All posts by K S Krishna

09th January 2025: Eli Lilly and Company today announced plans to establish a new global capability centre in Hyderabad, India. Lilly will be recruiting more than 1,000 highly[1]skilled team members to strengthen the company’s digital strategy and service delivery. The Hyderabad centre will be known as Lilly Capability Centre India (LCCI) Hyderabad and will initially focus on expanding Lilly’s capabilities in automation, artificial intelligence, software product engineering and cloud computing to deliver advanced technology solutions that meet the evolving needs of Lilly’s business worldwide.

LCCI Hyderabad will be Lilly’s second capability centre in India, following LCCI Bengaluru, which was launched in 2016.

“Our teams in India play a pivotal role in driving Lilly’s global business support with centralized, scalable solutions. LCCI Hyderabad will enhance our technical capabilities, enabling us to better meet growing business demands, fully leverage technology in our operations, and further expand our presence in India,” said Manish Arora, Managing Director, LCCI Hyderabad.

“We are pleased to welcome Lilly’s new global capability centre to Hyderabad. This investment underscores Hyderabad’s growing reputation as a hub for healthcare innovation and talent. We fully support Lilly’s vision to make life better for people around the world and are confident that this centre will contribute significantly to the local economy and help improve health globally,” said Duddilla Sridhar Babu, Minister for Information Technology, Electronics & Communications, Industries & Commerce and Legislative Affairs, Government of Telangana.

“Hyderabad is a hub of innovation with decades of history in technology, and we are excited to announce plans to launch a new centre here. We will bring together talented technology 2 professionals who want to make life better for people around the world” said Diogo Rau, Executive Vice President and Chief Information and Digital Officer of Lilly. “LCCI Hyderabad will bring together engineers across disciplines to create advanced technologies and tools to help solve some of the world’s most significant health challenges.”

LCCI Hyderabad will focus on scaling up Lilly’s innovation and efficiency by unlocking new technological advancements and leveraging data insights, accelerating the delivery of the next[1]generation of medicines to patients around the world.

Lilly plans to employ around 1,000 to 1,500 highly skilled professionals including technology engineers and data scientists. Recruitment for the new site is underway, and the centre is expected to be operational by mid-2025.

Britannia – one of India’s oldest and largest FMCG advertisers, and a long-standing client of the outdoor advertising business flipped the script on outdoor advertising. To spotlight Britannia’s continued commitment to its sustainable practices, the brand let nature take the lead in its latest campaign, to highlight its ESG commitments over the years. Literally.

‘Nature Shapes Britannia’ is an OOH series that stands out for a simple reason: these billboards literally take the shape of trees around them, establishing both metaphorically and visually, how one of India’s biggest organizations adapts to nature and not the other way around. Each billboard comes accompanied with a message about Britannia’s progress in sustainability across various facets: from plastic neutrality, to waste management and harnessing a circular economy; to water stewardship and energy management.

The trees decide the art direction & typography of the billboards next to them: they decide how to ‘shape’ Britannia. Making the brand name sometimes curve down, sometimes up, sometimes cramping it, sometimes making it bounce. Reflecting the cooperative, adaptive mindset large brands need to have on-ground to make progress in sustainability.

The campaign’s creative agency, Talented worked with multiple media partners to bring alive a unique media strategy that’s counterintuitive to the conventional billboard selection process. Since media agencies don’t keep active data of billboards ‘blocked by trees’ in top Indian cities, the selection process involved boots on the ground.

Amit Doshi, Chief Marketing Officer, Britannia, “Britannia has been committed to being a sustainable organisation with a deep commitment towards its strategic ESG pillars. Through years, we’ve learnt that sustainability needs a conscious, adaptive, flexible approach. This initiative is an embodiment of this flexible approach with nature shaping ‘Britannia’, quite literally. The team ensured even the material used for the hoardings was 100% cotton biodegradable, ensuring we stay committed to the cause we are delivering.”

Aabhaas Shreshtha, Founding Member and Creative, Talented, “Nature shapes Britannia and so it was natural for us to want nature to shape its advertising as well. And so began our mission to find ‘rare trees with billboards right next to them’. After a long and rigorous recce-ing with our media partners, we studied the contours of each tree, understood its growth and coverage, and designed around them. Large-scale sustainability charters are extremely consequential in the bigger picture, but can feel distant. By partnering with nature around us to tell the story, Britannia is bridging that gap.”

Sonia Lal, Partner Coral Media, “We were pleasantly surprised when we were briefed on the current campaign ask and honestly feel incredibly proud to support Britannia’s initiative – which is not just a wonderful way to show the impact of the brand’s sustainability initiatives – but a signal from one of the country’s long-standing advertisers to other advertisers and media owners to think differently. Not everything great must come at the cost of nature.”

The ‘Nature Shapes Britannia’ OOH went live in 4 cities including Hyderabad, Kolkata, Meerut and Pune, in partnership with a range of trees including Nag Kesar, Aam, Neem & Peepal.

January 9, 2025: JSW MG Motor India’s newly launched luxury brand channel, MG Select, has unveiled the name of the second car from its portfolio – ‘MG M9’. An exclusive sanctuary, the M9 is a luxurious limousine designed for the discerning few. Its spacious cabin adorns opulent interiors and is equipped with advanced technology to offer supreme comfort and sophistication. The majestic limousine is set to premiere at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025.

The MG M9 limousine is conceptualized to provide ultimate comfort and luxury on wheels. The Limousine is built with a charismatic blend of signature styles, from its touchscreen handrail on reclining ottoman seats in the second row to the trapezoidal front grills on the exterior. With 8 massage modes in the ottoman seats and the 3-zone climate control, it ensures an elevated sense of comfort, all of which can be controlled from the touchscreen panel on the handrail. This majestic limousine is for the discerning few who long to travel with the best amenities and can comfortably seat seven passengers across three rows.

Talking about the MG M9 EV, Gaurav Gupta, Chief Growth Officer, JSW MG Motor India, said, “A personalized masterpiece, the MG M9 offers bespoke interiors, meticulous craftsmanship, and cutting-edge technology. It is the epitome of comfort and refined luxury for those who wish to immerse themselves in the world of elegance. We envision a future where luxury mobility is a norm, and M9 is a step in that journey.”

JSW MG Motor India, known for its commitment to excellence and innovation, is redefining accessible luxury with the launch of MG Select, its luxury brand channel. It is designed for discerning customers who value purposeful experiences. With exclusive experience centres in 12 cities in phase 1, this channel blends innovation, sustainability, and curated experiences to set new benchmarks in luxury and is rooted in the rich legacy of Morris Garages.

January 9, 2025: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR) concluded placements for its Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) and Post Graduate Diploma in Management (Business Management) (PGDM (BM)) Class of 2025, achieving 100% placements for its largest-ever batch of 336 participants.

86 companies, including 27 first-time recruiters, participated, demonstrating strong corporate ties despite the global economic slowdown. Rapid offer rollouts demonstrated the industry’s faith in SPJIMR’s future leaders.

Dr. Varun Nagaraj, Dean, SPJIMR, commented on the results, and said, “We are committed to developing leaders who are knowledgeable, innovative, responsible, grounded, and are unafraid to roll up their sleeves and get the job done, even in ambiguous situations. I am pleased that our industry partners continue to appreciate the unique value that our students bring to their organisations.”

This year, the average annual salary/cost-to-company (CTC) was Rs. 32 lakhs per annum (LPA). Over 53% of the batch received offers above Rs. 30 LPA, and over 90% received offers above Rs. 25 LPA. The median annual salary was Rs. 30.50 LPA, which was comparable to last year.

Placement highlights

Batch size: 336
Participating companies: 86 (27 first-time recruiters)
Pre-placement offers: 162 (48% of the batch)
Average salary: Rs. 32 LPA
Median salary: Rs. 30.50 LPA
Highest domestic salary: Rs. 81 LPA
Highest international salary: Rs. 89 LPA

Key placement highlights

5% of offers ≥ Rs. 40 LPA
53% of offers ≥ Rs. 30 LPA
90% of offers ≥ Rs. 25 LPA

Autumn internship highlights

Participating companies: 75 (40% new recruiters)
Average stipend (two months): Rs. 3,15,000
Median stipend (two months): Rs. 3,10,000
Maximum stipend (two months): Rs. 4,40,000

Associate Dean Renuka Kamath expressed her gratitude towards industry partners, and said, “We deeply appreciate the unwavering support of our industry partners and recruiters, who continue to recognise and value the talent and leadership potential of our participants. Their involvement not only helps us consistently attain 100% placements, but it also fortifies our relationships with the business community.”

Additionally, SPJIMR had a strong autumn internship cycle, with nearly half of the batch (48%) receiving pre-placement offers. Top firms, including the Aditya Birla Group, Accenture Strategy, Boston Consulting Group, Colgate-Palmolive, Hindustan Unilever Limited, Kenvue, Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble, and Tata Administrative Services, contributed to this success.

The strength of the batch was emphasised by programme chairperson Ashita Aggarwal, who stated, “This year’s placements mark a significant milestone as we successfully placed our largest-ever batch of 336 participants. The outcomes demonstrate the high calibre of our participants, who have continuously surpassed expectations in a variety of jobs and industries, in addition to our academic rigour and industry focus.”

Sector insights

Consulting: Leading the placements, consulting firms extended offers to 40% of the batch. Recruiters included Accenture Strategy, Boston Consulting Group, Deloitte, EY Parthenon, Infosys Consulting, KPMG, PwC, and Praxis Global Alliance, among others.

FMCG: Constituting 33% of the marketing cohort, top FMCG firms such as Hindustan Unilever, P&G, Nestlé, ITC, Marico, and Mondelez made significant offers.
BFSI: Banks, investment banks, and buy-side firms recruited 30% of the finance cohort, with names such as O3 Capital, HSBC, Morgan Stanley, Nomura, Kotak Mahindra Group, DBS, ICICI Prudential, Aequitas, Pinpoint Asset Management, IIFL Finance and Motilal Oswal.
Tech: 36% of the Information Management specialisation secured roles in firms such as American Express, BookMyShow, Darwinbox, Bajaj Finserv, HCL Technologies, Intuit, MakeMyTrip, Paytm and Play Simple Games
General Management: 15% of the batch received offers in General Management roles from the Aditya Birla Group, Mahindra MLP, RPG, Reliance, Tata Administrative Services, and Zomato.

Ten percent of the class was hired by e-commerce and quick commerce companies like Amazon, Purplle, and Zomato. The manufacturing, healthcare, and real estate sectors, including Johnson & Johnson, AMNS, Godrej Properties, and PI, employed about 6% of the participants. Companies like Infosys Consulting and HCL Technologies made international offers, demonstrating SPJIMR’s potential globally.

SPJIMR’s 2023-25 batch placements demonstrate its dedication to excellence and flexibility in responding to the changing global business environment. SPJIMR continues to set standards in management education with its exceptional compensation outcomes, a strong list of leading employers, and a 100% placement rate. Graduates are positioned to have a significant impact as confident, value-driven leaders. This placement cycle further cements SPJIMR’s reputation as a preferred choice for recruiters and aspiring future leaders aiming to shape the future.

9th January 2025 – Mintoak, a merchant SaaS platform catering to banks and merchant acquirers, has successfully closed a secondary funding round of INR 71 Crores. As part of this transaction, Z3Partners, a leading early-growth technology investor with extensive operational expertise, is acquiring a minority stake from some of Mintoak’s initial institutional investors. This move by Z3Partners and existing investors underscores their continued confidence in Mintoak’s vision of empowering acquirers to strengthen their merchant ecosystems.

“At Mintoak, delivering value to our clients, employees, and investors is at the heart of everything we do. This fundraiser is a good validation of the value we’ve delivered to some of our early backers,” said Raman Khanduja, CEO and Co-founder of Mintoak. “We’re excited to welcome Z3Partners to our journey and look forward to leveraging their expertise as we scale to new heights.”

Gautam Patel, Founder and Managing Partner at Z3Partners, shared his enthusiasm: “Mintoak’s remarkable product-led growth and innovation are redefining how Banks and SMEs collaborate, demonstrating trust and transaction scale. Their leadership team has world-class capability in working with Banks and Merchants globally with their prior experience at leading financial institutions. We’re thrilled to support their global ambition and transformative efforts in the merchant-acquirer ecosystem. Z3Partners is proud to contribute to their continued success.”

Mintoak’s advanced platform drives SME engagement for acquirers, empowering over 3 million merchants across six countries. It enables $50 billion+ in annual GMV and processes over $3 billion in transactions annually. Its modular, API-first infrastructure seamlessly integrates with banks and merchant acquirers, delivering unparalleled agility and scalability. Mintoak’s esteemed clients include marquee banks such as HDFC Bank, State Bank of India, Axis Bank and YES Bank in India, alongside global powerhouses like Absa Bank, Network International, Burgan Bank, Ahli United Bank, and NMB Bank.

January 2025 – ITM Business School, a leader in management education, is now accepting applications for its flagship MBA iConnect program. This two-year program is meticulously designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in today’s dynamic business environment. The curriculum spans six terms and blends core courses, specialization modules, and value-added activities to prepare students for the challenges of the modern business landscape.

The ITM Business School MBA iConnect program offers generous scholarships to support aspiring leaders. Scholarships include a 100% fee waiver for 10 students, a 50% waiver for 15 students, a 25% waiver for 30 students, and a 10% waiver for 100 students, applicable to the first tuition fee. In the month of December 2024 Scholarship Test round alone, a total of 90+ scholarships were offered, and scholarships over Rs. 4.3 crores last year to 300+ applicants, with maximum scholarship offered up to 100% Tuition fee waiver.

The last date to apply for the scholarship is 28th January 2025, and the exam will be held on 31st January, 2025, in Kolkata, Pune, Surat, Lucknow, New Delhi, and Indore, and on 1st February, 2025, in Mumbai, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Bhopal, Raipur, and Hyderabad. The program offers 35+ Professional Certifications, Global Immersion with Industry Visits to 4 countries, and a 5-month paid full-time internship.

The program offers a wide range of specializations, including Marketing, Financial Management, Human Resource Management, Business Analytics, Fintech, Digital Marketing, and International Business, among others. With a strong emphasis on experiential learning, students benefit from real-world exposure through three distinct internships: a five-month industry internship, an NGO project to engage with social issues, and a capstone research project to hone domain-specific expertise.

“At ITM Business School, we are committed to shaping future leaders who are ready to thrive in an ever-evolving business landscape. With a curriculum designed to align with industry needs, state-of-the-art facilities, and a strong emphasis on holistic development, we aim to equip our students not just for today but for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow.” – Dr. Sarit Prava Das, Academic Dean, ITM Business School.

To apply for the MBA program, candidates need a bachelor’s degree from any UGC-recognized university with at least 50% marks in the qualifying examination. Final-year undergraduate students are also eligible to apply. ITM Business School accepts a variety of entrance test scores for admission, including ITM scholarship entrance test score and those from CAT, XAT, NMAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA, or State CET tests. The ITM Scholarship Entrance Test will be conducted on 31st January and 1st February.

 Ensure you complete and submit the application form before the application deadline. Early applications are encouraged, as multiple selection rounds are conducted, and students applying early have a higher chance of securing admission to the program. Upon successful submission, you will receive an Application ID, which should be saved for all future correspondence. Following this, you will be invited for a Written Case Study Evaluation and a Personal Interview. The venue and date for these will be shared via email. For applicants outside Mumbai who cannot attend in person, the process will be conducted online.

The selection process evaluates students on various factors, including past academic performance, entrance test scores, case analysis, personal interview performance, work experience (if any) after graduation, extracurricular activities, and other accomplishments. A high entrance test score does not guarantee a call for the selection process or an admission offer, as the overall profile is taken into consideration.

ITM Business School provides state-of-the-art infrastructure to support its students’ learning journey. The campus features air-conditioned classrooms, advanced computer labs, high-speed Wi-Fi, a comprehensive digital library, and specialized facilities like the Digital Marketing Lab and Business Simulation Lab. The institution also places a strong emphasis on holistic development, offering courses in Managerial Communication, Career Management, and Placement Readiness to prepare students for professional success.

Experiential learning is central to ITM’s pedagogy, with students participating in case studies, live projects, group assignments, and guest lectures by industry experts. Additional learning opportunities include seminars, workshops, and management fests that build essential decision-making and leadership skills. Over 650 recruiters visit the campus annually, ensuring excellent placement opportunities for graduates.

Prospective students can look forward to a program that not only imparts targeted knowledge in their chosen field but also helps them develop strong analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills. Apply now to secure your place in ITM Business School’s prestigious MBA iConnect program and take the first step toward a successful career in management.

By Mr. Gaurav Bakshi, CEO and Founder of Influencer Marketing and Talent Management Firm, Flickzilla Entertainment

Influencer collaborations have become pivotal in shaping consumer perceptions and driving purchasing decisions. To enhance the effectiveness of these campaigns, brands are increasingly turning to neuromarketing—a discipline that merges neuroscience with marketing strategies. By employing techniques such as electroencephalography (EEG) and eye-tracking, marketers can gain profound insights into consumer responses, enabling the creation of more engaging and impactful influencer content.

Understanding Neuromarketing Techniques

● Electroencephalography (EEG): EEG involves measuring electrical activity in the brain to assess emotional engagement, attention levels, and memory retention in response to specific stimuli. This real-time data provides an objective understanding of how consumers emotionally and cognitively react to content.
● Eye-Tracking: This method monitors where and for how long a person focuses their gaze, revealing which elements of content capture attention. By analyzing visual attention patterns, marketers can determine the effectiveness of visual components in influencer content.

Applications in Influencer Marketing

1. Content Optimization: By analyzing eye-tracking data, brands can identify which aspects of an influencer’s content draw the most attention. This insight allows for the refinement of visual elements to enhance engagement. For instance, if viewers consistently focus on certain product placements or gestures, these can be emphasized in future content.
2. Emotional Resonance Measurement: EEG enables brands to gauge the emotional responses elicited by influencer content. Understanding whether content evokes positive emotions can inform strategies to strengthen brand associations and drive consumer action.
3. Message Recall Enhancement: By analyzing brain activity, brands can determine which messages are most memorable. This insight helps in crafting content that not only captures attention but also remains top-of-mind for consumers.
Case Studies

● Coca-Cola’s Neuromarketing Approach: Coca-Cola utilized EEG to assess consumer responses to influencer-led advertisements, enabling them to fine-tune content for better emotional engagement. This approach led to a significant increase in ad recall and brand favorability.
● Unilever’s Eye-Tracking Implementation: Unilever employed eye-tracking to optimize the visual elements of their influencer campaigns, ensuring that key messages and products were prominently featured and noticed by the audience. This strategy resulted in a 25% increase in viewer engagement.

Leveraging Neuromarketing for Future Campaigns
To effectively incorporate neuromarketing into influencer marketing strategies, brands should consider the following steps:
1. Collaborate with Neuromarketing Experts: Partnering with professionals who specialize in neuromarketing can provide valuable insights and facilitate the integration of neuroscience techniques into marketing campaigns.
2. Conduct Pre-Campaign Testing: Utilize EEG and eye-tracking to test influencer content before full-scale deployment. This approach allows for adjustments based on real-time consumer responses, enhancing the likelihood of campaign success.
3. Analyze and Iterate: Post-campaign analysis using neuromarketing data can reveal what worked and what didn’t, informing future strategies and fostering continuous improvement.

By embracing neuromarketing techniques, brands can gain a deeper understanding of consumer behavior, leading to the creation of influencer content that resonates more profoundly with audiences. This scientific approach not only enhances engagement but also drives more effective and impactful marketing outcomes.

January 09, 2025 – Strata, India’s premium commercial real estate investment platform, today announced that the company has received the official license from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for its Small and Medium Real Estate Investment Trust (SM REIT), named Strata SM REIT. This milestone positions Strata as a key player in the burgeoning market for the new asset class of SM REITs in India.

Strata SM REIT will enable retail and institutional investors to invest in high-quality commercial assets in key geographies, thereby democratizing access to real estate investments. The company aims to initially launch up to six SM REIT schemes in FY26, and gradually increase it to one scheme every month.

The constitution of Strata SM REIT aligns with SEBI’s regulations aimed at bringing fractional ownership platforms under a structured investment model. This initiative enhances transparency and investor protection while providing a regulated environment for real estate investments. SM REITs were introduced by SEBI as a first-of-its-kind innovative asset class in March 2024 to encourage smaller real estate investments for commercial real estate projects with a minimum asset value of INR 50 crore, compared to INR 500 crore for REITs.

Strata Capital will be the Investment Manager for the SM REIT, with Axis Trustee appointed as the trustee.

Commenting on the company securing the SM REIT license, Sudarshan Lodha, Co-founder & CEO, Strata, said, “We are happy to announce that we have received the SM REIT license from SEBI, which marks a significant step towards our goal of making commercial real estate accessible to all investors. SM REITs open up new avenues for investment opportunities for Indian investors, with the minimum investment barrier lowered to INR 10 lakh. Over time, we foresee the SM REIT industry being as significant for India as the mutual fund industry today is.”

Strata, since its inception, has been continuously striving towards creating a strong new asset democratizing investments in high-end Commercial Real Estate. Due to these efforts, Strata has successfully proven to manage over INR 2,000+ Crore in Assets Under Management (AUM) and has won the confidence of over 3500+ active investors. Strata is backed by institutional investors like Kotak Investment Advisors, Elevation Capital, Mayfield, Gruhas Proptech, and Sabre Investments.

January 9, 2025: Mobility OEMs are navigating complex shifts in consumer expectations around cleaner, safer, and reliable vehicles while powering personalized vehicle experiences. At the same time, business dynamics in the global mobility landscape are changing with vehicles needing to be developed much faster at substantially lower costs. This churn will determine the new set of winners in the mobility ecosystem.

KPITs 25+ years of focus and investments in mobility, and experience of working on most Software Defined Vehicle programs globally, give a unique vantage point to bring technology solutions to solve a multitude of business challenges.

“With our focus on mobility for over 2 decades, we have witnessed the paradigms change every few years. Despite being a 100+ year-old industry, new age mobility players and Chinese OEMs have showcased how soon the equations can change. Bringing learnings and insights from our expertise across mobility programs globally and creating business impact is what we focus on. We are excited to bring diverse yet high business impact led solutions to the fore at CES 2025”, said Mr. Kishor Patil, CEO, KPIT Technologies

Substantial Cost Reduction in Vehicle Development:

· Comprehensive validation suite including left shift strategy, middleware platform validation, domain validation and tools that provide 30%+ cost savings to OEMs.

Faster Release of Vehicles & Features:

· Next-gen reference architecture platform that eliminates architectural risks, focussed on feature differentiation, improving reliability, and cutting down vehicle SOP timeline by several months

Enhancing Consumer Experience:

· Unlocking consumer satisfaction and 20%+ boost in end consumer productivity and enhancing experience by deploying immersive in-cabin experiences

· A comprehensive approach to solving electric vehicle charging ecosystem experience with interoperability, seamless payment, and plug & play principles

“While software is unlocking innovation in mobility, OEMs need E/E architecture, Vehicle OS, software-led domain applications to be reimagined to unlock business impact. KPITs depth of expertise across chip-to-cloud, software, and systems integration, investments, and partnerships equip us to create OEM-specific differentiated roadmaps. We are excited to work with OEMs across passenger cars, trucks and off-highway vehicles to create market leadership for them using our technology solutions”, said Mr. Anup Sable, CTO, KPIT Technologies

January 9, 2025 – Genpact, a global professional services and solutions firm delivering outcomes that shape the future, has announced a multi-year partnership with BJ’s Wholesale Club (BJ’s), a leading operator of membership warehouse clubs. The partnership aims to enhance BJ’s agility, drive innovation, and support its growth plans. Genpact is collaborating with BJ’s to provide expertise across finance and accounting, indirect procurement, HR, merchandising and other support functions.

“Across the retail industry, the demand for agility is driving smarter, more scalable operations,” said Rajnish Sinha, Global Business Unit Leader for Retail, Genpact. “Genpact is supporting BJ’s operations by applying its expertise in finance and accounting, digital adaptations, and data-driven process governance to position the company for long-term success through continuous innovation.”

The collaboration focuses on the company’s continued growth through strategic technology investments and optimized operations. ServiceNow is serving as the core platform for managing and integrating workflows.

“BJ’s is committed to driving automation and innovation to enhance productivity,” said Graham Luce, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, BJ’s Wholesale Club. “With Genpact’s proven operations expertise, we are focusing on growth while implementing operational improvements.”

Along with operational improvements, BJ’s is accessing top-tier talent and technology to support its growth plans.