Annual Event Reinforces XLRI’s Commitment to Ethical and Sustainable Management

The 33rd JRD Tata Oration on Business Ethics, held at XLRI – Xavier School of Management in Jamshedpur, reaffirmed the institution’s status as a leading forum for conversations around business integrity. On November 7, 2025, at the Tata Auditorium on campus, the event drew corporate leaders, academics and members of the XLRI community to reflect deeply on the role of ethics in business.

This year’s distinguished guest speaker, Dr. Sanjay Pradhan, President of the World Forum for Ethics in Business (WFEB), delivered a thought-provoking oration entitled “Business and Ethics: Contradictory or Complementary?”. The gathering began with a lamp-lighting ceremony, followed by an introduction to the J.R.D. Tata Foundation for Business Ethics (established 1991) by Dr. (Fr.) Joseph Mathew, S.J., Chairperson of the Foundation. He emphasized that the institution’s mission remains rooted in the exemplary ethical conduct of J.R.D. Tata — to “ask not just if it is legal, but is it the right thing to do”.

In his address, Dr. Pradhan challenged the long-held assumption that ethics and business success are at odds. He argued that rather than being a constraint, ethics forms the foundation of sustainable value creation. Drawing on examples such as the stewardship of J.R.D. Tata, the famous product-recall decision by Johnson & Johnson (Tylenol) and the sustainability innovations of Patagonia, he illustrated how ethical behaviour can drive trust, brand equity and long-term performance.  On the flip side, he pointed to cases like the Volkswagen emissions scandal and the 2008 financial meltdown, underscoring how moral compromise can unravel even the most powerful corporations.

A key takeaway from the oration was the framing of three interlocking “frontiers” of ethical leadership in the current era: AI ethics, regenerative climate action, and anti-corruption. Underlining that we are now in a “third wave” of ethical evolution – moving beyond mere compliance and CSR to purpose-driven leadership – Dr. Pradhan proposed practical frameworks including bias audits, watermarking of algorithmic decisions, integrity pacts and regenerative business charters. He used the metaphor of a “three-layer cake” to link tangible value creation, leadership transformation and inner conviction as essential to building ethical organizations.

Addressing the audience, Dr. (Fr.) Sebastian George, S.J., Director of XLRI, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to nurturing leaders of conscience and competence. He reiterated that XLRI’s mission is not only to produce managers but to shape responsible citizens of business. Following Dr. Pradhan’s address, Dr. Sanjay Patro, Dean (Academics), delivered the vote of thanks, thanking the speaker, faculty, students and participants for contributing to a dynamic and timely discussion.

The oration series – initiated in 1991 – honours the legacy of J.R.D. Tata and XLRI underscore the enduring belief that ethical conduct is non-negotiable in business. According to the academic prospectus, the J.R.D. Tata Foundation for Business Ethics “seeks to address ethical issues in the corporate world by publicly affirming the urgent need for upholding ethics in all spheres of business”. As businesses face rapid transformation and increasing demands for transparency, responsibility and sustainability, the 33rd Oration served as a timely reminder that ethics is not optional – it is central to leadership, strategy and value creation.

In sum, the event reaffirmed a vital message: business excellence and ethical integrity are not trade-offs but aligned imperatives. Through compelling narratives, contemporary frameworks, and rooted institutional values, the oration reinforced that in an era of disruption, purpose, conscience, and competence must go hand in hand to shape a more responsible business future.