IIM Shillong organises LEAD 2024 conference themed "Empowering Humanity"

Shillong (Meghalaya) [India], December 15 (ANI): In its first, Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Shillong organised an international conference on Leveraging Emerging Technologies and Analytics for Development (LEAD-2024), themed "Empowering Humanity."
The event was attended by academics, policymakers, and industry leaders to explore innovative solutions for global challenges through the intersection of technology, analytics, and development. The conference underscored the importance of partnerships in advancing global goals.
The LEAD-2024 logo, unveiled during the event, symbolises the conference's vision and commitment to integrating artificial intelligence, analytics, and sustainability principles. It reflects the alignment of LEAD-2024 with several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The ceremony was attended by dignitaries including Prof Viswanath Venkatesh of Verizon Chair at Virginia Tech, and Prof Somnath Mukhopadhyay of University of Texas at El Paso.
Prof D. P. Goyal, Director, IIM Shillong and Co-Chairpersons of the LEAD 2024 Prof Parijat Upadhyay and Prof Pradeep Kumar Dadabada were also present.
The pre-conference began with a Round Table Discussion and concluded with a session by Anand, Technology Advisor at Assam Electronics Development Corporation Limited (AMTRON) who highlighted the role of emerging technologies in regional development. The discussions were enriched by contributions from industry leaders, ensuring a practical perspective alongside academic insights.
On the first day, delivering the keynote address Prof Viswanath Venkatesh emphasised the importance of rigorous research with practical impact, while highlighting innovative methodologies. Prof Somnath Mukhopadhyay shared insights on integrating analytics for effective decision-making and management innovation.
On the second day, Prof Suprateek Sarker, Rolls-Royce Commonwealth Commerce Professor (Information Technology), McIntire School of Commerce, University of Virginia, elaborated on the transformative role of digitalisation in humanitarian action, sustainability, and health. His detailed analysis of platforms like Twitch and Slack highlighted how user engagement drives service evolution.
Prof. Jason Bennett Thatcher, Milton F Stauffer Professorship in the Department of Management Information Systems, Fox School of Business, Temple University, presented a masterclass on multidisciplinary research, addressing the necessity of integrating insights from multiple fields to tackle complex global problems like misinformation.
The conference spanned critical themes such as artificial intelligence, sustainable development, and management practices, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue to address challenges such as climate change, economic inequality, and digital transformation. (ANI)