Smith Hosts Tata Innovation Dialogue

The University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business and the Tata Group of Companies hosted the Tata Dialogue on Innovation luncheon on April 1, 2016, at the College Park Marriott Hotel and Conference Center. The featured speaker was Shankar Venkateswaran, chief of Tata Sustainability Group, who discussed the challenges of taking sustainability from policy to practice.

Students from schools across the University of Maryland attended the event, which was organized in partnership with Smith’s Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER) and the Center for Social Value Creation.

Ritu Agarwal, Robert H. Smith Dean's Chair of Information Systems and Senior Associate Dean for Faculty and Research, and Kislaya Prasad, director of CIBER and research professor in the department of logistics, business and public policy, welcomed attendees to the event.

Venkateswaran discussed the challenges of taking sustainability from policy to practice especially in areas of training, day to day business, motivating staff, and working with a diverse issue set in a group like Tata. He said that the Tata Group believes that being successful in business is not only about performing well in financial terms, but ensuring that all its stakeholders benefit.

About Tata
The Tata group of companies is emerging as one of the world’s most trusted and respected corporate names. Combining ethical values with proven business performance and leadership, Tata has a heritage of deep social commitment that has earned the trust and respect of its stakeholders. In the United States, the Tata group has had a presence for over 60 years. As the largest India-headquartered multinational in North America, Tata has 11 companies and more than 24,000 employees in the United States and Canada, with well-known brands such as Jaguar Land Rover, Tetley Tea and Eight’ O Clock coffee. At Tata, innovation is a critical vector for improving quality, performance and competitiveness. The Tata group has adopted a three-pronged strategy to encourage and enhance innovation across its companies. The three key drivers are better communication and recognition of innovative ideas and efforts; facilities and initiatives that enable learning from other companies; and support for collaborative research and partnerships with academia. For more information please visit northamerica.tata.com and www.tata.com.