At FIIB, we believe leadership isn’t just about managing businesses — it’s about shaping workplaces where people feel seen, respected, and valued for who they truly are. On this note, our campus came alive with conversations that matter during Say It With Pride: Changing Workspaces, Changing Minds — a day that made us pause, reflect, and reimagine what inclusive leadership looks like.
Starting the Day on a Powerful Note
The event was hosted by Mansi (Co-Head, Girl Up FIIB) and Anushka (VP, Student Life), who welcomed everyone with energy and purpose. They reminded us that inclusion is not an add-on to management education — it’s at the very heart of becoming responsible leaders.
The tone was beautifully set by Prof. Kokil Jain, Dean – Research & Outreach, who spoke about embedding empathy and inclusion into the DNA of leadership, and by Ms. Aditi Arora, Country Head – UN Girl Up India, who encouraged students to see themselves as changemakers in their own right.
Learning from NAZ Foundation
The highlight of the day was an interactive workshop by the NAZ Foundation, one of India’s pioneering nonprofits working for LGBTQ+ rights and gender equality.
Led by Mr. Sahil Choudhary, the session was anything but a lecture. Through stories, activities, and honest conversations, he pushed us to think about what allyship really means. It wasn’t just about policies or awareness — it was about empathy, about catching our unconscious biases, and about creating spaces where everyone feels they belong.
Stories That Stayed With Us
The most impactful part of the day was hearing the lived experiences of our inspiring guest speakers:
- Ashish Chopra (HR professional at Google & co-founder of BeUnic) shared how being authentic has shaped his journey as a recruiter, drag artist, and entrepreneur.
- Saad Alam Khan (Senior Manager, VIVA Social Communications) spoke about embracing his identity as a queer Muslim professional and the courage it takes to use your voice for change.
- Sonali Dutta (Founder, Youmanize) reminded us that workplaces are about humans first, job titles second — a simple but powerful truth.
Each story was raw, real, and a reminder that representation and visibility can transform not just individuals but entire systems.
Conversations That Moved Us
The day wrapped up with a panel discussion moderated by Prof. Snigdha Malhotra, weaving together the voices of all our speakers into practical, actionable takeaways. From empathy to allyship, from storytelling to advocacy, the discussion gave students a roadmap of how to lead with both head and heart.
The event closed with Ms. Pratishtha from Girl Up India, whose words left the room buzzing with inspiration: inclusivity isn’t a distant dream — it’s something we can practice every single day.
Walking Away with a Promise
By the end of the day, one thing was clear: changing workspaces starts with changing minds.
As Mansi and Anushka summed it up in their closing note, FIIB students aren’t just preparing to be industry-ready — they’re preparing to be “humanity-ready.” And this event was one more step in that journey.
Because when we say it with pride, we don’t just talk about inclusion — we live it.
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