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XLRI Jamshedpur organised the inaugural CXO Series exclusively for the GMP batch of 2024-25. The event was addressed by Animesh Kumar, president of HR & Transformation at Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL). With a distinguished career spanning over 25 years, Kumar delivered an enlightening session on “Family Ventures Reimagined: Pivoting and Scaling through Generations”.
The session garnered the enthusiastic participation of the entire cohort, along with XLRI’s management and staff. Prof. Sunil Sarangi, the Co-Convenor for Placement, warmly welcomed the guest speaker and expressed his sincere appreciation for Kumar’s presence.
The session was initiated by Deepak Yadav, Founder of CEO Lounge, who offered deep insights into the dynamics of family businesses before introducing Animesh Kumar. The subsequent Q&A between Yadav and Kumar explored the intricate nature of family businesses, highlighting the Chinese adage, “Wealth rarely survives three generations”.
Discussions delved into the evolution of family business dynamics, emphasizing the unpredictability of the future that drives decision-making. Global expansion, the preservation of family values amidst diverse cultures, and shifting societal norms regarding gender roles in family businesses were significant topics. The session concluded with an interactive Q&A from students, focusing on family ventures.
Key points discussed included the necessity for media companies to be adaptable and agile in catering to local cultures across different geographies. The trending Ad-supported Video On Demand (AVOD) model was highlighted as an effective response to changing consumption habits. Additionally, the crucial role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in content production and discovery was emphasized, showcasing its capability in generating story ideas and providing real-time insights into audience preferences. The discussion also covered the long-term sustainability and superior returns of family businesses compared to institutional ones. However, challenges such as low ad rates and the need for content segregation based on audience demographics were acknowledged as significant obstacles to be addressed.
On the second day, Kumar conducted a session titled “Crystal Balling Societal and Behavioural Trends Through Content”. He examined the consumption of various content types via OTT platforms and Instagram reels, amidst a shifting economic landscape. The discussion covered evolving monetization strategies, challenges with free-to-air content, and the dominance of digital advertising.
Students were tasked with analyzing the types of content that Zee should focus on and devising schemes for monetization through advertisements and subscriptions.
