Building a Diverse Retail Landscape: EKAM Summit 2024 Focuses on Diversity and Inclusion in Retail

Highlights of EKAM 2024 included a Presentation from Narayana Konganapalle, a Para rower from Andhra Pradesh who qualified for the 2024 Summer Paralympics, a keynote address by BS Nagesh, Founder – TRRAIN & Chairman – Shoppers Stop Ltd., a unique address on Inclusion by Design – a Mia by Tanishq journey by Sampurna Rakshit, Titan Company Ltd.

The summit also included a segment, ‘Rising Above: Stories of Grit and Growth, ’ recognising PWD beneficiaries of TRRAIN’s Pankh program.

A special segment of 4 sets of Inspire & Impact Series with talks on Resilience in Action: A Story of Triumph Against All Odds by Ranjini Ramanujam – DEI enthusiast, Future of Inclusion: Are YOU going to be left behind? By Amrita Ganguly of Tata Motors, SKU through the lens of Disability Inclusion at Workplace by Usha Pattabhiraman of Specialisterne Enable India Solutions and Giving “wings” to LGBTQ+ Inclusion – Tata Steel Story by Anubhuti Banerjee.

Eminent speakers at the summit included leaders and experts such as Anupama Ratta, Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd.; Bidisha Banerjee, Welspun Group; Cheri Bhengra, Westlife Foodworld Ltd.; Biju Kassim, Beauty, Shoppers Stop Ltd.; Diya Suri, Third Wave Coffee; Manisha Patil, Amazon India; Neelam Ahluwalia, BigBasket; Nabamita Banerjee, Tata Starbucks; Parineeta Cecil Lakra, IKEA India; Saurabh Deshpande, Shoppers Stop Ltd.; Smita Sahu, Beauty Business, Reliance Retail Ltd.; Dr. Srikanth P.B., Raymond Ltd.; Suparna Mitra, Titan Company Ltd., among others.

With a commitment to advancing these vital conversations, RAI and TRRAIN are dedicated to creating a more inclusive retail landscape that not only enhances business performance but also enriches the communities they serve.

Emphasizing the vital role of inclusion in the retail sector, Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO of the Retailers Association of India (RAI), said, “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are getting important for the success of most organisations. Today, many companies have gathered at EKAM to explore the various aspects of DEI, discussing the how, what, and why, along with the risks and the method for achieving success. We hope that more organisations will contribute to adopting DEI, unlocking the significant benefits it offers on both an intellectual and emotional level.”

At EKAM, the significance of inclusivity in the retail industry took centre stage. Highlighting this, BS Nagesh, Founder of TRRAIN and Chairman of Shoppers Stop, said, “This summit is extremely important, not just for TRRAIN, but for the entire retail industry. Retail is fundamentally an industry that serves the community—an inclusive community where no one is left out. Our stores are open to everyone, reflecting the very essence of inclusivity. If the retail business is naturally inclusive, then the people driving that business should be, too. Through this summit, we look forward to encouraging HR leaders, CEOs, organizations, and influencers to champion inclusivity. Let’s set clear objectives, targets, and a shared purpose to be more inclusive. Let’s commit to hiring people with disabilities, empowering women, and embracing our friends from the LGBTQ community. Together, we can build a more inclusive workforce and, in turn, serve a more inclusive community.”

Amrita Ganguly, Chief Diversity Officer, Tata Motors Ltd., said, “Inclusion isn’t just a moral imperative—it’s a strategic necessity for the retail sector. When we embrace diverse perspectives and create environments where everyone can thrive, we unlock innovation and

drive sustainable growth. Our collective challenge is to transform intentions into action, ensuring that inclusivity is not a checkbox but an integral part of our daily business operations. By fostering a value-driven approach and investing in systemic change, we can build a more equitable industry where opportunities are accessible to all, from the shop floor to the boardroom.”

Sharing his insights on diversity and inclusion in the beauty industry, Biju Kassim, CEO-Beauty, Shoppers Stop Ltd., said, “Women’s participation and representation in beauty is at 49%, with women leaders in stores making up 47%. In the beauty industry, one of the most important authorities in our ecosystem is the LGBT community. They have become an inspiration not just within Shoppers Stop but also for the entire beauty sector, which is growing at a very fast pace. We have several programs running in parallel when it comes to business diversity. We offer numerous opportunities to celebrate inclusion with platforms like ‘She Matters’ and initiatives for the pride community. Our training policies are designed to include different genders and races. While this is just the beginning, we have laid a solid foundation and are committed to ensuring that this movement continues to grow bigger and bolder from our side.”

Parineeta Cecil Lakra, Country People & Culture Manager, IKEA India, said, “When we talk about inclusion, we’re talking about creating an environment where everyone has the same experience. I believe that removing unnecessary segmentation, age diversity, and different generations working together should be a given. We focus on awareness, asking ourselves if we’re representing all age groups and ensuring that our workforce mirrors the customers who will engage with us. At IKEA, one key policy we follow is providing flexibility for our coworkers—whether they want to work 40 hours a week, only on weekends, or just 4 hours a day. It doesn’t matter who you are; we offer flexibility to support your lifestyle. We are committed to changing mindsets and ensuring that if something works for one person, it should work for everyone.”

The Summit touched upon various aspects of diversity, equity, and inclusion, with discussion and insights around topics such as Inclusive Leadership for a Multi-Generational Workforce, The Business Case for Diversity: How DEI Transforms Retail – highlighting case studies on how DEI drives growth, innovation, and engagements, as well as on Attracting and Retaining a Diverse Talent Pool deliberating on trends and challenges in diverse talent acquisition and retention.

According to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the last Census in 2011 noted 2.21% of the Indian population with disabilities. The Indian retail sector, which ranks second in terms of employment after agriculture, continues to employ less than 1% of its workforce from the pool of people with disabilities despite a doubling of this number in the past year.

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