Bhubaneswar: Accenture India chief Rekha Menon on Wednesday urged graduating students of Xavier University here to not be afraid of failure.

Menon graced the varsity's convocation ceremony as chief guest and convocation speaker. Menon, who is also a member of NASSCOM's national executive council and the national executive board of the American Chamber of Commerce in India, interacted with the students about values of life.

She congratulated the graduating students and encouraged them to explore what inspired and motivated them. She urged them to take risks and be willing to experiment. Varsity registrar E. A. Augustine advised the graduating students to be courageous, bold and ready for challenges. He also asked them to remain motivated and live in the spirit of the varsity.

Vice-chancellor Paul Fernandes emphasised on the need to be fair, just, socially responsible managers and live extraordinary challenges in this dynamic world.

"The graduates have strived to evolve into good corporate citizens of today's talent landscape and the convocation was an opportunity for the university to celebrate their achievements before bidding them good luck, to the ever dynamic business world of today," he said.

Varsity management committee chairman Rajiv Kaul hoped that the graduating students, with all their learning and experience, would be able to contribute towards a strong, vibrant and commanding India.

The university handed over 412 passing-out degrees to PhD candidates, students of business management, global MBA, executive MBA and urban management and governance.