Prof. Dheeraj Sharma, Director of IIM Rohtak, was bestowed with prestigious Distinguished Global Thought Leader Award 2025. The award was conferred in acknowledgment of Prof. Sharma’s outstanding academic leadership, impactful research contributions, and influential role in shaping contemporary management thinking on a global scale. Prof Sharma has published over 250 articles in leading outlets and has authored a dozen books. In a deeply inspiring moment during the conference, Prof. Sharma’s much-anticipated book, “The Power of Movies”, was officially launched amidst global academicians, thought leaders, and delegates. The book, which delves into the socio-cultural and psychological influence of cinema, received overwhelming appreciation. All copies available at the venue were sold out shortly after the inauguration, with participants expressing keen interest in acquiring signed editions. The response not only highlighted the relevance of the book’s theme but also reaffirmed Prof. Sharma’s reputation as a thought leader who bridges academia with broader societal discourses.
The 21st World Congress of the Academy of Global Business Advancement (AGBA), held from July 2–4, 2025, at the prestigious Grand Fourwings Convention Hotel, Bangkok, concluded with resounding success. This global academic congregation brought together over 275 research papers from scholars representing 33+ countries. The conference recorded participation from over 128 universities and over a dozen non-academic institutions. The Congress offered a distinguished platform for the exchange of cutting-edge research and emerging insights across a broad spectrum of disciplines, including international business, strategic management, entrepreneurship, marketing, corporate social responsibility, and allied areas. The sessions underscored a rich tapestry of scholarly perspectives—ranging from the ethical integration of advanced artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT, to innovative supply chain models and sustainable business practices tailored to emerging market contexts.
While receiving the honors, Professor Sharma delivered a keynote address that was both insightful and compelling. He emphasized the transformative power of cinema in shaping societal values, influencing behavior, and steering public discourse. Drawing from the central thesis of his book, Prof. Sharma emphasized that movies are not merely entertainment tools but powerful cultural instruments capable of shaping public opinion, reinforcing ideologies, and sometimes even redefining history.
“Cinema, in many ways, reflects the soul of a society. Through stories, characters, and visuals, it educates, inspires, and transforms. As scholars and educators, it is imperative we engage with popular culture to better understand its impact on people and policymaking,” said Prof. Sharma during his keynote. Prof Sharma said that “according to theory of self, we have an “Actual self” that is who we are and then we have an “ideal self” that is who we want to be. Marketer offer products and services to bridge the gap between the “actual and ideal self” and when the bridge gets crowded marketers change the ideal self. The development of ideal self is significantly on account of movies. Movies serve as a powerful medium to develop the “ideal self” for billions of people across the globe. This development of “ideal self” results in demand for products and services worth billions of dollars. Therefore, the power of movies needs scientific investigation.”
In a warm gesture that exemplified his collaborative vision, Prof. Sharma extended an open invitation to the global academic fraternity to visit IIM Rohtak, one of India’s premier management institutions. He also encouraged international scholars to consider joining IIM Rohtak as visiting faculty, contributing to the nurturing of bright, inquisitive, and globally-minded future leaders.
Other notable presenters at the conference included Kyle S. Wells, President of Utah Tech University (USA); Viput Ongaskul, Former Dean of the National Institute of Development Administration (Thailand); Christopher J. Marquette from the Millikin University, State of Illinois (USA); Prof. Hermann Lassleben from Germany; and Ha Minh Tri from the International University of Vietnam. The speakers addressed the significance of technology in overcoming academic challenges, the value of collaborative research, and the promotion of trade and communication.
