The Role of Engineers in Entrepreneurship: Innovators, Problem-Solvers and Business Leaders

On 18.02.2025 a session was organized on the title “The Role of Engineers in Entrepreneurship: Innovators, Problem-Solvers and Business Leaders” by the Entrepreneurship Development Cell and IIC in association with the Electronics and Communication Engineering department. The session was handled by Dr G Rajakumar, Controller of Examination, IIC Vice President, Professor/ECE, Francis Xavier Engineering College. 50 students and 2 faculty participated in the program. This event was coordinated by Dr. R Prem Ananth, IIC Convener, IIC Innovation Ambassador, Assistant professor, Francis Xavier Engineering College.

The speaker started the session and said entrepreneurship is the capacity and willingness to develop, organize, and manage a business venture while taking on financial risks to make a profit. He elaborated on how entrepreneurship, when combined with land, labor, natural resources, and capital, can drive economic growth. He explained that startups operate under extreme uncertainty and are often built around innovative concepts that are not widely available. He cited examples of successful entrepreneurs like Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal of Flipkart, Vijay Shekhar Sharma of Paytm, Bhavish Aggarwal and Ankit Bhati of Ola Cabs, and Deepinder Goyal and Pankaj Chaddah of Zomato.

He also discussed how engineers have a natural aptitude for entrepreneurship due to their strong problem-solving abilities, analytical thinking, and technical expertise. He highlighted key qualities that make engineers successful entrepreneurs, such as their ability to innovate, identify opportunities, plan effectively, work as a team, and stay resilient. He emphasized that engineers are rational, trustworthy, and constantly seek knowledge, making them well-equipped to navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship. The session concluded with an interactive discussion, where students and faculty engaged in insightful conversations about the potential of engineers in the entrepreneurial landscape.