National, 13 February 2026 – A recent Marketing Conclave at K J Somaiya Institute of Management (KJSIM), themed ‘Marketing in the Age of Intelligent Influence’, brought together senior industry leaders and management students. The conclave focused on how marketing is evolving in an AI-enabled world, while reaffirming the enduring importance of human insight, empathy, and brand building.
Among the industry leaders who participated were Mainak Dhar, Managing Director, McCain Foods India; Ameya Kapnadak, Chief Growth Officer and Head of Consulting, Interbrand; Samir Srivastav, CEO, Looks Salon; and Radhika Joshi, Assistant General Manager, L’Oréal and KJSIM alumna. Sagnik Ghosh, Head of Creative Strategy, Innovation & Trade Marketing at Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd, moderated the session, bringing the leaders’ insights to life for the students. Their participation gave students a closer look at how real-world marketing decisions are made, reflecting the institute’s strong industry and alumni connections.
Speakers across sessions discussed the growing role of artificial intelligence in marketing, while underscoring the continued importance of human judgment, creativity, and consumer understanding.
One of the highlights of the conclave was the prize distribution ceremony for the “Tech-It Marketing” competition, which had earlier challenged students to step into a live business scenario. Participants worked on devising a market expansion strategy for Looks Salon, Greater Noida, crafting Gen Z-focused brand strategies, identifying target segments, and developing promotional plans under the evaluation of seasoned industry professionals. With nearly 65 students participating, the competition captured the energy, intensity, and fast-paced decision-making that define the marketing domain, culminating in the recognition of the most compelling and strategic solutions at the conclave.
Dr. Raman Ramachandran, Dean & Director, K J Somaiya Institute of Management, said, “From an academic perspective, our focus is on helping students develop sound judgment as technology continues to evolve. AI can support marketing decisions, but it cannot replace an understanding of people, context, and long-term implications. Forums such as this conclave help students see how these considerations come together in real organisational settings.”
Samir Srivastav, CEO of Looks Salon, spoke about how technology is shaping service-led businesses today. “AI has strengthened areas such as scheduling, forecasting, and personalisation, but roles that involve direct interaction with clients remain irreplaceable,” he said. “The success of AI cannot be measured through a single KPI,” he further noted. “This is why students must engage with real business contexts, where marketing operates across creativity, data, and technology.”
“While GenAI has shortened creative cycles, speed without clarity leads to activity without impact,” said Mainak Dhar, Managing Director of McCain Foods India. He further noted, “In today’s transparent environment, authenticity cannot be faked, and automation alone cannot sustain brand differentiation. This is why AI investments must have a clear business outcome, either driving revenue growth or reducing costs, to justify ROI.”
The session emphasised KJSIM’s experiential learning approach, demonstrating how live industry projects, especially in digital marketing, are integrated into the curriculum.
By going beyond traditional lectures, the conclave fostered dialogue, hands-on application, and industry engagement, reinforcing KJSIM’s role in bridging academic learning with real-world marketing.
