KISS-DU hosted an Industry Talk Show for the BFSI students of the Capgemini KISS Digital Academy on 13th February 2026.The event was a collaborative effort involving the School of Tribal Resource Management (STRM), ZYVKA HRTech Pvt. Ltd,  BFSI Sector Skill Council of India (BFSI SSC), the KISS-DU’s Institution Innovation Council (IIC), the Centre for Indigenous Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIIE), and the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) of KISS Deemed to be University (KISS-DU).

Guest speaker Mr. Abhitabya Pattanayak, founder of Zenist and a prominent member of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), drawing similarity with the curiosity level of a child, urged the students to imbibe that skill as a key trait to navigate the rapidly changing technological landscape. He emphasized that success in the world of Commerce requires students to question everything and find answers using technology at their fingertips, while maintaining an uncompromising level of integrity for themselves.

A significant focus of the discussion was the massive, untapped potential within the Indian insurance sector. Mr. Pattanayak noted that India currently has less than 5% insurance penetration. With the government aiming for “Insurance for All” by 2047, he described this 95% opportunity gap as a prime field for graduating students to take advantage of industry growth. He encouraged students to look beyond traditional roles and explore specialized areas such as the Agriculture Insurance Corporation (AIC) or niche pilot products like shrimp insurance. By acting as facilitators in rural India, students can help bridge the gap in banking and loan access, transforming the financial landscape of the country.

Mr. Pattanayak redefined entrepreneurship not as a mere career choice, but as a fundamental mindset. He explained that entrepreneurship is the ability to build things with limited resources and provide disproportionate value, a skill that is just as valuable within a corporate job as it is in a startup. He illustrated this by citing how successful platforms like WhatsApp and Red Bus succeeded by identifying simple, everyday problems—such as the unpredictability of text messaging or the difficulty of bus bookings—and solving them with a focus on predictability and accessibility. He advised the students to focus on creating a “Minimum Viable Product” (MVP), building a small yet perfect solution first before scaling up.

The event also served as an occasion to celebrate student achievements in financial literacy. In the presence of Dr. Prashanta Kumar Routray, Registrar of KISS-DU, Mr. Prasad Routray, Co-Founder of ZYVKA HR Tech, and Mr. Sangram Keshari Sahoo, Representative from BFSI SSC, the academy recognized more than 150 students who successfully cleared the SEBI Investor Awareness Test. This rigorous assessment had been conducted earlier on January 28, 2026, in the presence of Mr. Suresh Sahoo, COO, BFSI SSC. Following this success, the students have expressed a collective desire to work towards attaining the mutual fund distribution license certification from SEBI, marking a significant step towards professional excellence in the capital markets.

In his concluding remarks, Mr. Pattanayak reassured the audience that capital and age are no longer primary barriers to success in the modern world. He shared examples of founders starting successful ventures well into their 70s, noting that “retiring your mind” is the only true limitation. He concluded the session in an inspiring note by urging the students to wake up every day with a dream and the persistence to see it through, reminding them that while the protected world of academics provides a foundation, it is their focus and daily commitment to their goals that will ultimately define their impact as the nation’s next generation of job creators.

The session concluded with a Vote of Thanks.