Students in free enterprise (SIFE) is a global non-profit organization working with more than 2000 colleges and universities in 50 countries that fosters effective partnerships between colleges, communities and businesses to create economic opportunity. It is a platform that brings together educational institutions and corporates to develop young talent as future business leaders through real life experiences.

SIFE was introduced to Symbiosis Institute of Operations Management (SIOM) in Nov 2009 and this year we have undertaken some social projects where the students could apply their academic knowledge to build a better community through learning, practicing and teaching the principles of free enterprise.

SIFE-SIOM team in its first year qualified for national competition under financial literacy program sponsored by HSBC International. The team presented their projects which were applauded by well known business leaders like Keshav R. Murugesh (Group CEO, WNS Global Services), Rupinder Singh (Chairman, KPMG Foundation India), Deepak Kapoor (Managing Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers), Mayur Singh (Sr. Vice President, HSBC Risk Management) and many eminent business leaders serving as judges. Lack of financial literacy is one of the main reasons for poor financial management. Our projects are aiming to create self dependency among the inhabitants of Nashik and suburbs, most of them being unprivileged tribes sustaining with minimum financial resources. To turn this vision into reality, apart from faculty advisors, our Business Advisory Board members Dr. Vandana Sonwaney (Director, SIOM), Shrirang Sarda (Managing Director, Sarda Group) and Milind Babar (Director, Lokvikas Foundation) are constantly offering their experience and guidance to students.