Luvena Rangel (The Curvy Yogi)

Bengaluru, June 23: Kanara Entrepreneurs (KE) Bangalore hosted a full-house members’ meet at The Grand Magrath Hotel on Friday, June 20, which also marked the formal installation of its new board of directors.

The event was graced by former Supreme Court judge, solicitor general, and Karnataka Lokayukta, Justice N Santosh Hegde, as chief guest. Also present were Ashok Shetty, president of Bunts Sangha, and Baylon Sequeira Vaz, president of KE Goa.

The programme began with a prayer by lead member Stan D’Souza, followed by the induction of 14 new members, conducted by director of memberships Leena Lobo.

Outgoing president Claudius Pereira delivered a thoughtful and anecdotal farewell address, crediting his board of directors for KE’s progress over his tenure. Through a reflective story, he emphasised the value of using one’s talents to bring joy to others. “Just as flowers don’t enjoy their own fragrance, life becomes more meaningful when we share our gifts with others,” he said.

A newsletter chronicling KE’s journey over the past year was released by Justice Hegde after a brief introduction by outgoing director of marketing and sponsorship, Sunil D’Sa. The newsletter encapsulated stories of learning, inspiration, and achievement.

Former KE president and lead member Robinson D’Souza then formally discharged the outgoing board and installed the new team for the 2025–27 term. The new board includes:

• President: Pramod D’Souza

• Director – Finance: Vijay Prakash Lobo

• Director – Marketing & Sponsorship: Eugene Mathias

• Director – Mentoring: Sunil Attavar

In his acceptance speech, newly elected president Pramod D’Souza expressed gratitude to the founders of KE and FKCA, as well as to the founding members. He outlined his vision for the new term, focusing on “Growth and Collaboration”, and presented the acronym GIFT:

• G – Growth with Humility

• I – Inspiration

• F – Extended Family

• T – Time

He encouraged members to foster a “growth mindset” by surrounding themselves with peers who elevate their thinking and potential.

Justice Santosh Hegde, in his keynote address, reflected on the state of values in society. He spoke candidly about how greed has undermined honesty and integrity, drawing on personal experiences to illustrate how corruption has become normalised. However, he offered hope through two key values: contentment and humanism. True social transformation, he said, begins at home—with individuals and families choosing to embrace these principles.

The evening also featured testimonials by new members Reshma Lobo and Jyothi Menezes, who shared how KE had quickly become a space of support, connection, and contribution for them. Emcee Anoop Sequeira closed with a reminder: “Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find,” encouraging members to volunteer and engage.

The programme concluded with a vote of thanks to the outgoing board—Claudius Pereira, Peter Anil Rego, and Sunil D’Sa—for their dynamic leadership, and a show of solidarity for the new team as they take KE forward to new milestones.