Tenth Edition of Bangalore Business Literature Festival to Explore Careers, Unicorns, AI, and ESG

Bengaluru: The city Bengaluru, often hailed as the startup capital of India, is all set to host the Tenth Edition of the Bangalore Business Literature Festival (BBLF), a unique confluence of business minds and literary giants. Scheduled to take place on Saturday, 14th September 2024, at the Catholic Club, Museum Road, the event will bring together India’s leading authors, business leaders, and entrepreneurs. BBLF has consistently positioned itself as India’s first and most-attended business literature festival, and the upcoming edition promises an enriching experience with its line-up of eminent speakers and thought-provoking discussions.

A Hub of Business Insights and Thought Leadership

BBLF10 is designed to cover a wide array of themes that reflect the evolving nature of business and the world around it. The event will delve into crucial topics such as crafting careers in the VUCA world (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous), investigative writing on India’s economy, and the story of Indian unicorns—exploring both their rise to success and the challenges they face. Additionally, with the rapid advances in technology, the festival will feature discussions on AI’s impact on professionals and businesses, and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance)—a topic gaining momentum in corporate sustainability discussions.

Fireside Chats and Engaging Conversations

One of the distinguishing features of BBLF is its format, which centers around fireside chats—an intimate and engaging style that allows for deeper interaction between speakers and the audience. This participatory format encourages the exchange of ideas, offering attendees the opportunity to gain insights from experience.

Some of the key figures gracing the event include Harish Bhat, former brand custodian at Tata Sons and prolific author, Ramachandra Guha, the well-known historian, and Dr. V Raghunathan, Chair of BBLF. Additionally, attendees will hear from Nitin Sethi, founding editor of The Reporters’ Collective, and Shalini Kapoor, an expert in AI and Chief Technologist at AWS, among others.

Investigative Writing and The Story of Unicorns

This year’s festival also highlights India’s dynamic business landscape, focusing on investigative writing on topics that shape the country’s economy. Pradip K. Saha, author of The Learning Trap: How Byju’s Took Indian Edtech for a Ride, will be discussing his deep dive into the edtech landscape. Additionally, the spotlight will be on India’s unicorns with Dhruv Nath, author of The EARNICORNS – Stories of Rare, Profitable Unicorns, who will explore the factors behind the rare successes and spectacular failures of India’s billion-dollar startups.

New Book Launches and Business Book Awards

In addition to stimulating discussions, the festival will also feature the launch of several new books that provide fresh perspectives on business and career growth. Attendees can look forward to conversations with authors like Pavan Soni, who will launch his new book Designing Your Career: Lead Self, Lead Others, Lead Change, and Vipul Arora, author of The Essence of ESG: A Practitioner’s Perspective.

The festival will culminate with the much-anticipated 2024 BBLF CK Prahalad Best Business Book Awards, a celebration of literary excellence in business writing. The awards will feature conversations with both the shortlisted authors and the winner, offering a deep dive into some of the most compelling business books of the year.

A Decade of Business Literature

Over the last decade, BBLF has hosted over 250 authors, business leaders, and professionals who have shared their unique insights and experiences. Past editions have featured luminaries such as Infosys founders Narayana Murthy and Kris Gopalakrishnan, Mindtree co-founder Subroto Bagchi, and Britannia’s former MD Vinita Bali. These voices have helped shape BBLF into an essential platform for intellectual discussions on business literature in India.

Partnerships and Cultural Engagement

BBLF10 is supported by prominent partners such as IIM Bangalore and features exciting collaborations with cultural institutions like Atta Gallata, which will set up a dedicated bookstore for the festival. Attendees will also enjoy networking opportunities with MXR and engaging podcasts from The Mohua Show. A range of stalls and entertainment options will add to the festival’s vibrant atmosphere, making it not just a day of learning but also a celebration of ideas.

For those eager to engage with India’s finest minds in business and literature, BBLF10 promises a thought-provoking and interactive day that will leave attendees with fresh perspectives on the ever-evolving business landscape.

The festival will be held from 10 AM to 8 PM on 14th September 2024 at the Catholic Club, Bengaluru, and promises to be a not-to-be-missed event for anyone interested in the intersection of business, literature, and thought leadership.