Mangaluru: The Department of Business Administration at St. Joseph Engineering College (SJEC) inaugurated Zephyr 2026, a national-level UG and PG management fest, on May 6, 2026, at the Kalam Auditorium on the college campus.

Organised under the theme “Game of Thrones – Lead, Conquer & Rule”, the one-day event brought together management students from various colleges to showcase their leadership, strategic thinking, and managerial skills.

Grand inauguration ceremony

The programme commenced with a prayer by the MBA choir, seeking divine blessings for the event.

Mr. Vincent Cutinha, Managing Director of Provit Foods Pvt. Ltd., attended as the chief guest. Other dignitaries present included Rev. Fr. Wilfred Prakash D’Souza, Director of SJEC; Dr. Rio D’Souza, Principal; Rev. Fr. Kenneth Rayner Crasta, Assistant Director; Dr. Prakash Pinto, Dean-MBA; Mr. Nelson Marwin Fernandes, Faculty Convenor; and student coordinators Mr. Rahul Puthran and Ms. Vaishnavi Shetty.

Focus on leadership and growth

Welcoming the gathering, student coordinator Ms. Vaishnavi Shetty highlighted the significance of the event.

The fest was formally inaugurated with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp by the dignitaries.

In his address, chief guest Mr. Vincent Cutinha spoke about the qualities of successful leaders and encouraged students to take courageous decisions and calculated risks.

Quoting that “Success is a journey and comes through repeated failures,” he motivated students to embrace opportunities confidently and learn through experience.

Insights from SJEC leadership

Dr. Rio D’Souza, Principal of SJEC, explained the meaning of Zephyr as a soft and refreshing breeze, symbolising growth and positivity.

He emphasised the importance of resilience and rising after failures, noting that setbacks can lead to innovation and enterprising achievements.

Rev. Fr. Wilfred Prakash D’Souza, who presided over the function, encouraged students to continue learning, growing, and inspiring others.

He stressed the value of humility and quoted management thinker Peter Drucker, stating, “Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.”

Competitive management events

Following the inauguration, various management competitions commenced, including:

  • Business Quiz
  • Best Manager
  • Human Resource Management events
  • Finance events
  • Marketing competitions
  • Other business-oriented activities

The fest witnessed enthusiastic participation from 15 colleges from Mangaluru and surrounding regions.

Platform for innovation and networking

Zephyr 2026 provided students with an opportunity to demonstrate managerial abilities, teamwork, communication skills, and leadership qualities in a competitive environment.

The event also encouraged networking and knowledge-sharing among students from different institutions.

Conclusion

The successful inauguration of Zephyr 2026 reflects SJEC’s commitment to experiential learning and holistic management education, creating platforms that prepare students for leadership roles in the corporate world.