a support ecosystem and relationships with family and friends, and giving back to society to contribute to its development.
