In this workshop organised by the Human Resources Committee, the following learned faculties imparted learning to the articled students, on the topics mentioned below:
The workshop received a good response where newly enrolled articled students got a broad perspective of various subjects that they will handle during the course of their articleship.
Press Conference, 29th April 2013, at the Indian Merchants’ Chamber, Mumbai
A Press Conference was organised by the BCAS Foundation to discuss and explain the 97th Amendment to the Constitution of India dated 13th January 2012 wherein under Article 19, the term “Co-operative Societies” has been inserted. As per the legal opinion of Senior Advocate Firoze Andhyarujina released at this Press Conference, “After the Constitutional Amendment and the status granted to the co-operative societies of self-governance, the RTI Act would be applicable to the Co-operative Society, more particularly after it being self-governed by the Maharashtra State Ordinance of 2013, laying down the by-laws, rule, regulations, procedure and modalities”. However, as per the opinion of the former Central Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi, who was the chief guest at the occasion, the Right to Information Act would not be applicable to co-operative societies of any kind, including co-operative housing societies. Leading luminary Mr. Julio Rebeiro, and Mr. Narayan Varma, Trustee, BCAS Foundation, also discussed the implications of this amendment. The conclusion at the meeting was, that the applicability of RTI Act to co-operative societies would have to be tested by filing some RTI applications to housing societies, and pursuing the matter in appeal until it reaches the High Court.
mPower Summit, 10th & 11th May 2013, at the West End Hotel, Mumbai
The mPower Summit, held on 10th & 11th May, 2013 at the West End Hotel, Mumbai, was designed to help professional firms focus on “Mergers, Managing Growth and Mentoring Talent”.
The 2-day Summit, attended by over 50 participants, was unique in many ways – the speakers were drawn from 4 cities and the participants from 11 cities. Most of the participants represented the leadership team of their professional firms.
The keynote speaker, Ketan Dalal, connected well with the audience as he took them through his journey from a family firm to the leadership team of a Big-4. His talk was candid and inspiring as he not only opened up the windows of opportunities, but also cautioned on the hurdles along the way. His strongest message to the forum was that managing people is the key to a professional services firm, no matter what the size may be. In his charismatic and emphatic way, he concluded “remember, people leave people, people do not leave organisations….
When you see talent walking out of your door, introspect on how you are nurturing your human capital”.
The first day had interesting sessions. Sundeep Gupta, Chartered Accountant from Delhi explained the merger process, the science and art of engaging with another professional firm and the need to ensure a cultural match prior to merging. Sujal Shah, Chartered Accountant played the devil’s advocate and explored the possibility of separating out a niche practice when the firm is considering a merger. He presented the audience with the ecstasy of creating one’s own institution built on one’s values and belief system and nurturing a niche area as opposed to becoming a part of a large set up having multiple service lines.
The first day concluded with a session by the Committee Chairman Ameet Patel, Chartered Accountant who awakened the audience to the need for innovation in the professional services firm – he stressed on the need for providing innovative solutions for clients as also for the internal functioning of the firm. He smartly presented the pressing need for professional services firms to shift focus from delivery to discovery – from execution to innovation – from time based billing to value pricing.
The highlight of the Summit was the uplifting session by Padmashri T. N. Manoharan, Chartered Accountant where he spoke of the role of the senior partners in creating an institution. With anecdotes and real life examples, he touched the hearts of the audience as he explained that “we are all mortal individuals with the power to create lasting institutions”. His humility reflected in his participating in the entire 2-day Summit as a quiet observer and his leadership reflected in the values and vision that he rolled out in his talk.
The next session, by Nandita Parekh, Chartered Accountant, Convenor of the Committee and the co-architect of the Summit, spelt out the formula for “living happily ever after” post a professional merger. She emphasised the need for a Code of Conduct, succession plan for the leadership of the firm and strategy for nurturing and retaining talent. Her illustrated presentation drove home the points with ease, as also added some colour to the event.
The next session by Sagar Shah, Chartered Accountant from Pune, rolled out a strategy for growth through geographic spread and networking. Young and energetic, he showed the participants the wonders that can be achieved with a clear focus, with a well-defined strategy and with mastering technology. He shared the HR initiatives taken by his firm to ensure excellence, excitement and energy at all levels. A very interesting remark by him about how unimportant one’s own name was in the context of overall growth of one’s firm was an eye opener for the participants.
The last session, “Of the Participants, By the Participants, For the Participants” ably anchored by Ameet Patel, Chartered Accountant provided a grand finale to an Empowering Summit where each of the participants shared their key ‘take aways‘ from the Summit.
The mPower Summit, a third in the series of Power summits, has been successful in taking forward BCAS image as an innovator and as an organisation which addresses the need of its members even before they become a necessity. The vision of the committee in identifying the need and designing the Summit year after year has provided a legacy that needs to be continued. May the Power summit of the BCAS be the meeting place for future partners and the starting point for lasting relationships!
Half-day training workshop on Empathy, 16th April 2013, at the Navinbhai Thakkar Board Room, Vile Parle, Mumbai
The Human Resources Committee organised this workshop as a continuation of the leadership camp conducted earlier with the theme of “Living in Harmony”. The learned faculty Shri M. K. Ramanujam guided the participants on Empathy and discussed various connected issues such as Feeling, Emotions, Understanding and Empathising. The learned faculty also discussed Triggers of Anger and shared tips on Anger Management. The workshop received very good response and participants gained immensely from the wealth of knowledge and experience shared by the speakers.
