Presidency School of Commerce, Presidency University, Bengaluru organised its first business meeting on the theme “The Future of Business Growth – Collaboration” on 11 February 2026 at the University Auditorium, in association with BNI AURA, a premier chapter of BNI (Business Network International).

 

This event followed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Presidency University and BNI, a globally renowned business networking organisation with a legacy of over 41 years and operations in 76 countries. BNI promotes structured professional networking to drive business growth through referrals, collaboration, and strategic partnerships. BNI AURA is one of the 24 active chapters under BNI Bengaluru Northwest, the largest BNI region in the city.

 

The programme offered students a unique opportunity to witness a live simulation of a BNI weekly business meeting, enabling them to understand practical aspects of referral-based business growth and professional collaboration. Akshay Gangadhar, Chapter President of BNI AURA, introduced the chapter’s leadership team and explained the structured meeting format that helps members systematically generate business through referrals.

 

The keynote address was delivered by Ram Samtani, Area Director, who emphasised the increasing relevance of collaboration and referral-driven growth in today’s dynamic business landscape. He highlighted how referrals improve conversion rates and encouraged students to develop strong networking skills to access mentorship, internships, and long-term career opportunities.

 

The event was organised under the leadership and guidance of Dr Padmavathi, Associate Dean, Presidency School of Commerce; Dr Poornima Karthikeyan; and Dr Saba Inamdar, HODs In-charge, School of Commerce.

 

The programme marked an important step in strengthening industry–academia collaboration and enriching students’ experiential learning through real-world business engagement.