Manipal, September 16, 2025 – T.A. Pai Management Institute (TAPMI), Manipal — one of India’s premier B-schools accredited by both AMBA and AACSB — successfully hosted the first CXO Talk Series 2025, its flagship platform for leadership dialogue and industry engagement.
The CXO Talk Series is a cornerstone event at TAPMI, where distinguished industry leaders interact with student participants, offering invaluable insights into contemporary business challenges, leadership journeys, and emerging trends across sectors. This year’s edition continued TAPMI’s tradition of fostering thought leadership, bridging the gap between academic learning and real-world corporate experience.
The series was opened by Prof. Rajeev Kumra, Director, TAPMI and Prof. Gururaj Kidiyoor, Dean–Academics, TAPMI, with Mr. Sumit Khandelwal, CEO of Xoxoday and TAPMI alumnus from the 2007–09 batch, as the keynote speaker.
Mr. Khandelwal’s keynote address was a powerful and inspirational account of his journey from a corporate professional to a successful entrepreneur. Speaking with honesty and humility, he shared the challenges he faced — from early failures in his entrepreneurial ventures to initial struggles in the corporate world — and how these experiences shaped his resilience and discipline. Mr. Khandelwal emphasized that these very setbacks became the foundation for building Xoxoday into a globally recognized leader in the rewards and incentives space. His candid narrative deeply resonated with the students, offering them valuable lessons in perseverance, adaptability, and leadership.
The lecture concluded with a lively Q&A session, where Mr. Khandelwal candidly addressed student queries on decision-making, personal discipline, and entrepreneurial resilience.
Commenting on the initiative Prof. Rajeev Kumra, Director, TAPMI, said: “The CXO Talk series is in line with TAPMI’s vision to develop future-ready students by providing them access to leaders who have travelled this path before them. Mr Khandelwal’s journey is a convincing example of resilience, and innovation, and inspires our students to pursue their aspirations with conviction and clarity.”