Bhubaneswar: Bollywood actor and motivational speaker Ashish Vidyarthi delivered an inspiring speech to a large gathering of students at the inauguration of the sixth edition of ‘SOA Proxima’, the annual mega HR conclave organized by the Institute of Technical Education and Research (ITER), the faculty of engineering and technology of Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Deemed to be University. The event, held on Friday, saw Vidyarthi share his experiences and thoughts on life beyond academics, motivating students to shape their own futures.
“After your academics, you have life. What matters is what you do with what life throws at you,” said Vidyarthi, emphasizing that the lessons learned from textbooks would not be enough in the real world. “Nothing from your syllabus will be needed in life, and you have to create your own future,” he added. The actor, who has featured in more than 350 films across 11 different languages, highlighted that what truly matters is not where you come from but where you are headed.
Vidyarthi shared his own journey of perseverance, recalling how he stepped out from an obscure place to fulfill his dreams, and winning his first National Award for his performance in the 1994 Govind Nihalani film ‘Droh Kaal’. “It does not matter where you come from, what matters is where you are headed,” he reiterated.
Addressing the students, Vidyarthi advised them not to be discouraged by others who may mock them, urging them to remain focused on staying relevant and valuable. “You should remain humble enough to take your corrections,” he encouraged the young minds.
The SOA Proxima 2025 conclave, held in association with Times Now, witnessed a participation of over 5000 students, faculty members, and corporate leaders. The event’s primary objective was to bridge the gap between academia and industry, facilitating the exchange of ideas, knowledge, and fostering innovation. It also aimed to provide students with insights into the corporate world and its expectations.
The event began with an address by Prof. Damodar Acharya, Chairman of the SOA Advisory Board, followed by a welcome address from Ripti Ranjan Dash, Director, Corporate Relations and Industry Engagement. Prominent speakers such as Bibhu Panda, Delivery Center Head of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in Bhubaneswar, and Souvik Das, Regional Head of Academic Alliances Group, India (East) at TCS also shared their thoughts during the inaugural session.
SOA Proxima 2025 featured an exciting line-up of events, including keynote addresses by 24 top HR leaders, 12 panel discussions, and a project exhibition showcasing 35 innovative projects by SOA engineering students. The event also provided networking sessions where delegates could connect and share experiences.
The conclave’s key focus was on addressing present industry expectations, highlighting the importance of skill sets beyond the academic curriculum, and fostering collaboration between academia and industry. 117 HR leaders, talent acquisition experts, and early career recruitment leaders from 100 IT and core industries across India participated in the event.
One of the highlights of the event was the recognition of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) as SOA Deemed to be University’s Most Valuable Campus Partner, in acknowledgment of TCS’s long-term commitment to providing job opportunities for SOA engineering students. TCS has offered nearly 4500 job opportunities to students from SOA since the partnership began in 2007.
The event concluded with a stand-up comedy show by Vipul Goyal and cultural performances by SOA students, adding an entertaining end to the dynamic two-day conclave. Additionally, SOA felicitated 30 exceptional HR leaders and experts with the Talent Acquisition Impact Award, celebrating their contributions to early career recruitment and talent acquisition strategies.
As SOA Proxima 2025 wrapped up, it set the stage for continued collaboration between academia and industry, ensuring students are better equipped for the future and fostering the development of young professionals in the ever-evolving job market.
