The ETEducation Chancellors' Conclave 2026 was held in Goa, where five institutional and technology leaders examined how universities can manage leadership transitions.
The discussion focused on leadership transitions
Devina Lason, Editor – Video Initiatives & Senior Anchor, The Economic Times Business Verticals, moderated the Trilogue Chat.¹
The discussion focused on leadership transitions Devina Lason, Editor – Video Initiatives & Senior Anchor, The Economic Times Business Verticals, moderated the Trilogue Chat.¹
Succession must begin before founders step back
Harshavardhan Patil, Chancellor of Pimpri Chinchwad University, emphasised that succession must begin before founders step back. Pranav Padode, Vice President & Trustee of Vijaybhoomi University, drew on his own experience of generational leadership transition.¹
Institutional experience and locally hosted AI were also discussed
Jayadeep K R Reddy, Pro-Chancellor & Chief Executive Officer of CMR Group of Institutions, brought a background in architecture and management. Sardar Simarpreet Singh was identified as Director of JIS Group. Efforts to develop locally hosted AI systems were described as a way to reduce dependence on external cloud infrastructure.¹
Plan Succession Before You Step Back
If you work in a family-run business or a founder-led startup, treat succession as a process that starts years before the top role changes hands. That means you should ask your employer about documented transition plans, mentorship pipelines, and who will take over key responsibilities. If no such plan exists, you face a risk that the organisation's culture and credibility suffer when the founder leaves, which can stall your own career growth and promotion prospects.¹
For technology professionals, the push toward locally hosted AI systems changes which skills to build. That signals growing demand for engineers who can deploy and maintain AI on private servers rather than relying on external cloud providers. If you are choosing a specialisation, consider gaining hands-on experience with on-premises AI deployment, data governance, and infrastructure management. This skill set positions you for roles in institutions and companies that want control over their AI systems and data.¹
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