Forevermark, the diamond brand from The De Beers Group of Companies, recently organised a customised programme on ‘Leadership in the Disruptive Era’ at the Cambridge Judge Business School, the acclaimed business school of the University of Cambridge with 35 select leading partners.

Working with the Cambridge Judge Business School, Forevermark adapted the program to open up the minds and build an enduring future for leaders in the industry. The aim of the course was to help them better manage and revolutionise their businesses in a dynamically growing disruptive economy by also teaching them about the value of consumer trust, transparency and ethics. The areas covered were Managing Family Business, Disruption, Teams – Creating Culture & Values, Ethics and Emotional Intelligence besides others.

“We worked diligently with the executive coaching team of Cambridge University to design the course which would be relevant to the needs of our industry covering points like family business, integrity, team building etc. We wanted the participants to step out of the jewellery business and open their minds to a future that is widely unknown. We hope that with exposure to some of the world’s best academicians and stalwarts, the leaders of the industry would be future ready,” said Sachin Jain, President, Forevermark, on the occasion.

Forevermark also hosted the contingent at the De Beers head office to gain various market insights, understand the scientific trends that will arise in the coming years and focus on the importance of the selection standards of Forevermark, a brand that itself epitomises beauty, rarity and responsible sourcing. Stephen Lussier, CEO, Forevermark also addressed the contingent and a special convocation ceremony was held for the participants.

The retailers who attended the program included, A.S. Motiwala, Abaran Timeless Jewellery, Anmol Jewellers, C. Krishniah Chetty & Sons, Damas Jewellery, G. R. ThangaMaligai Jewellers, Indian Gems and Jewellery Creation, Joy Alukkas, Kays, Khandelwal Jewellers, Khurana Jewellery House, KirtilalKalidas Jewellers, NTS Navrattan Jewellers, P N Gadgil Jewellers, Rose andSenco Gold among others.

This is what some of the attendees had to say about their experience:

Nitin .M. Khandelwal, Chairman, All India Gems & Jewellery Trade Federation added, “The course was extremely Innovative which doesn’t just come by just giving education, it comes from creating environments where their ideas can connect. Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower. The topic was very interesting. In today’s scenario where market turbulence is high, leadership becomes a big challenge. We have certainly found ourselves in an era of disruption. Forevermark were gracious hosts and I will recommend this course to everyone I meet in the industry. I will definitely use this fabulous experience in the Gems and Jewellery Industry. Last but not the least, I have received 3 life time achievement awards, however this session was a lifetime reward for me.”

“Judge Business School is a beacon of opportunities and innovation set in the historical Cambridge University.  For jewellers, like ourselves, to receive this opportunity to study at Cambridge and learn about the nuances of doing business in the maturing Indian market and disruptive leadership was an incredible experience. The course was conducted in a very simple yet organised way making the learning experience quite interactive and fun. The Forevermark team made sure that each one of us was comfortable and would benefit from the workshop. Apart from the classroom learning, there was so much learning all around when you are amongst the top notches in the trade. The best was sharing their pearls of wisdom, their insights and learning that all are sailing in the same boat. The workshop became a hub for jewellers to share their experiences, to network and brainstorm on solutions for individual and industry-wide problems. Our biggest takeaway was the realisation that in the coming decade it is not going to be business as usual. It is time to innovate, establish a digital presence, and create disruption. We are extremely grateful to Forevermark for inviting us to be a part of this learning experience. I would highly recommend such programs in future and would once again thank the team for giving us this chance. Forevermark is a feather in our cap and we look forward to more such opportunities,” said Prerna Khurana, Partner, Khurana Jewellery House.

G. R. 'Anand' Anantha Padmanabhan, Managing Director, GRT Jewellers said, “The course was conducted professionally and was very relevant. It opened my eyes to both the warnings and opportunities in disruption. The trip was well arranged and all the details looked into. I have already recommended this program to colleagues and fellow jewellers. My key takeaways from the program were to be innovative, invest in employees, look out for opportunities on disruption and believe that disruption is an opportunity period. There was awesome bonding between fellow jewellers where we made new friends and learnt about different geographies from fellow jewellers.”

Suvankar Sen,Executive Director, Senco Gold & Diamonds stated, “The course was very well planned. The Forevermark team understands the troubles faced by of today's jewellery industry, specially the business owners, and the course addressed these points to make industry more cohesive and stronger. One of the biggest learnings from the course was that though we had all come from different parts of the country, we were all facing the same problems and if we work together, we can solve these issues. I hope Forevermark and De Beers continues to be the ‘big brother’ paving the way for the industry to ensure the jewellery business is sustainable.”

Ishu Datwani, Founder, ANMOL, “The course was conducted in a very interesting & interactive manner. I gained valuable insights on leadership, team building, the importance of emotional intelligence & current trends in luxury market. My key takeaways from the entire experience were understanding the importance of developing emotional intelligence, the importance of leadership, team building and empowering your team. Overall, the trip was very well planned and organized. I would definitely recommend this experience to my friends & associates in the jewellery trade.”