Talk led by Accenture Managing Director Atul Abhyankar reinforces classroom learnings with industry best practices

14 August, 2025, Bengaluru: Atul Abhyankar, Managing Director at Accenture, addressed the students of IIM Bangalore’s two-year full time MBA: Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP), 2025-2027 batch, on: ‘Build Your Careers with Clear Communication and Critical Thinking in the Age of AI’, on 12th August 2025.

Mr. Abhyankar captivated a full auditorium of PGP students with dynamic career insights drawn from his own experience of more than 30 years in the telecommunications industry. The guest session was conducted as part of the core Term-1 course, ‘Advances in Business Communication (ABC)’.

In the guest lecture, the speaker advised the students to stay open, adaptable and curious to cultural nuances, while also being transparent and empathetic in their communication. He explained the difference between what it means to be ‘human’ versus ‘non-human’, in today’s evolving workplace.

“Engaging with sectoral leaders for consensus-building, setting trends and the ability to forecast headwinds, will align you to your goals,” he pointed out, while drawing an analogy between his career path in telecommunications beginning in 1984 and the story of mobile phones. 

He also discussed few other key aspects, including, building engagement through communication channels within the organization and how companies want managers to drive these engagements; as well as disruptions caused by AI and tech-enabled communication in the workplace, adding, “While these technological disruptions by AI are inevitable, they can never replace the ‘human,’ especially our critical thinking skills and creativity in communication”. He also stressed on the importance of aligning goals and connecting with Gen Z employees.

The interaction between Mr. Abhyankar, who has been at the forefront of digital transformation, global leadership and innovation, and the 610-strong cohort of students reinforced classroom learnings with industry best practices. The talk inspired the students to think beyond a ‘tech-heavy’ mindset and to envision long-term career engagement with a clear vision, even amid uncertainties and risks arising from geopolitical disruptions.

The talk was held in a hybrid-format on Zoom, followed by a Q&A session. Among faculty from the Communication area who felicitated Mr. Abhyankar were Prof. Swati Bandi, Chairperson, Centre for Management Communication, Prof. Deepti Ganapathy, faculty in the Management Communication area, Prof. Malavika Harita and Prof. Jugal Choudhary. The event concluded with a vote of thanks.

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