Director Today | October 2018

Technology - A Business Enabler

Emerging Technologies, such as mobile communication, cloud computing, digitization, robotic process automation, artificial intelligence (IT), Data Analytics, Internet of Things, and blockchain are changing the way work is done, and workplace organized. Never before so many technological trends have matured and converged at the same time, changing the playing field itself. These are poised to deliver enormous productivity gains.

The dot com boom, at the beginning of this century, led the digital revolution. Digital technology is an enabler for innovations and exponential growth. Digital transformation is more about the journey – than the destination. The endgame is uncertain, as goal posts keep moving. Enterprises need cognitive solutions, that turn vast amount of data into insights for competitive advantage. Digital marketing has multi-mediums for fizz and influencer outreach, like search engines, web analytics, social media (i.e. Twitter, LinkedIn & Facebook etc) to meet marketing engagements, leads and conversions.

Director Today | September 2018

With evolution of new technologies, a hailstorm of regulatory & management challenges, rising global economic uncertainties, trade wars etc, today Boards are increasingly under pressure for good Corporate Governance and Sustainability.

IOD India is at the forefront of defining Board’s Transformational Strategy for ensuring corporate sustainability in the turbulent global economy. IOD’s London Global Convention 2018 on “Corporate Governance and Sustainability” is being organized with the theme “Board’s Transformational Strategy for Building a Sustainability Paradigm”. The objective of the Convention is to provide a deeper understanding of the individual elements that combine to create an effective corporate governance framework, as well as to provide thought leadership on various topical issues of governance and sustainability. The event being organized during 24-27 October, 2018 has attracted participation from global peers and professionals in this field. In view of the BREXIT status United Kingdom has become a place generating newer ideas and visions to tide over the uncertainties in political and economic arena.

Director Today | August 2018

Ecosystems across the globe are collapsing under adverse Climate Change
The Institute Of Directors organised the 20 World Congress on Environment Management and Climate Change during 6-7 July, 2018 attracting a large participation from policy makers, experts, and environmentalists. The Congress discussed the turbulent and difficult climate situation being faced in the world and what needs to be done. It was pointed out that 7100 companies are working on GHG Reduction programme through energy efficiency, application of renewable energy technologies, and innovations and solutions that require a focus on aspects and issues requiring enhanced material, energy efficiencies and recycling. Climate risk was considered an important element in financial budgets. It was emphasized that new models of organizational leadership need to evolve. Businesses should support eco-innovation under ecoentrepreneurship programme and should promote sustainability enabling technologies. The convention focused on the role of companies and industries in dealing with sustainable development aspects in keeping with the United Nations Agenda.

Director Today | July 2018

20th World Congress on Environment Management & Climate Change
Shortly, some of the Senior Government Policy Makers, leading business and thought leaders will be joining together in New Delhi, to discuss market solutions for green economy model, and also to indentify Board's role and responsibilities for Sustainability.

The recent trends in 'Global Warming' are alarming. Antarctica ice is melting faster than ever. ‘Climate Change' is becoming a major life-threatening challenge of our time. The weather seems to be getting wilder and fiercer. From devastating hurricanes to raging wildfires, droughts, ruinous floods, extreme temperatures, high pollution levels and most importantly worst water crisis in its history. Now Business Risk from Climate Change has become a top priority, on every Board agenda.

Director Today | June 2018

India's Institute Of Directors, DMCC sign MoU in Dubai
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) represents a commitment from both parties to strengthen ties, increase knowledge transfer and boost connectivity with the Dubai-based Indian business community, and identify further areas of collaboration to increase trade.

Bilateral trade between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and India has risen from $182 million in 1982 to approximately $53 billion in 2017, a growth trend expected to continue in the coming years.

Director Today | May 2018

Institute Of Directors successfully conducted the Dubai Global Convention 2018 and the 28 World congress on Leadership for Business Excellence and Innovation with the theme “Transformative Leadership for Fostering Creativity, Innovation and Business Excellence”. The Convention attracted senior policy makers, academicians and professionals from all over the globe, especially from India and UAE. The participants observed that traditionally, transformative leadership has been related to taking an organization through a particular transformation process from one condition or situation to another. In many sectors today, organizations face multiple challenges and unprecedented opportunities as result of improvements in connectivity, scientific breakthroughs, new business models and more affordable and disruptive technologies opening up new possibilities for adaptation, innovation, reinvention and change. It is necessary to face a combination of challenges that require creativity and innovative responses and much rethinking about individual ambitions and corporate aims and purposes. There are daunting issues, such as cyber security, rogue states, global warming, climate change and sustainability to confront. In all these and other areas such as exploiting disruptive technologies or introducing new business models, there are also unprecedented opportunities. Achieving a right balance between reactive and pro-active responses will be necessary. In this world of increasing digitization and automation it is necessary to retrain and re-skill the boards and the total workforce for attaining desired results.

Director Today | April 2018

Brace for Digitally enabled Boards in future Independent Directors must stand up before Corporate Governance becomes DEAD
The storms we are going to face in coming years are going to be SEVERER than anything we have seen before.

Only the truely transparent have a chance to survive.

Governance of MSME Enterprises
MSMEs today, are the most dynamic and vibrant sector for the growth of the Indian economy. There is growing realisation that MSME sector has a huge employment potential at low capital cost, specially in rural and backward areas, enabling socio-economic growth, equitable distribution and financial inclusion.

Director Today | March 2018

India's living Legend in Judiciary HON'BLE JUSTICE M. N. VENKATACHALIAH, National Chairman, IOD , India & former Chief Justice of India receives an emotional standing ovation from a packed hall of over 450 business participants for his thought provoking & inspiring address He also presented Golden Peacock Awards along with FOUR SENIOR MOST SITTING JUDGES of High Court of Karnataka in Bengaluru

Director Today | February 2018

CSR is taking deeper roots and companies are contributing a great deal, in a number of cases more than the mandatory 2% profit of previous year. Whereas at one time many companies had objected to mandatory provision of 2% in the Companies Act 2013, but gradually even those Companies for whom mandatory provision of the Act is not applicable are now undertaking CSR activities in a serious manner. By broadening the scope of activities under Schedule VII the government has facilitated the corporate world to become a partner in government's programme. A glowing example is of construction of toilets under CSR programme. Over the last two years larger percentage of CSR allocations have been made and spent on construction of toilets. There are different perceptions on whether this is being done under pressure from the government, and whether it is really making an impact on the rural society. Skeptics are not concerned with the number of advantages of covered toilets. The fact remains that by constructing large number of toilets, awareness has been created in masses on the need to avoid open defecation.

Director Today | January 2018

IOD's First Distinguished Fellow from ASEAN Region conferred upon Mr. Peter Seah Lim Huat, Chairman, DBS Group Holdings & DBS Bank and also Chairman, Singapore Airlines, Singapore Health Services Pte Ltd, during IOD India's first ever ‘Singapore Global Convention on Corporate Ethics & Risk Management’ held from 14th - 15th December-2017 in Singapore.

Considering Global uncertainty, Global competition, Fast paced technology and Changing consumer behaviour, its a challenge for business but also an opportunity. Most of the participants & experts stressed upon implementing a robust Risk Management Framework with Innovative Strategy is very much essential to protect your bottom line and reputation.

Director Today | December 2017

Building an Ethical & Risk Resilient Enterprise

India, as the fastest growing major economy, the country has tremendous potential to use opportunities around the world for companies to source in India and for India companies to sell abroad. India has also proved extremely resilient, despite economic and potential uncertainties globally. At the same time there is a necessity for the corporations in India and global today, to manage risks, both internal & eternal, and stand resilient to evolving global circumstances.

Director Today | November 2017

Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh State, India receives Golden Peacock Award for LEADERSHIP along with other global leaders in London.

IOD, India organised the 17 London Global Convention, 2017 on Corporate Governance and Sustainability with the theme: “The Board: Emerging Issues of Corporate Governance and Sustainability Challenges”, during last week of October 2017. over 350 Global Business Leaders, Experts, Board Members and policy makers joined together. Most of the participants emphasized on the continuing uncertain situation in the global markets and building resilient companies, establishing risk appetites for diverse activities, and ensuring that significant risks are identified, monitored and managed, can be a formidable challenge at a time of uncertainty, era of disruptive technologies and new business models.

Director Today | October 2017

Business has changed as never before.

Today, Corporate Boards have moved away from a Rubber Stamp to a Strategy Oriented monitoring organisation.

Director Today | September 2017

The Golden Peacock Award for Leadership in Economic Transformation conferred upon

Mr. Amitabh Kant IAS, Chief Executive Officer, NITI Aayog, (The National Institution for Transforming India), Leading Think Tank of the Government of India
during the last Directors' Conclave in New Delhi

The Global Economy is witnessing significant economic changes and India is on the cusp of unprecedented reforms. With ongoing reforms like GST, Digital India, Smart cities, Start Ups and Make in India, India continues to remain one of the fastest growing economy in the world.

Director Today | August 2017

India's Supreme Court Judge
Hon'ble Justice Kurian Joseph said

"Environmental Protection had become a matter of great concern for Human Rights and the right to live with dignity"

while addressing a gathering of corporate delegates at the 19th Annual World Congress on Environment Management on 7th July 2017, in Hyderabad (India).

Director Today | July 2017

Mind Boggling Reform that will Reshape India's $2 Trillion Economy

India under the Leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi is set to dramatically reshape Asia's third-largest economy with the biggest tax reform (GST) since independence.

This is something that neither the EU nor the US has been able to achieve thus far.

Director Today | June 2017

In a mission towards Developing more effective Board Directors Institute of Directors, India trains CIDCO and IRCON Boards last month

A fragmented and piecemeal approach to climate change, can be a recipe for disaster. World leaders have concluded that environmental concerns cannot be viewed in isolation, and we need to reconcile economic and environmental interests.

"As per our Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi 'It would be a "crime" to spoil the environment for future generations'."

Director Today | May 2017

IOD organized Dubai Global Convention 2017 | 18th - 20th April 2017 at Dubai (UAE).

"Change or you will be changed"
the Buzz word at the Dubai Global Convention 2017, which was attended by more than 450 participants, 160 leading organisations from India and other countries.

Director Today | April 2017

"Driving Performance Excellence through Disruptive Innovation & Visionary Leadership"
Join the Leader & Global Experts at the Dubai Global Convention 2017 | 18th - 20th April 2017, Dubai (UAE)

Director Today | March 2017

IOD organized Global Convention on "Corporate Ethics and Risk Management" during 17-18 February, 2017 at Mumbai. Integrity and Ethical conduct were emphasized as a must for creating a suitable risk management framework. Knowing what the right thing to do is and being able to act as a role model is the key criteria for selection and appointment of business leaders. Swami Vivekanand commented alout risk as "if you manage risk and succeed you arc a leader and others follow you. If you fail then you have lot of experience to convey to others".

Director Today | February 2017

IOD organised Global Convention on Corporate Social Responsibility 2017 in Bengaluru during 20-21 January, 2017. The Convention brought on a platform participants from different parts of the world who emphasized on socially responsible investments by focusing on governments priorities of social development. The Convention deliberated on inclusive growth and the role of CSR expenditures in promoting inclusivity. The conventionwas organized at a time when it was projected that one per cent of the rich in the country have the ownership of 51% of the assets and this disparity has become worse in the last ten years when the one percent richest were owning about 35% of the assets in the country. A deep concern was expressed on emerging disparity in the country along with the economic growth. CSR route was considered important in empowering the poor and the unskilled so that they can have a larger share of assets emerging out of the economic growth. CSR expenditure is aimed at improvingskills and employability.

Director Today | January 2017

Building capacity within the accountancy community to support India's Smart Cities Mission - A Research and Knowledge paper

During the last two decades CSR has evolved from a simple philanthropic activity to integrating business interests with the community in which it operates, exhibiting social, environmental and ethically 'responsible behavior in governess of business, generating values and long term sustainability'. Most companies have long practiced some form of corporate social and environmental responsibility with the broad goal simply of contributing to the well-being of the communities and society they affect, and on which they depend. But there is increasing pressure to dress up CSR as a business discipline, and demand that every initiative deliver business results. The corporations of today are no longer sheer economic entities, but engines of social transformation. The greatest challenge for directors is to value diversity, remove disparities, and manage discontinuation.

Director Today | December 2016

CSR activities are now making greater impact on the social development of people at the bottom of the pyramid
The Government of India has made special provisions to utilize CSR funds for skills development, social entrepreneurship, social business development, spread of digitization; and the programmes relating to 'Swacch Bharat' and 'Cleaning of Rivers'. This transformational change involves industry and business, in national social development programs.

Director Today | November 2016

Boards Evolving Role in an Uncertain Global Ecocnomy
The crisis at Tata Group of Companies has created turmoil in the Indian industry both in terms of its operations on the Stock Exchange as well as the application of corporate governance principles. All the top management schools are working in the top gear to conduct case studies on different aspects of governance at Tata Group of Companies. It has no more remained a closed single corporate issue but will set forth a large number of issues on how in a well managed reputed corporate governance many of the corporate governance issues can be dealt with in a manner that can be questioned at later point of time.

Director Today | October 2016

ROLE OF BOARD: Cyber Security and Risk Governance - A wake up call for Directors.
The boards are central to the governance of companies, and their basic governance responsibilities remain more or less the same across the world. As trustees of the shareholders, the boards play a key role in providing direction to the companies in terms of approving the strategy, maintain their integrity, enhancing their performance, and ensuring that the companies operate in the best interests of the shareholders and other stakeholders. Given the complexity of today's corporate structures and rapid changes that are occurring in the economy and the market, this is no mean task. Adding to these complexities are the heightened expectations of the shareholders and the enhanced regulatory requirements that demand more accountability and transparency- all of which are creating new challenges for the boards.

Director Today | September 2016

It's Time to Raise a Toast to Goodwill & Good Times

India has launched a major initiative under the title: Digital India. It is projected that the basic aim of undertaking such an exercise is to bring in transparency and effectiveness in government functioning. In other words itisan effort to provide best services at lowest cost to the common man and at the same time remove hassles for him. Large data dealing is also basically important for business operating in the globalised economy. Data generation in one part, its analysis, storage and retrieval is the otherside ofthe story. Both ofthese elements are equally important and the big data has relevance and significance only if it is backed-up with appropriate analytics. The tremendous impact that digital services have had on government and society has been the subject of expensive research that has documented the rapid, extensive adoption by public sector of digital services around the globe. Experts believe that the coming data revolution will be more deeply transformational and that data enablement will produce radical shift in the public sector's quality of service, empowering governments to deliver better constituent service, better policy outcome and amore productive operations.

Director Today | August 2016

A Report on - 18th World Congress on Environment Management 2016, New Delhi

Sustainable Economy has been invoked for the reason that efforts to control erosion of natural resources have not been successful. Keeping in view the serious concern for Sustainable Economy, 100 organized 18th World Congress on Environment Management with the theme "Environment and Climate Change: Transitioning to a Sustainable Economy". The Congress was organized with the objective to promote transformational leadership for climate change mitigation and adaptation in the spirit of Paris Climate Change Agreement and Sustainable Development Agenda

Director Today | July 2016

Gender shouldn’t decide the position but competence should ?

BOARD ROOMS should be gender neutral. WOMEN should be judged in terms of their intellect and strategy building skills. Firm decision making in board rooms must be complimented with listening capacity. Individual at leadership roles arrive there by Facing Challenges, Overcoming Obstacles and Competition Irrespective of Gender”.

says Mrs. Meenakshi Lekhi, Hon'ble Member Parliament for New Delhi, Govt. of India

Recently, Institute of Directors conducted Inhouse training programmes for Indian Oil Nominee and Executive Directors and also Independent Directors of SREI Infrastructure Finance Ltd. Building Core Competencies and motivated Workforce through training has been identified as one of the opportunity areas of greatest strength in these Organizations.

The global financial crisis of 2008 was a turning point for emphasis on board effectiveness. Criticism of company boards invariably intensified during the period from 2008 to say 2014 after the things went wrong on a large scale. Various surveys indicated that many of the companies whose corpses littered the industrial and financial landscape were undermined by neglecting, over optimistic or illinformed boards prior to the financial crisis and the ensuing deep recession. Not surprisingly, subsequently there has been a renewed focus on improved corporate governance; better structures; more rigorous checks and balances and greater independence of non-executive directors.

A number of success case studies reflected as to how the Boards have played effective role in making CSR relevant for social development. New standards for measuring effectiveness of CSR programmes were presented which makes CSR an effective tool of development. Companies Act 2013 has mandated CSR allocations at 2% of profit after tax, but major companies are observed to be doing much more than the mandatory minimum. As the Boards are taking cognizance and emphasizing on monitoring and reporting, the CSR is seen as route an important pathway for inclusive growth.

The 21st century is being marked by rapid changes in technologies and the future cannot be predicted accurately. Risk Management should be embedded in the culture of the board and its also important to periodically train Corporate Directors and Managers in Risk Management

Focus on Risk Management is a top governance priority for any business today.

As per the recent study, gradually most of the Boards of Directors are devoting more time to risk management by aligning corporate strategy with the organization’s risk profile, than it did few years ago. In the wake of numerous high-profile cases over the recent years, an active Risk Management is essential at the Board level.

INSTITUTE OF DIRECTORS, India organized an effective and successful Global Convention on Corporate Governance and Sustainability during 7 to 9 October, 2015 in London.

The Convention provided an opportunity to network and discuss the changes in corporate governance laws and practices in different countries and their impact; as well as the likely impact of call for sustainability. Whereas frauds have moved governments to make stricter corporate governance laws but the misbehavior of companies leading to frauds have continued thereby requiring continuous revisions in law for ensuring ethical compliance. The participants expressed strong opinion that laws are sufficiently structured to take care of corporate misbehavior. However, overloading of agenda of corporate governance laws must be avoided.

Fraud, Pillage and Risk the Need for Vigilance

Financial resources are a key constraint that organizations have to manage. Sustainability has further heightened pressure to balance financial performance with social and environmental performance. Sustainable organizations achieve long-term economic performance, while generating positive value for society and minimizing their environmental impact. Management accounting aligns sustainability activities with strategy, by linking them to business drivers and the business model.

Global Leaders & Experts to address 2015 London Global Convention)

IOD's London Global Convention on Corporate Governance and Sustainability during 7-9 October, 2015 will be an opportunity for evolving the way forward and finding out appropriate strategies and approaches for future successful growth of global economy.

Institute Of Directors (IOD) celebrated its Silver Jubilee in Delhi on 10th July 2015. Coinciding with its celebrations it also organised the 17th World Congress on Management with the theme “Environmental Management - Transition to a Green Economy” on 11 July, 2015 in New Delhi. The participants presented glimpses of some of the challenges emerging across the planet from poor environmental management and climate change.

Quality Times has now been replaced by 'Directors Today', a larger professional version, coinciding
with the Silver Jubilee year of the IOD. It covers professional events, seminars, workshops, and
includes articles on corporate governance from eminent industry and thought leaders.hallenges for Inclusive Growth.

BOARDROOM LEADERSHIP Challenges for Inclusive Growth

Five Questions -

• When is Comply or Explain the Right Approach ?
• Who Should be Covered by Codes ?
• What should Companies be Responsible for ?
• How Diverse Should Boards Be ?
• What are the overarching Principles of Corporate Governance ?

The excellence that you recognize today with the Golden Peacock Awards is precisely the kind of excellence that we continually seek says His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, Government of UAE, on 20th April, 2015 at IOD, India’s Dubai Global Convention in Dubai

As the Global Economy continues its fast pace of change, Innovation is increasingly important. It is a critical source of competitive advantage, but necessary even just to survive.

Dr. Tim Kastelle, University of Queenland, Australia, taking special sessions for IOD Members on “Making Innovation a Competitive Advantage

HUMAN CAPITAL remains solidly “top of mind” for CEOs as a Growth Driver ranking first among CEO challenges for the third year in a row.

CEOs articulate again this year what human capital professionals have maintained for a long time: growth is possible when a number of human capital programs, policies, and practices are in place.

Highlights of IOD organised CSR Convention on the theme 'CSR – An Actionable Business Agenda', in Mumbai during January 19 - 20, 2015

Companies need to ALIGN THEIR GROWTH ASPIRATIONS with COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, in order to create an Inclusive Society.

Highlights of National Convention on Corporate Governance & Sustainability and IOD Annual Meet, 20 December 2014, Delhi.

‘Today, a Corporate is judged by its Corporate Governance standards, in whichever sector it may be operating', says Piyush Goyal, Hon'ble Union Minister of State with Independent Charge for Power, Coal and New & Renewable Energy.

Highlights of 14th London Global Convention, 28-31 October 2014, London.|| Chief Guest Hon’ble Mrs Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs Govt. of India opening the Global Convention at House of Lords, UK

Chief Guest The Rt Hon Theresa May MP, Secretary of State for the Home Department, Govt. of UK presenting the Golden Peacock Awards in London.

How a Board should apply these tests to Governance?
Listen to the galaxy of experts at the one-day National Convention on Corporate Governance & Sustainability on 20th December 2014 at New Delhi.

“Make in India" - with commitment of smart single window governance is the invitation to all by our

With 800 million people under the age of 35, we are a nation ready for rapid and responsible economic development. The energy, enthusiasm and enterprise of Gen Y are India's greatest strength for competing in the world market.
In the midst of the above push for Indian Economic Transformation,Institute Of Directors (IOD), India celebrates its Silver Jubilee year and is hosting the annual ‘14th London Global Convention on Corporate Governance & Sustainability’, on 28 - 31 October 2014 in London. This is an UNMISSABLE LONDON event, now it's in 14th year with 14 PREMIUM BENEFITS.

London Global Convention 2014 || An Unmissable London Event

Significant academics contributions from the HEADS of ICAEW, ACCA, ICSI, ICAI, ICSA , CSAI , CCAB , Greenwich University, Aston University , Leicester University & London Business School. * Special presentations from European Commission & Peterborough on delivering true 'Smart Cities' for economic growth and business sustainability. * Study Tour to the City of Leicester. It also includes visit to Europe's leading National Space Research Centre, * All Company Secretary professionals of India ( ICSI ) will get 8 ( Eight ) Programme Credit Hours. * All Cost Management professionals of India ( ICAI) will get 10 (Ten) Programme Credit Hours.

Main objective of Golden Peacock Awards Scheme is to raise the Overall Quality and Competitiveness of major corporate functional areas and boost an organization's BRAND. It also encourages the Winners to share their success initiatives with others.

Following the 2014 elections, the incoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with a reputation as a pragmatist in favour of modernisation, development, free market solutions and giving people responsibility, has called for less government and more governance (Marino, 2014)

Leadership is turning out to be one of the most loosely used concepts today
[The Command and control style of leadership of good old days has switched over to participatory form of leadership particularly where one needs to drive transformation]

'Indian Inc faces shortfall of 2,500 Women Directors' || India needs over 26,000 Independent Directors
Masterclass for Directors exclusively for Women (In Association with CII), in Kerala

Boards That Lead : DIRECTORS NEED A NEW ROAD MAP -- FOR
when to lead, when to partner, and when to stay out of the way : cities Wharton School Professor Michael Useem

Join the Leaders and share the achievements
24th World Congress on Total Quality & Leadership being held on 23 – 24 May 2014, Trivandrum, Kerla (India).

Highlights of CSR Conference 2014 &
Mauritius Global Convention, incorporating the 24th World Congress on 'Leadership and Boardroom Challenges' & Business Networking Meet, being held on 13 – 15 April 2014, in Mauritius.

Journal of the INSTITUTE OF DIRECTORS, Conference on Corporate Social Responsibility. Register Now

India’s Parliament mandates Corporate Social Responsibility spending, through a statutory provision under the Companies Act 2013.|| It will be interesting to see if this combination of legal prescription and open market will force to yield the desired intent: to increase CSR among the business community in India.

Many think about changing the world we are actually doing it || Transforming Corporations through our holistic programmes so together we can create a better world. Highlights of London global convention 2013