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IIM Lucknow Hosts Leadership and Talent at Manfest–Varchasva 2026

Over 3,000 students from 150+ colleges across India participated in the mega event.

By : EduAdvice 2026-02-09 07:37:17

 LUCKNOW, 9th February 2026: Indian Institute of Management Lucknow hosted Asia’s largest B-school festival, Manfest–Varchasva 2026, with over 3000 students from 150+ colleges across India. Fostering leadership dialogue, cultural excellence, and competitive brilliance, the three-day event became a hub of ideas, creativity, and collaboration, reaffirming its reputation as one of Asia’s most prestigious collegiate festivals.

A key highlight of the event was the Leaders’ Express series, featuring eminent leaders from governance, finance, entrepreneurship, and technology who inspired students to align professional ambitions with societal impact.

The sessions featured eminent speakers including:

  • Dr. Rajeshwar Singh, MLA, Sarojini Nagar and former Joint Director, Enforcement Directorate
  • Mr. Sunil Mehta, Chairman, IndusInd Bank
  • Ms. Asmita Satyarthi, CEO, Satyarthi Movement for Global Compassion
  • Mr. Nishant Kumar Sinha, Founder, Roastery Coffee House
  • Mr. Anil Swarup, Founder, Nexus of Good and former IAS officer
  • Mr. Indrajeet Sengupta, former CHRO, Johnson & Johnson and Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages
  • Mr. Amit Chandra, Vice President, IDS
  • Mr. Ashwini Kumar Tiwari, Managing Director, State Bank of India

Addressing the students during the event, Dr. Rajeshwar Singh, MLA, Sarojini Nagar, and former Joint Director, Enforcement Directorate, highlighted how management principles operate in real-world governance and nation-building. Emphasising digital education, youth skilling, and technological readiness, Dr. Singh called upon the students to be tomorrow’s leaders.

Ms. Asmita Satyarthi, CEO, Satyarthi Movement for Global Compassion, highlighted value-driven leadership, and urged the students to integrate empathy, ethics, and impact into their professional journeys.

Mr. Nishant Kumar Sinha, Founder, Roastery Coffee House, shared insights on building consumer-first brands, and staying rooted in craftsmanship.

Mr. Anil Swarup, Founder. Nexus of Good and former IAS officer, shared his experience in driving large-scale institutional reforms and highlighted the importance of ethical leadership, crisis management, and accountability in public systems.

Mr. Indrajeet Sengupta, former CHRO. Johnson & Johnson and Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages, shared his experience on building future-ready organisations, and redefining purpose in the age of AI.

Mr. Amit Chandra, Vice President. IDS, delivered a session on blockchain technology, highlighting its transformative potential in governance and public service delivery through real-world applications.

Mr. Ashwini Kumar Tiwari, Managing Director, State Bank of India, highlighted the importance of institution-building and long-term value creation in a rapidly evolving economic environment, inspiring students to align professional ambition with national and societal impact.

Another key highlight of this three-day event was the management and intellectual competitions. Vridhi Season 4, conducted in collaboration with Pranyas Development Foundation, challenged participants to design solutions for inclusive education. Qrioso, conducted with Quizzing Commoners, tested analytical prowess, while events such as Joust and Minute-to-Win-It, supported by Flipkart Minutes, pushed participants to think strategically under pressure.

The festival also hosted the Grand Model United Nations Conference, featuring committees including Lok Sabha, UNHRC, and UNGA, encouraging debate and policy discourse among delegates.

The cultural part of the event witnessed participation across competitions including dance, theatre, music, fashion, poetry, and filmmaking. Events such as Vibes, Taal, Halla Bol, Sur, Duez Danza, Izhaar, and Rohan showcased student talent from across the country.

Renowned personalities including Muskan Singh, Parleen Singh Gill, Nandini Pillai, Ankur Agarwal, Trishna Ray, Amit Masurkar, Nimble Funk, and Apurva Chauhan judged these events, adding professional insight.

As the event came to a close, it reaffirmed IIM Lucknow’s commitment to nurturing future leaders through platforms that celebrate creativity, intellect, and collaboration.

 

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