Operating Principle: |Read - Reflect - Respond|

THE CATALYST

“A fortnightly newsletter-cum-magazine, published as Odd and Even Issues, spotlighting the academic,

creative, and cultural life of IFIM College — featuring student voices, faculty insights, and campus highlights.”

IFIM College’s Biweekly Periodical | Since September 2024

Volume: 04 | Issue: 02

January Even-numbered Issue

Coverage: 16-31 January 2026

Institute of Finance and International Management
An Autonomous | Affiliated to Bangalore University Accredited
 with ‘A’ Grade by NAAC Bengaluru - 560 100

EDITORIAL ADVISOR

Dr A M SAKKTHIVEL

Principal

IFIM College

CHIEF EDITOR

Dr FREDRICK RUBAN A

Assistant Professor of English

Department of Languages

EDITOR

ADITI RAO

BBA (2024–27)

WRITER

PANCHAMI S

BCA (2024–27)

REPORTER

KARTHIK JOSHI

BBA (2024–27)

DESIGNER

CHETHAN GOWDA

BBA (2025–28)

SRI LAKSHMI

BCA (2023–26)

MAITREYEE

BCA (2023–26)

MEENU KUMARI

BCA (2023–26)

1. INDUSTRY VISIT TO TVS MOTOR COMPANY

As part of the academic curriculum, students visited the assembly unit of TVS Motor Company located at Attibele, Hosur, on 12 January 2026. TVS Motor Company is one of the leading names in the Indian automobile industry and is widely known for its operational efficiency, strong quality standards, and disciplined organizational culture. The visit was well organized and informative, providing students with an opportunity to observe real-time industrial operations and understand how various departments work together to ensure smooth functioning.

The work culture at TVS reflected high levels of discipline and professionalism. Employees were punctual, cooperative, and well trained, working collectively to maintain efficiency and productivity. Teamwork played a crucial role in ensuring smooth operations across the assembly line. The visit helped students understand the importance of responsibility, coordination, and discipline in an industrial environment.

Overall, the industry visit to TVS Motor Company was a valuable and enriching experience. It successfully bridged the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, offering students real-world insights into assembly operations and industrial management. The visit proved to be highly beneficial for students’ academic learning and professional development.

2. DABUR LIVE PROJECT

MBA I Semester students participated in a live project with Dabur India Ltd. from 16 January 2026 to 28 January 2026 across modern trade retail outlets in Bangalore and Tamil Nadu. Dabur India Ltd. is one of India’s oldest and most trusted FMCG companies, with a legacy of over 135 years. Founded in 1884, the company has a strong presence in health, personal care, and food products, combining traditional Ayurvedic knowledge with modern science.

The live project was designed to provide students with hands-on exposure to FMCG sales, modern trade operations, and in-store promotional activities. The initiative aimed to bridge the gap between academic learning and industry expectations. Students actively promoted Dabur products across categories such as Hair Care, Oral Care, Home Care, Honey, and Chyawanprash.

Their responsibilities included product promotion, customer interaction, explaining product features and benefits, conducting demonstrations, supporting sales activities, and ensuring proper product visibility and shelf display.Students also collected customer feedback and gained insights into consumer preferences and market trends.

The project provided valuable exposure to large-format modern trade stores and helped students understand retail sales dynamics and customer behavior. Participants received a stipend of ₹500 per day, Dabur-branded T-shirts, and a certificate of completion. High-performing students were eligible for performance incentives and pre-placement interview opportunities for the role of Sales Officer at Dabur India Ltd. Mr. Kaushik Senthil received special recognition as an Outstanding Performer for his exceptional contribution during the project.

Overall, the Dabur live project offered meaningful industry exposure, strengthened students’ communication and professional skills, and prepared them for future careers in sales and marketing.

3. BIKE RALLY: A PRE-KANYATHON EVENT

As part of the pre-event activities for Kanyathon, IFIM College successfully organized a Bike Rally on 23 January 2026 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM. The event was conducted under the guidance of faculty coordinators Prof. Dilip B and Prof. Shalini, with the objective of promoting awareness on women empowerment, inclusivity, road safety, and social responsibility while creating enthusiasm for the upcoming Kanyathon. The rally witnessed enthusiastic participation from students and faculty members. It was conducted in a disciplined and well coordinated manner, with strict adherence to safety measures such as compulsory helmet usage and compliance with traffic rules.The rally moved along the designated route within and around the IFIM College campus, spreading awareness and drawing attention to the cause.

The event was further enriched by the presence of distinguished guest bikers. Ms. Archana Timmaraju, a deaf biker who has travelled over 66,000 kilometres, inspired participants through her journey of determination and resilience. Ms. R. Anju Choudhary motivated students by sharing her experiences as a female biker and advocate of women empowerment. Ms. Yashu C, a professional working at HireRight, highlighted the importance of balancing career and personal passion, while Mr. Noel encouraged safe and responsible riding practices.

The bike rally successfully conveyed powerful messages on empowerment, equality, and social responsibility. The interaction with guest bikers inspired students and strengthened the impact of the event. Overall, the rally was executed smoothly and effectively set a positive foundation for the upcoming Kanyathon.

4.PINKATHON

As part of the Kanyathon promotion and awareness initiatives, students participated in the Pinkathon event held on 25 January 2026 at Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru. The event, supported by Milind Soman, focused on promoting women empowerment and creating awareness about breast cancer and women’s health.

More than 40 girl students from the college actively took part in the run and outreach activities. Their participation played an important role in spreading awareness about Kanyathon while encouraging conversations around women’s health, fitness, and preventive care. The event also emphasized the importance of physical well-being and active participation of women in social initiatives.

Through this participation, the students demonstrated strong commitment to social responsibility and community
engagement. The Pinkathon experience reinforced the core values of Kanyathon by promoting empowerment, confidence, and collective action for a social cause.

5.KANYATHON OUTREACH STALLS AND COMMUNITY INTERACTION

As part of the Kanyathon awareness campaign, outreach stalls were organised at various community locations to extend the initiative beyond the campus. These stalls served as interactive platforms where students directly engaged with the public, explained the objectives of Kanyathon, and encouraged community participation.

One of the key outreach activities included the Kanyathon Stall set up at Ajmera Apartment, where students interacted with residents and created awareness about women empowerment, health initiatives, and social responsibility. Similar outreach efforts at residential communities helped strengthen public visibility and involvement.

The outreach stalls played a crucial role in building community connections and spreading the message of Kanyathon in an accessible and engaging manner. These interactions contributed significantly to increasing awareness, participation, and support for the initiative, making the outreach efforts an important component of the overall Kanyathon campaign.

1. DATA VISUALIZATION WORKSHOP

A Data Visualization Workshop was conducted on 8 January 2026 at IFIM College for B.Com 5th Semester. The session was handled by Dr. Raj Kumar, the resource person who introduced the importance of presenting data in a clear and meaningful manner in today’s data-driven environment.

The workshop explained how complex data can be simplified using visual elements such as charts, graphs, and dashboards. Students learned how data visualization helps in quick analysis, accurate decision-making, and effective communication. The session also focused on tools such as Power BI, demonstrating how raw data can be transformed into visual reports.

The resource person highlighted the relevance of data visualization tools in business analytics and management roles and explained how these skills enhance employability. Students gained valuable insights into career opportunities related to data
analysis and business intelligence. The workshop was informative, interactive, and beneficial for building technical skills
useful for academics, internships, and placements.

2. FINANCIAL AWARENESS DRIVE FOR GIRL STUDENTS

3.BLOOD DONATION AND HEALTH CAMP

The NSS Unit of IFIM College organized a Blood Donation and Health Camp on 20 January 2026 at the Startup Foundry, in association with Narayana Healthcare and Narayana Nethralaya. The event aimed to promote health awareness and encourage
voluntary blood donation among students and staff. 

The health camp offered general medical check-ups, including blood pressure and blood sugar tests, basic health consultations, and eye check-ups conducted by qualified medical professionals. The blood donation drive was conducted following
strict medical and safety protocols to ensure the well-being of all donors.

The event was organized under the guidance of the Program NSS Officer, with active support from NSS volunteers who assisted in registration, crowd management, and coordination with medical teams. The initiative successfully created awareness about
preventive healthcare, eye care, and social responsibility while making a positive impact on the campus community.

4.STP VIVA PRESENTATION

The Short-Term Project Viva for MBA III Semester PGCET students was conducted on 21 January 2026 at the Faculty Block. A total of 94 students participated and presented their project work before a panel of experienced faculty members.

The objective of the STP was to help students apply theoretical knowledge to real world business situations and develop practical skills such as problem-solving, project management, planning, and time management. Students undertook projects
based on internships or real organizational problems and submitted detailed reports prior to the viva. The viva was conducted in batches, with students presenting their projects followed by interactive question-and-answer sessions. The faculty panel provided constructive feedback, highlighting strengths and suggesting areas for improvement. The process enhanced student’s analytical thinking, communication skills, and confidence, successfully fulfilling the academic objectives of the Short-Term Project.

5.SIGNED MOU WITH EDUNET 

IFIM College has entered into a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Edunet Foundation with the objective of enhancing student employability through structured, industry-aligned skill development initiatives. This partnership is designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and contemporary industry expectations by offering students access to certified training programs supported by the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) wings of leading global companies. As part of this collaboration, multiple high-impact training programs have been introduced on campus. These include Vodafone’s VOIS initiative, which offers hands on training in Power BI and equips students with essential data visualization and business intelligence skills.

These initiatives aim to equip students with technical, analytical, and digital skills aligned with evolving industry requirements. The partnership reflects IFIM College’s commitment to career readiness, skill development, and inclusive growth through SR-driven educational excellence.

6.FOOD FIESTA - CELEBRATION OF DIVERSITY
AND INCLUSION

Food Fiesta, a vibrant celebration of cultural diversity and inclusion, was held on the IFIM Campus on 30 January 2026. The event was organised by the BBA Department under the guidance of Prof. Vandana Srivastava and brought together students to experience the richness of traditional cuisines and cultural values from different regions and communities. 
The event showcased a wide variety of dishes representing age-old food traditions, regional heritage, and cultural practices. Food Fiesta was not merely about tasting food, but about understanding the stories, history, and values associated with each cuisine. Students actively participated by presenting traditional recipes while also experimenting with modern flavours, creating a blend of tradition and innovation.

Food Fiesta served as a cultural journey for BBA students, promoting unity in diversity and strengthening a sense of community on campus. It highlighted the importance of preserving traditional recipes while encouraging cultural exchange and
mutual respect. 

The event concluded successfully, leaving participants with a sense of joy, cultural appreciation, and global harmony, making Food Fiesta a memorable celebration of diversity and inclusion. 

7. MOCK GDPI DRIVE 2026 

The Mock GDPI (Group Discussion and Personal Interview) Drive was conducted on 21 January 2026 at the Academy Block, IFIM Business School, with the objective of providing final-year management students a realistic simulation of corporate recruitment processes. The session was designed to help students enhance their communication skills, logical reasoning, body language, confidence, and interview readiness. The session was conducted under the guidance of an experienced and distinguished faculty panel  comprising Prof. Xaveri, Prof. Seshachalam, Prof. Binita, Prof. Bovina, and Dr. Fredrick. The diverse expertise of the panel ensured that students received well-rounded evaluation and constructive feedback from multiple perspectives. 

The Mock GDPI was conducted in two phases. The first phase consisted of Group During the discussions, the panel observed students’ ability to initiate conversations, present logical arguments, respect diverse opinions, and involve quieter participants.
While many students demonstrated strong opening statements and subject knowledge, the panel highlighted the need for better conclusion synthesis and collaborative discussion skills.  
The second phase consisted of Personal Interviews, where students appeared for one on-one interactions with the panel members. The interview focused on specialization based questions in Marketing, Finance, HR, and Business Analytics, along with HR related questions covering career goals, strengths, weaknesses, and overall personality. Each student received immediate verbal feedback along with evaluation through a structured score sheet. The Mock GDPI Drive proved to be a highly effective preparatory exercise. It helped students identify their strengths, understand areas requiring improvement, and gain
confidence in handling real placement interviews. The session significantly contributed to students’ professional grooming and placement readiness.

8.ALUMNI TALK – SKILLS BEYOND DEGREE

An Alumni Talk and Interaction session titled “Skills Beyond Degree” was organised on 28 January 2026 at IFIM College, Bangalore, for
B.Com first-year students. The session witnessed the participation of 24 students from the B.Com II Semester and aimed to provide industry exposure and career guidance through alumni interaction. It was led by Mr. Kishore Reddy, an alumnus of the 2020-23 batch, 
who is currently working as an Associate – Finance at Tata Consultancy Services. He also shared insights from his prior professional experience as a Financial Analyst at Accenture. 
During the interaction, Mr. Kishore Reddy spoke in detail about the challenges faced while preparing for and cracking corporate interviews. He highlighted the importance of strong communication skills and encouraged students to actively participate in
mock interviews to build confidence and improve performance. He stressed that technical knowledge alone is not sufficient and must be supported by effective communication and professional behaviour. 

He further advised students to develop essential workplace skills such as formal email writing, advanced Excel proficiency, and professional etiquette, explaining how these competencies significantly enhance employability and career growth. The speaker also
elaborated on the benefits of pursuing the ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) course, highlighting its global recognition, strong technical foundation, and potential for better career opportunities and competitive salary packages. 
The primary objective of the alumni talk was to provide B.Com first-year students with practical insights into industry expectations, guide them on essential employability skills, and help them make informed career decisions. The session aimed to motivate students through real-life experiences while creating awareness about professional development and career pathways, including the advantages of the ACCA course.

9.WORKSHOP ON DATA VISUALIZATION USING
TABLEAU

10.ACCA WORKSHOP

1.IFIM STUDENTS WON BEST 
PRODUCT PITCH PRIZE 

Shantanu and Khushi represented IFIM College at Pitch Predators, a competitive business pitching event organised by the Rotaract Club of MGR University, Chennai. The competition witnessed an overwhelming participation of nearly 550 teams from diverse academic and professional backgrounds, making the
selection process highly rigorous and competitive.

After successfully clearing multiple rounds of evaluation, the team qualified for the final round and was awarded the Best Innovation Award for their original idea,
NASHELP. The final pitch was presented before a distinguished panel comprising the President of the Incubation Cell, a young entrepreneur aged just 20 years, and an experienced venture capitalist. During the presentation, the team clearly explained the concept by covering critical aspects such as problem identification, feasibility analysis, business model, market potential, and financial projections. 

The event began with an orientation session at 8:00 AM and continued through several intense stages until the final announcement of results. The long duration, continuous evaluations, and high-pressure environment tested the participants’ patience, resilience, and teamwork. Despite these challenges, Shantanu and Khushi remained focused, confident, and committed throughout the competition. The experience significantly enhanced their pitching, analytical, and presentation skills while offering valuable exposure to real-world entrepreneurial expectations. Winning the Best Innovation Award and securing first prize for the Best Product Pitch at MGR University served as a strong validation of their idea and motivated them to further refine and pursue it with greater determination. 
This achievement stands as a proud moment for IFIM College and reflects the institution’s emphasis on innovation, experiential learning, and nurturing
entrepreneurial talent among students.

2. CAMPUS SHARK TANK – N’FLUENCE:
FIRST PRIZE

The students from IFIM College participated in the Campus Shark Tank competition conducted as part of N’Fluence, an entrepreneurial event organised by NMIMS Bangalore. The competition was designed to evaluate students’ entrepreneurial mindset, creativity, strategic thinking, and pitching abilities through
a series of challenging and innovative rounds.

A total of 43 teams took part in the competition, which was conducted across three rounds. One of the most engaging and challenging rounds was the bidding round, where teams were given imaginary capital to bid on unconventional and seemingly impractical products. These included mobile covers without camera holes, combs designed for bald individuals, water bottles with multiple holes, and other unusual items. Teams were required to transform these products  
into viable business ideas by identifying potential use cases, target customers, and market opportunities.

One of the most engaging and challenging rounds was the bidding round, where teams were given imaginary capital to bid on unconventional and During the subsequent rounds, teams developed innovative business concepts and marketing strategies to justify the commercial viability of the products they had bid
for. The focus was on creating unique value propositions, defining suitable target markets, and designing feasible revenue models. The ideas were then presented before a panel of judges, where clarity of thought, creativity, and practical applicability were critically assessed.

After successfully clearing all three rounds, the IFIM team emerged victorious and secured first prize, competing against 43 teams. The Campus Shark Tank experience provided valuable practical exposure to entrepreneurship and significantly enhanced problem-solving, teamwork, communication, and pitching skills. Winning first prize at N’Fluence stands as a proud achievement for the students and highlights IFIM College’s emphasis on experiential learning and innovation-driven education

I LOST MORE THAN MONEY: THE DAY MY DIGITAL LIFE WAS STOLEN

ART

Dear Readers,

We’re thrilled to bring you a fresh and inspiring edition of The Catalyst! Your energy and enthusiasm keep us going as we strive to share stories and ideas that spark curiosity, challenge perspectives, and start conversations that matter. Every article and feature has been handpicked to inform, inspire, and connect with you.

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With gratitude,
The Editorial Team