Lucknow– Isabella Thoburn College successfully hosted the inter-college business festival ‘Zenith 2026’ on March 13, drawing enthusiastic participation from students across various colleges. Held under the guidance of College President Dr. (Mrs.) E. S. Charles, the event provided a dynamic platform for young talents to showcase their entrepreneurial skills, creativity, and innovative business ideas. The chief guest for the occasion was Anjali Singh, Secretary of the Jute Artisans Guild Association and founder of Jute for Life.
The festival commenced with a prayer sung by the college choir, followed by a formal welcome of the chief guest by Acting Principal Dr. (Major) Neerja Masih and Professor Sonika Bhatia, Coordinator of the Career Counseling and Placement Cell. Addressing the gathering, Mrs. Singh encouraged students to innovate with courage and resilience and highlighted the critical role of entrepreneurship in generating sustainable livelihoods.
Exciting Competitions Highlight Student Talent
Zenith 2026 featured a wide array of competitions designed to test business acumen, creativity, and leadership skills. Among the highlights were:
- Shark Tank – An energetic pitching contest simulating real-world startup investment scenarios.
- Pitch It Live – A stage-based sales challenge testing presentation and persuasion skills.
- Verbal Edge – A debate competition focusing on career-oriented and contemporary topics.
- Story in a Shutter – A creative visual storytelling contest.
- Critical Hour – An assessment of practical skills required for career entry.
- Bollywood Trivia Quiz – Testing participants’ knowledge of Indian cinema.
- Inkfluence – An advertising challenge based on comic concepts.
- Corporate Escape Room – Teams solved corporate-themed puzzles under time constraints to “escape” successfully.
In addition, over 30 student-run stalls were showcased in the Zenith marketplace, featuring a diverse range of products including handcrafted jewelry, bakery items, snacks, beverages, and artisanal goods. The stalls provided participants with a practical platform to gain hands-on experience in entrepreneurship while engaging with peers and visitors.
Winners and Recognition
The festival concluded with a grand awards ceremony, celebrating innovation, teamwork, and business acumen among students. In Shark Tank, the winners were: First – Saima Hadi (IT College), Second – Atharv Sharma (Lucknow University), Third – Omkar Dubey (Lucknow Christian College). In Pitch It Live, Renisha Singh claimed first place, followed by Ashok Bhaskar (Lucknow University) in second and Hussain Mehndi (Lucknow University) in third. Other competitions, including Verbal Edge and the Bollywood Trivia Quiz, also showcased exceptional talent.
The closing ceremony featured the distribution of certificates to winners, marking the successful conclusion of Zenith 2026. The festival not only celebrated creativity and entrepreneurship but also reinforced the importance of innovation, collaboration, and practical business skills among the youth.
