GCCI & GMA Host Harvard-Led Masterclass on ‘Entrepreneurship in the Age of AI’ in Goa

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Business Desk

The Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI) and the Goa Management Association (GMA), in partnership with the Goa AI Centre of Excellence, successfully organized a transformative one-day Masterclass on “Entrepreneurship in the Age of AI,” led by Harvard Summer School Faculty, Mr. Niraj Kumar. Held on 25 November 2025, the workshop brought together some of Goa’s most influential entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, and innovators for an immersive learning experience designed to deliver the core concepts from Mr. Kumar’s renowned 12-session Harvard program in a single, power-packed day. The masterclass focused on the rapidly evolving landscape of AI-enabled entrepreneurship, covering how artificial intelligence is reshaping business models, negotiation strategies, customer engagement, and organisational decision-making. GCCI President Mrs. Pratima Dhond opened the session by highlighting the importance of staying ahead of emerging technologies to build a resilient and future-ready business ecosystem for Goa. She emphasized that as AI transforms industries across the world, it is essential for Goa’s businesses to adopt and leverage AI strategically for innovation, efficiency, and sustainable growth. Supporting this vision, GMA Vice-Chairman Mr. Rajesh Mehrotra shared that in its Golden Jubilee year, the association is proud to bring global expertise to Goa’s corporate sector through such specialised programs.

During the session, Mr. Niraj Kumar spoke of the pressing need for businesses to integrate AI as a fundamental capability rather than an optional add-on. He pointed out that the future of entrepreneurship will be driven by deep personalization powered by large-scale data, and that companies must now optimise not just for traditional SEO but for AI search visibility as well. He reiterated that AI is no longer a peripheral tool but an integral part of the new world, dramatically transforming how people communicate, interact, and make decisions. The participants engaged in hands-on practical activities such as negotiation simulations, employee training modules, and customer service chatbot creation, which enabled them to understand the real-world applications of AI in business scenarios. A special segment by startup founder Ms. Maria Kapinos on “AI in Animation” offered an inspiring perspective on how AI enhances creativity by accelerating the ability of creators to bring their ideas to life. A memento was presented to Mr. Niraj Kumar by GCCI Director Mrs. Pallavi H. Arondekar, who expressed that such high-value insights from a global AI thought leader will spark new ideas and strengthen Goa’s position as a forward-looking hub of innovation. She also acknowledged the efforts of GAICoE founders Mr. Pramod Rane and Mr. Anand Desai for shaping and supporting this impactful initiative.

The masterclass proved to be an invaluable opportunity for Goa’s business community to learn directly from a Harvard expert and gain practical frameworks needed to thrive in the fast-evolving AI era. Notable attendees included Mr. Ralph de Sousa, Past President, GCCI; Ms. Pallavi Salgaocar, GCCI Managing Committee Member; Dr. Niyan Marchon, Program Director, Directorate of Higher Education, Goa; Mr. Carlos De Sousa, MD, De Souza Group; Mr. Amit Bandekar, Director, NRB Group; Mr. Yatish Dempo, Director, Dempo Group; Mr. Sunil Pai Kane, Director, Power Engineering India Pvt. Ltd.; Mr. Gourov Pokle, Chair, GCCI Environment & Waste Management Committee; Mr. Blaise Costabir, MD, GMI Zarak Moulders Pvt. Ltd.; Mr. Manish Gosalia, Director, Goa Knowledge Foundation; Mr. Ashutosh Kharangate, MD, MARC; and Mrs. Supriya Rane, Director, La Cabana Beach Resort & Spa, among several others. The event marked a significant step in empowering Goa’s industry leaders with the knowledge and tools required to navigate the future of business confidently in the age of artificial intelligence.