IMPACT 2025 at Indian School of Hospitality: A 360° Dive into Trust and Human Connection

In today’s fast-moving, tech-heavy world, one thing still holds everything together: people. Trust. Empathy. Real human connection.

That was the heartbeat of IMPACT 2025, the third edition of the Indian School of Hospitality’s (ISH) flagship business conclave. Held on November 4, 2025, at the ISH campus in Gurugram, this year’s theme — “Culture 360°” — put workplace culture under a full-circle spotlight.

Over 500 students from hospitality and business programs across India gathered to explore one big question:
How do we build workplaces where people truly trust and connect?

If you’re a student eyeing a career in hospitality, F&B, or leadership — or just curious about what makes teams thrive — this recap is for you. Let’s break it down, simply and clearly.

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What Is IMPACT — And Why It Matters

IMPACT stands for Integrated Mentorship, Partnership, Academic Collaboration & Training. Launched in 2023, it’s ISH’s way of connecting classrooms with real-world leaders.

ISH itself is a modern hospitality school (founded in 2018 under Sommet Education) known for blending creativity, business, and hands-on learning. The conclave is their annual “think-and-do” event — a living bridge between students, faculty, and industry.

Past themes:

• 2023: Sustainability
• 2024: Innovation
• 2025: Culture 360°

This year, the focus was laser-sharp: trust and human connection in workplaces.

As ISH Co-Founder Dilip Puri said in his opening:

“Empathy builds culture. Culture sustains leadership. And that cycle keeps learning, research, and industry moving forward.”

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The Big Idea: Culture 360°

“Culture 360°” wasn’t just a catchy tagline. It meant looking at workplace culture from every angle:

• How trust is built (or broken) in diverse teams
• How AI changes — but doesn’t replace — human connection
• How identity and inclusion shape belonging
• How small rituals create big trust

The day was packed with panels, keynotes, student films, and interactive zones — all designed for students to learn by doing.

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The Highlights: Panels That Sparked Real Talk

Here are the three main panel discussions — with key takeaways made simple:

Panel	Speakers	Key Insight	Student Takeaway
Building Trust in Diverse Teams	Rajesh Wadhwa (Evolve Back), Dr. Smeetha Guha (ISH), Ananya Singh (Alumna)	Use “connection audits” — quick, anonymous check-ins to measure team trust.	Students created their own audit templates in breakout groups.
Human Connections in the AI Era	Viraj Bahl (Veeba), Jose T. Ramapuram (Evolve Back), Kunal Vasudeva (ISH)	AI handles data. Humans handle heart. Use tech to free up time for real connection.	Sparked debates: Can AI ever truly “read” a guest’s mood?
Identity & Inclusion	Manvendra Singh Shekhawat (Suryagarh), Sunil Mehta (Wilderness Trust), Udiksha Panshikar (GHC)	Celebrate differences — turn heritage into storytelling, hire blindly, listen deeply.	Students did “identity mapping” to reflect on their own biases.

Live polls showed: 78% of attendees believe cultural misalignment is the #1 reason teams fail.

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The Magic: Student Films That Told the Story

The real show-stealer? 10 short films made by ISH students.

Each 5–7 minutes long, these films turned big ideas into powerful stories. Mentored by pros like filmmaker Anant Apurv Kumar, students used fiction, documentary, and animation to explore trust in transition.

Standout Films:

• “Threads of Trust” – A street vendor and a hotel chef trade recipes. Food = connection. (Won People’s Choice)
• “Echoes in the Lobby” – An animated story of a migrant worker finding his place in a luxury hotel.
• “Silent Shifts” – A tense drama about trust breaking down during a night shift — and how to fix it.

After each screening, directors took the stage for Q&A. One student said:

“We didn’t want stats. We wanted stories. Because culture isn’t data — it’s the drama we live every day.”

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Hands-On Learning: ISH’s Signature Experiences

ISH didn’t just talk about culture — they lived it with four interactive zones:

1. Culinary Culture Lab
   Students built “trust platters” — multi-cuisine dishes symbolizing team diversity. Guided by Chef Zubin D’Souza.
2. Empathy Escape Rooms
   Role-play challenges: Handle a guest complaint with grace. Mediate a team conflict. Think on your feet.
3. Story Circle Sessions
   Alumni shared their biggest failures — and how they grew. No filters. Just real talk.
4. Sustainability Bazaar
   Upcycled art from waste — a reminder that culture includes care for the planet.

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5 Key Lessons for Future Leaders

From the stage, the screen, and the breakout rooms — here’s what stuck:

1. Empathy is a KPI — Track “human ROI” (retention, happiness) as seriously as revenue.
2. Small rituals build big trust — Try daily gratitude rounds or team check-ins.
3. Students shape the future — When young voices co-create, learning sticks.
4. Blend global + local — Use Indian heritage (like Ayurvedic wellness) to stand out globally.
5. Culture isn’t optional — It’s the soul of hospitality.

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The Closing Pledge — And What’s Next

As the day ended, every attendee made one promise — a “culture action” to try in their own life:

• Start a team gratitude chat
• Run a connection audit at an internship
• Share a failure story with a junior

Dr. Smeetha Guha closed with:

“Culture 360° isn’t a theme. It’s a mindset for workplaces that heal, connect, and thrive.”

Rumors say IMPACT 2026 will explore “Resilient Ecosystems” — linking culture, climate, and community.

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Why This Matters to You

India’s hospitality sector is set to create 10 million jobs by 2030. Events like IMPACT aren’t just nice-to-haves — they’re career launchpads.

Whether you want to run a boutique hotel, lead a global F&B brand, or build inclusive teams — culture is your superpower.

Ready to join the movement?
👉 Check out ish.edu.in
👉 Admissions for 2026 are open
👉 Your story could be the next film

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What’s your take on workplace culture?
Drop a comment below. Let’s keep the conversation going.