Fireside Chat with Mr. Prem Watsa - A Celebration of Leadership, Legacy and Community
On Monday, November 3, 2025, the Canadian Friends of IITM (CFIITM) hosted an inspiring Fireside Chat with Mr. Prem Watsa, Chairman and CEO of Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd., at the University of Toronto Faculty Club. The event brought together alumni spanning six decades - from the 1970s to the 2020s in a memorable gathering celebrating leadership, innovation, and the enduring spirit of the IIT Madras community.
The event began with a seated lunch at 1:00 PM, followed by the arrival of Mr. Watsa and a warm welcome from attendees. Throughout the afternoon, Mr. Watsa greeted every attendee personally, expressing sincere appreciation for their presence and support.
After opening remarks by Mr. Srikant Menon and a welcome address by Prof. Venkatesh Mannar, the formal proceedings began with the inauguration of the IIT Madras Alumni Association Canada (East) Chapter by Mr. Prem Watsa. The chapter would provide a networking platform to alumni across Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, and Atlantic Canada. Mr. Sudarshan Narayanan was announced as Chair and Mr. Navneet Malani as Co-Chair, the confirmed office bearers of the newly established chapter.
The highlight of the afternoon was the Fireside Chat, expertly moderated by Ms. Swarnali Choudhury and Mr. Sudarshan Narayanan. Mr. Prem Watsa engaged the audience with candor, warmth, and wit, sharing stories from his personal and professional life. The conversation revolved around Mr. Watsa’s core principles - the three F’s: Faith, Family, and Fairfax (with Fairfax itself being named based on the idea of fairness), and touched on a diverse range of topics, including:
- Reflections on his IIT Madras days
- Building a new life and Fairfax in Canada
- Leadership lessons from his journey at Fairfax
- The evolving relationship between India and Canada
- India’s future trajectory and opportunities
- The role of philanthropy in strengthening communities
His insightful responses and humble storytelling captivated the audience, and even during a lively Rapid-Fire segment, Mr. Watsa charmed participants with his quick wit. He graciously extended his time to take additional questions from attendees, making the session highly engaging and truly memorable.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Prof. Venkatesh Mannar, during which he shared with the audience that Mr. Chandran Ratnaswami would soon be felicitated by IIT Madras in recognition of his significant contributions to the Alma Mater. This was followed by informal networking and photographs, providing an opportunity for alumni to reconnect and share experiences.
The success of the Fireside Chat reflects the strong bond within the IITM alumni network and sets the tone for future events that inspire, connect, and elevate the global IITM family.
Prof. Partha Mohanram (despite being away on a teaching assignment) and Prof. Venkatesh Mannar played key roles in everything from securing the venue to confirming the speaker.
