EKAM 2024 showcases DEI leadership and innovation in Retail

The EKAM - All Inclusive Summit 2024, held at the Taj Santacruz in Mumbai on November 12, brought together industry leaders, HR professionals, and diversity advocates to discuss and promote DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) practices in the retail sector. The event, organised by the Retailers Association of India (RAI), featured a mix of panels, presentations, and personal stories. Here’s a summary of each session, capturing key takeaways and contributions. 

Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO of RAI, told Retail4Growth, while summing up the event, “It’s an interesting set of people who’ve come in here. Many of these companies are already on the path of taking up some aspects of diversity and inclusion. They are here to try and understand from each other how they are practising so that they learn from each other and can go back feeling that they’ve got some better way of doing what they are doing currently.” 

Opening of the summit 

The event began by a welcome address by Kumar Rajagopalan, who set the stage for the day, emphasising the importance of DEI in modern retail.   

Keynote address by BS Nagesh 

BS Nagesh, founder of TRRAIN and chairman of Shoppers Stop Ltd, delivered the keynote, highlighting the role of DEI in transforming the retail landscape. He discussed actionable steps that organisations can take to make inclusivity a part of their business strategy.  

Panel discussion: The business case for diversity 

The first panel, The Business Case for Diversity: How DEI Transforms Businesses, featured: 

Aashna Amin Khanum, executive director at JPMorganChase, Biju Kassim, CEO - Beauty at Shoppers Stop Ltd, Suparna Mitra, CEO - Watches and Wearables Division at Titan Company Ltd, Sushmita Paul, senior VP at Reliance Retail Ltd.  

Moderated by Kumar Rajagopalan, the discussion focused on the tangible benefits of DEI, showcasing how diverse workforces contribute to innovation, improved customer experiences, and business success. 

The panelists shared how they are working towards making their companies which are retail giants into more inclusive and diversified workplaces. They also shared case studies of their policies highlighting their work in the past years. 

Inspire & Impact Series 1: Rajani Ramanujam's story 

The Inspire & Impact Series featured Rajani Ramanujam, assistant manager at Infosys BPM and an acclaimed athlete. Despite her hearing impairment, Rajani has achieved great success as the Indian women’s chess captain and international badminton player. She shared her journey through a sign language interpreter, emphasising perseverance and advocating for a more inclusive workplace for persons with disabilities (PWD). 

Inspire & Impact Series 2: Future of inclusion with Amrita Ganguly 

Amrita Ganguly, chief diversity officer at Tata Motors Ltd, led the second Inspire & Impact Series session titled Future of Inclusion: Are You Going to Be Left Behind?. She spoke about the importance of future-proofing business strategies by incorporating DEI practices and discussed how companies need to adapt to remain competitive and inclusive. 

Special address: Inclusion by design with Sampurna Rakshit 

Sampurna Rakshit, marketing and e-commerce head at Titan Company Ltd, presented a special address titled Inclusion by Design – a Mia by Tanishq Journey. She showcased campaigns like This is Me, featuring Sakshi Sindhwani, body positivity influencer, Asha Roka, MMA champion, Queen Andro, LGBTQ fashion icon, Saru Mukherjee, mom blogger, Riza Reji, first Indian model with Down syndrome, Anuja Deora, entrepreneur, Dee MC, rapper and singer-songwriter 

The campaign celebrated the unique stories of these individuals, emphasising inclusivity and self-expression. Additionally, Sampurna highlighted initiatives like collaborating with Zeenat Aman to reach a broader demographic and supporting the RCB women’s team in the IPL, which underscored Mia by Tanishq’s commitment to diversity. 

Panel discussion: Inclusive leadership for a multi-generational workforce 

The panel on Inclusive Leadership for a Multi-Generational Workforce brought together Anupama Ratta, CHRO at Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd, Diya Suri, VP - People at Third Wave Coffee, Neelam Ahluwalia, VP - L&D at bigbasket, Nabamita Banerjee, head HR at Tata Starbucks, Parineeta Cecil Lakra, country people & culture manager at IKEA India, Smita Sahu, head HR - Beauty Business at Reliance Retail Ltd 

Moderated by Bidisha Banerjee, HR head and CLO at Welspun Group, this discussion explored how leaders can effectively manage and leverage a multi-generational workforce. The panellists shared best practices for fostering collaboration and inclusivity across different age groups. 

Presentation: The untapped business advantage by Roshni Rathi 

Roshni Rathi, managing director and partner at BCG, gave an insightful presentation titled The Untapped Business Advantage. She discussed how businesses can harness the power of DEI to unlock new opportunities and drive sustainable growth. 

Inspire & Impact Series 3: Disability inclusion with Usha Pattabhiraman 

Usha Pattabhiraman, senior manager of project management at Specialisterne Enable India Solutions, led the third Inspire & Impact Series session titled SKU Through the Lens of Disability Inclusion at Workplace. She emphasised the importance of creating environments that are accessible and supportive for employees with disabilities. 

Panel discussion: Attracting a diverse talent pool 

The panel on Attracting a Diverse Talent Pool: Trends, Challenges & Opportunities featured Anjali Goel, head HR at V-Mart Retail Ltd, Cheri Bhengra, GM - People Resources at Westlife Foodworld Ltd, Dr. Srikanth P.B., group head - Talent, Learning & OD at Raymond Ltd, Manisha Patil, DEI and community engagement leader at Amazon, Saurabh Deshpande, customer care associate & DVP - L&D at Shoppers Stop Ltd, Moderated by Ameesha Prabhu, co-founder and CEO of Trust for Retailers and Retail Associates of India, this panel addressed strategies for attracting diverse talent and overcoming challenges in building an inclusive workforce. 

Inspire & Impact Series 4: LGBTQ+ inclusion by Tata Steel 

Anubhuti Banerjee, executive assistant to the CIO at Tata Steel Ltd, shared insights in the fourth Inspire & Impact Series, titled Giving "Wings" to LGBTQ+ Inclusion – Tata Steel Story. The session highlighted Tata Steel’s progressive initiatives aimed at creating a welcoming and supportive environment for LGBTQ+ employees. 

DEI trends since EKAM 2023 

Priyanka Agrawal, co-founder and head at Inclusional, presented an analysis of DIB Trends Since EKAM 2023: What Next?, reviewing progress made over the past year and outlining future priorities for advancing DEI in the industry. 

Special presentation by Narayana Konganapalle 

Narayana Konganapalle, a para rower from Andhra Pradesh who qualified for the 2024 Summer Paralympics, delivered a powerful standalone presentation, inspiring attendees with his story of determination and resilience 

The summit wrapped up with a vote of thanks from Dr. Lawrence Fernandes, director of retail learning and member relationship at RAI, and a showcasing of DEI impact videos and felicitations, underscoring the industry’s collective commitment to advancing DEI.