CS : Greetings Prof. Arvind Sahay. MDI Gurgaon has been part of our journey since our early days, and we’re delighted to continue to have this candid conversation with you.
Director: Thank you, Team Campusutra. Your platform has consistently championed transparency and student-centric insights. I am glad to know that the Case Study on Campusutra.com is now listed with HBR. As a top management institute of the country, we at MDI Gurgaon believe in not just preparing students for industry but shaping them into responsible, agile leaders. I’m glad to share our journey, our vision, and how we’re adapting to the evolving expectations of learners, recruiters, and society. I look forward to this conversation.
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Q1. From London Business School to IIM Ahmedabad to MDI Gurgaon – What all came along with your transition to MDI Gurgaon in terms of leadership philosophy or core values guiding your decisions as the Director of MDI Gurgaon, especially while balancing academic excellence with institutional growth?
Thank you for this thoughtful question. It touches upon the essence of a journey that has shaped my thinking and that guides my experience at the London Business School (LBS) and IIM Ahmedabad (IIMA) provided a foundational understanding & experience of global best practices, rigorous research, and the creation of high-impact learning environments. The move to MDI Gurgaon was not a shift in these ideals, but an opportunity to apply them to an institution with immense pote
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ntial, situated at the heart of India’s corporate and technological growth.
As for Passion, Purpose, Pedagogy and Research if I can club:
- Passion: My passion has always been centered on facilitating learning to create future-ready leaders. This transitioned into MDI with a renewed focus on making our curriculum highly relevant to the evolving Indian and global economies, particularly in areas like sustainability, digital transformation and inclusive growth.
- Purpose: The core purpose institutional development. MDI must evolve to be a top-tier B-School globally recognized for its unique blend of academic rigour, industry integration, and a deep commitment to societal upliftment.
- Research: Emphasizing global-standard, peer- reviewed publications with a deliberate effort to make the research contextually relevant to the Indian business ecosystem (e.g., family businesses, emerging market strategies).
- Pedagogy: which is Learner-Centric and Future-Oriented. Curating a blend of foundational knowledge with cutting-edge skills in AI/ML, FinTech, and ESG. Maintaining a focus on the case-study method and experiential learning while heavily integrating technology and interdisciplinary studies.
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The transition brought a deep commitment to fostering a culture of collaborative leadership in terms of Team work. Building a robust institution is a team sport. It requires empowering faculty and staff, promoting transparency, and ensuring that every stakeholder- from the newest faculty member to the longest-serving staff-feels a sense of ownership in MDI’s success.
Q2. What’s the secret to high engagement level in the classroom at MDI, despite such a diverse set of cohorts in the PGP Programme?
Thank you for that excellent question. The diversity in our PGP cohorts – spanning different academic backgrounds, work experiences, 25 states of India & abroad, and age groups is indeed one of our greatest strengths.
Our faculty is a key ingredient in creating engagement in the classroom. Their qualifications, experience and pedagogical skills are a primary contributor in this process.
And we’ve developed several strategies to leverage this diversity for enhanced classroom engagement. Peer Learning Framework is one such module. We deliberately form diverse study groups and project teams. When a 22-year-old engineer works alongside a 28-year-old banker and a 26-year-old consultant, they learn from each other’s perspectives. This adds peer-to-peer learning to the faculty-led facilitation of learning. Students with different backgrounds contribute unique problem-solving approaches, making these sessions highly interactive. Our professors act more as facilitators than lecturers. They pose challenging questions that require students to draw from their diverse experiences, creating an environment where everyone has valuable contributions to make.
The key insight is that diversity isn’t a challenge to manage – it’s an asset to harness. When students realize their unique backgrounds are valued and contribute to collective learning, engagement naturally follows.
Q3. Apart from the vast influential alumni network – over 11,000 members in 54 countries, the consistent placement packages – current average being INR 25.6 Lakh and the mighty locational advantage of being in the heart of Delhi NCR and Cyber hub, what else do you think attracts students to MDI Gurgaon?
Absolutely, the global alumni network, placement outcomes, and locational advantage are marquee strengths but what truly sets MDI Gurgaon apart is the culture of transformation we foster. Students are drawn to MDI not just for where it can take them, but for who they become here. MDI Gurgaon is also known for its strong industry-connect and the large number of consulting companies which come to our campus. Many of our professors are thought leaders and practitioners, deeply invested in shaping future-ready professionals, which also is a huge plus. We also think that our increased focus on remaining cutting edge through new COEs & consulting is leading to an increase in applications.
Q4. A few years back we did a story based on certain data where it was seen that many students considered – If you are not in IIM A,B,C,L or K then MDI Gurgaon is the next preferred destination. But with New and Baby IIMs and some of the IIT-DoMS catching up, there are few more IIMs/IITs now added in that list before MDI. Where do you see this shift going?
You may be aware that MDI Gurgaon is number 8 in the Financial Times ranking in India-and NIRF 9 above all the baby IIMs and this year above XLRI also. In custom executive education, MDI Gurgaon is ranked #3 in India.
Student brand preference is no longer a static hierarchy but it’s a dynamic equation shaped by outcomes, experience, and alignment with individual goals. As MDI Gurgaon gets better, we will hopefully become an acceptable substitute to the top IIMs.
At MDI Gurgaon, what remains constant is the value we deliver. Students today are discerning—they look beyond acronyms. They ask:
- Will this institute help me grow?
- Will it challenge me?
- Will it prepare me for a world that’s changing faster than ever?
And when they ask those questions, MDI continues to be a compelling answer. Faculty come from new generation IIMs to MDI Gurgaon, not the other way around! Also, in custom Exec Ed+ Triple crown one of only 4 institutions in India.
Q5. You being a SME and thought leader in Neuro Science and Behavioural Science – is there a plan to integrate these in traditional Marketing pedagogy at MDI Gurgaon in the line of ‘Brains & Brands’ to deepen learning and decision making skills?
As someone deeply invested in neuroscience and behavioral science research, I believe we’re at a pivotal moment where traditional marketing pedagogy must evolve to incorporate these cutting-edge insights. We’ve established a state-of-the-art neuromarketing lab. We have integrated behavioral economics principles into relevant parts of our curriculum. Students learn about cognitive biases, heuristics, and decision-making shortcuts that consumers actually use – not the rational decision-making models we traditionally taught.
We’re collaborating with companies using neuromarketing research – from FMCG giants to digital agencies – providing students real-world exposure to these applications. The future of marketing lies in understanding the human brain, and we’re preparing our students to lead that revolution.
Q6. We often come across inconsistencies in placement data of many institutions across the country. While we keep PDFs and screenshots to safeguard students’ interest and our credibility, shouldn’t it be mandatory for education institutes to get the placement data audited by a globally trusted audit firm?
Absolutely, ensuring the accuracy and transparency of placement data is crucial for maintaining trust and credibility. Making it mandatory for educational institutions to have their placement data audited by a globally trusted audit firm would be a significant step forward. It would:
- Enhance the credibility of reported data, reducing misinformation.
- Foster a culture of transparency and accountability among institutions.
- Align Indian higher education standards with global best practices like IIMA, our placement data is IPRS certified & audited.
Implementing such a requirement would require collaboration between regulatory bodies like UGC and AICTE, and accreditation agencies such as NAAC or NABH, to ensure consistency and compliance. Ultimately, it would benefit students, employers, and the institutions themselves by promoting trust and integrity in the education ecosystem.
Q7. In an era where AI, sustainability, and digital transformation are reshaping business education, how is MDI ensuring its curriculum and pedagogy remain industry-relevant and future-ready?
That’s a timely and important question. At MDI Gurgaon, we believe that management education must not only respond to change but it must anticipate and shape it. To stay future-ready, we’ve embedded use of AI & Digital Fluency in the classroom lectures, projects – AI for business, data-driven decision-making, and digital transformation strategy. But more importantly, we’re integrating digital thinking across core courses so students don’t just learn tools, they learn how to lead in tech-enabled environments.
Q8. How does MDI foster an entrepreneurial mindset among its students, and what kind of institutional support or ecosystem exists for startups and innovation on campus?
Entrepreneurship is a mindset we actively cultivate. We encourage students to think beyond placements and explore value creation, problem-solving, and innovation. Here’s how:
- MDI Incubation Centre: Our dedicated startup hub offers mentorship, seed support, and connects students with investors, alumni founders, and domain experts. The MILE club curates entrepreneurship-related activities.
- Live Projects : Students work on real-world challenges with startups and corporates, often leading to MVPs and venture ideas.
- Electives in Innovation & Venture Strategy: These go beyond theory – students pitch, prototype, and iterate in classroom labs.
- Faculty & Alumni Mentorship: Many of our faculty are entrepreneurs themselves, and our alumni network includes founders across fintech, edtech, and impact sectors.
- Cross-campus Collaborations: We partner with tech institutes, accelerators, and global innovation networks to give students exposure beyond management. We have signed an MOV to accelerate startups in IITD & we are about to start a section 8 company that will facilitate incubation and acceleration.
In short, we don’t just prepare students to join companies—we prepare them to build them.
Q9. Given the current emphasis on ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) and responsible leadership, how is MDI integrating these principles into management learning and campus culture?
Sustainability & Responsible Leadership, ESG, circular economy, and stakeholder capitalism are no longer fringe topics. They’re boardroom priorities. Our courses in sustainability, ethics, and social innovation equip students to lead with conscience and competence. Students work on real-world problems with startups, corporates, and social enterprises. We also encourage cross-functional thinking – because the future doesn’t come in silos. Experiential & Interdisciplinary Learning, live projects, simulations, and industry immersions is definitely getting embedded as a learning culture in the campus.
Q10. With India’s growing recognition as a global management education hub, how does MDI plan to position itself internationally over the next decade?
India’s rise as a global management education hub is both an opportunity and a responsibility. At MDI Gurgaon, we are already known for our strong global alumni network and MDI will continue to be a place where global business meets are grounded, and where future leaders are shaped for international markets. We already have a legacy as a globally rooted, future-focused institution one that blends Indian ethos with international excellence. Over the next few years, our international strategy rests on :
- Global Collaborations: We’re deepening partnerships with leading global B-schools – not just for exchange programs, but for joint research, co-teaching, and global immersion labs.
- Thought Leadership: MDI faculty are increasingly contributing to global conversations on sustainability, digital transformation, and inclusive leadership. We aim to be not just participants, but agenda-setters.
- Attracting Global Talent: From international students to visiting scholars and global recruiters, we’re building an ecosystem that’s diverse, dynamic, and globally competitive.
Thank You, so much Sir for your time, candid responses with clarity. Appreciate.
