• January 12, 2026
• Blog category 1

Editor’s Note (12 January 2026):

This blog reflects my learning experience from a five-day Certificate Programme on Public Relations & Image Management attended from 24th to 28th November 2025. I am sharing it now to document the key learnings and acknowledge how the programme has shaped my professional approach.

Moments from the Certificate Programme on Public Relations & Image Management, including the group photograph, certificate distribution, and appreciation note, held from 24–28 November 2025 at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bhubaneswar.

On Monday, 24th November 2025, our MD, Mr. Tanmay Mohanty, handed me a PDF brochure for the Certificate Programme on Public Relations & Image Management, scheduled from 24th to 28th November. He simply asked, “Are you interested?” I went through the programme details and instantly felt that this was something truly meaningful for my personal and professional growth.

So, I first interacted with the Programme Convener. As discussed with Prof. Bishnu Prasad Panda (Programme Convener), the daily sessions would continue from 5:30 or 5:45 PM until approximately 8:00 to 8:30 PM.

After that, I spoke with our HR, Devamitra Ma’am, who informed me that the course fee would be reimbursed. That made me even happier because until that moment, I had no idea about the reimbursement. I registered immediately, paid the ₹1500, and felt grateful that my company supported my learning.

The programme was organized by the Bhavan’s Centre for Communication & Management (BCCM), Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (AB Hall), in association with the Rotary Club and the Public Relations Council of India (PRCI).

On the first day, I reached the venue early, excited like a student entering college for the first time. During participant introductions, the moment I said “Luminous Infoways,” several Rotarians warmly responded, “Ama Jayashree… Tanmay… ra company.” I smiled, nodded, and said, “Āgyā.” (“Āgyā” is a respectful Odia expression used to acknowledge, greet, or politely respond while showing attention and respect to the other person.) That one sentence made me instantly realize the brand value and goodwill built over the years by our President & Co-Founder Jayashree Ma’am and our CEO-cum-MD Tanmay Sir. I felt truly proud — a happy and confident Luminian.

The event began with a digital lamp-lighting ceremony, setting the tone for a meaningful week ahead. Being an executive development programme, its core message was simple yet powerful: Public Relations is about living in harmony. If we cannot manage our image, communication, and relationships, even great work loses its shine.

Each day had two one-hour sessions, although they often stretched longer because the discussions were so engaging, followed by tea, coffee, and snacks. The audience was a vibrant mix of students, corporate delegates, academicians, and professionals from various domains. Every speaker brought years of experience, real stories, and deep insights.
I also made a few friends during the event, which made the experience even more memorable.

Day 1: Understanding the Foundations of PR

The first session was led by Prof. Ashok Panda, who beautifully explained Public Relations: Concepts, Scope & Relevance. He described how PR has evolved from slow, one-way communication to instant, dynamic interaction. PR, he said, is not merely publicity — it is reputation, credibility, harmony, confidence, and mutual understanding. Ethical behaviour is the foundation of effective PR.

The second session was taken by Dr. Shiva Shankar Das from Birla Global University on Engagement 360°: A Strategic Communication Playbook. He discussed strategic communication, purposeful messaging, consistency, and how good behaviour naturally results in good PR. Engagement, he said, must be intentional and built through trust, clarity, and authenticity.
As someone who interacts with clients, sales teams, new joiners, designers, and multiple stakeholders, his words resonated deeply with me.

Day 2: Media, Relations & the Human Touch

The first session of the day was conducted by Ms. M.S. Dharitri Satpathy from IIT Bhubaneswar on Media Mapping & Effective Media Relations. She explained how organizations categorize media channels and how authentic media relationships are built. Effective media mapping helps organisations shape their story in the right way, with the right people, at the right time.

The second session, on CSR, was delivered by Ms. Shraddha, who began with an unforgettable line: “Everything eventually comes down to the human touch.”

She explained how CSR and PR are deeply connected, CSR conveys the soul of an organization, while PR communicates that soul to society. This session reminded me of the role of empathy in communication.

Day 3: Ethics, Values & Crisis Management

The day started with a profound session by Prof. Bishnu Prasad Panda on Professional Ethics & Values. Drawing references from the Bhagavad Gita, the Mahabharata, and Article 38 of the Indian Constitution, he emphasized that ethics is not something we “use”, it is something we “live.”

Humility, generosity, hard work, and truthfulness, these values build not only a good person but also a respected professional. His words stayed with me long after the session ended.

The second session was delivered by Mr. Asutosh Rath from NALCO on Crisis Communication & Disaster Management. He highlighted the importance of building a strong personal reputation before crises occur, techniques for handling sensitive issues, and the “theory of good news and bad news.”
He stressed that communicating effectively during difficult times is a skill every professional needs.

Day 4: The Digital Era, Image & Reputation

The first session was by Dr. Bibhudatta Mahapatra, VP, Aditya Birla Group, on Digital PR & Social Media. He explained why “digital” has become inseparable from PR. From content creation to SEO, influencers to opinion makers, and the PESO model, everything works together to shape an organisation’s online presence.

As someone who works on content, videos, and communication materials, this session felt extremely relevant and practical.

The second session, by Dr. Gyanranjan Mishra from Birla School of Global Business, covered Corporate Image & Reputation Management. He spoke about how an organisation’s image is its biggest identity and why visual communication, especially the logo, is important. A logo, he said, should not be changed frequently because it breaks long-term recognition.

Reputation is not built in a day; it is earned over years through consistent actions and communication.  

Day 5: AI, Communication & Professional Behaviour

The final day began with an insightful session by Mr. Rajesh Kumar Jha, Director, NIFT Bhubaneswar, on AI: Prospects & Challenges.
He explained that AI will not replace human intelligence; instead, it amplifies it. AI is now part of every sector, but what makes us human is our ability to reason, empathize, and create, AI is simply an extension of that.

The last session of the programme was again conducted by Prof. Ashok Panda, focusing on Workplace Communication & Office Etiquette. He highlighted the importance of respectful communication, professional behaviour, and maintaining harmony at work. It was the perfect conclusion to a week full of learning and reflection.

Acknowledgment

I would like to sincerely thank our management for encouraging continuous learning and for giving me the opportunity to attend this programme. The support and trust shown by the leadership truly motivate employees to grow both personally and professionally.

Post certificate distribution, Prof. Ashok Kumar Panda (Program Director) told me that he would inform Tanmay Sir and Jayashree Ma’am about my active and enthusiastic participation. I felt genuinely encouraged by his words.

He also shared a short written note of appreciation: (attached in the image)

“Ms. Aishwarya Mishra indeed actively participated and also exhibited her leadership acumen in the 5-day long PR program.
Thank you.”
— Prof. Ashok Kumar Panda

What This Programme Meant to Me

For me, this programme was more than a five-day course, it was a journey of self-discovery.

In my role as a Product Analyst and Content Strategist, where I prepare user manuals, SRS, SOPs, product videos, induction materials for new joinees, presentation decks, stakeholder interactions, and demos, the learnings from this programme will greatly help me:

• communicate more clearly and confidently,
• understand audience psychology better,
• create more purposeful content,
• handle difficult conversations with ease,
• represent my organization with greater responsibility,
• and maintain ethics and values in every interaction.

Personally, it taught me the importance of empathy, humility, and mindful communication.
Professionally, it strengthened my understanding of image building, brand representation, and strategic communication.

Before concluding, I must mention something that truly touched my heart, the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan logo that reads:

“अमृतं तु विद्या” — Knowledge is nectar.

I felt this line in every session attended.
This programme was indeed nectar, for my mind, my personality, and my growth.

I have also included a few photos from the event, along with my certificate and the heartfelt feedback shared by the Programme Director, for your reference.

– By Aishwarya Mishra