TAPMI Hosts Its 30th Edition Of Its Leadership Lecture Series
Manipal, 23rd July 2025: T.A. Pai Management Institute (TAPMI), Manipal — one of India’s premier AACSB and AMBA -accredited B-schools — recently concluded the 30th edition of its prestigious Leadership Lecture Series. This flagship series serves as a distinguished platform that brings together eminent voices from industry, government, and academia. Over the years, the series has featured several notable speakers, including Dr. S. Jaishankar, Hon’ble Minister of External Affairs, and Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, Hon’ble Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs.
The 30th edition of this distinguished series was inaugurated by Dr. Rajeev Kumra, Director of TAPMI, and featured Mr. Nikhil Sharma, Managing Director of Perfetti Van Melle, India and a proud TAPMI alumnus from the 1997–99 batch. This session is part of a larger initiative aligned with MAHE’s (Manipal Academy of Higher Education) declaration of 2025 as the Year of Excellence in Industry-Academia Collaborations. Carefully curated, these sessions aim to provide students with first-hand exposure to real-world leadership insights, strategic decision-making, and sustainable business practices.
During the session, Mr. Nikhil Sharma spoke about various leadership traits that students need to take up depending upon the situation that might arise. He urged students to take up leadership roles even when the situation is unfamiliar or uncomfortable, while highlighting vulnerability as a modern leadership trait — showcasing courage and authenticity, especially during difficult times. During his address, Mr Nikhil also stressed on the importance of empathy over sympathy, particularly when leading teams, while referring to the value of understanding the ground realities the team faces.
Another key aspect that was emphasized by Mr Nikhil was Communication, which is a very crucial aspect when it comes to leadership skills – not articulation based but accessibility based. Mr. Sharma also encouraged the students to develop their own leadership style, learn from mentors but not imitate blindly, and to remember that while a consistent philosophy is important, not every decision must be identical — the intent behind actions is more crucial than precedent.
On team conflict, he clarified that productive disagreement is a sign of a healthy team, but post-decision alignment is non-negotiable. He also spoke about overcoming self-doubt, trusting experts within teams, and the need to build environments where people are naturally inspired to perform.
The lecture concluded with a vibrant Q&A session where Mr. Sharma candidly addressed questions ranging from difficult decisions to personal routines. As a closing note, he revealed that curiosity is his most valued trait and that discipline is the bedrock of his daily habits.
In this year of Excellence in Industry-Academia Collaborations, we can look forward to more leadership lectures from the industry.