IIM Bangalore (Indian Institute Of Management Bangalore) welcomed the new batch of students to its two-year full time MBA programmes: Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP) and the Post Graduate Programme in Business Analytics (PGPBA), 2024-2026 batch, with an inauguration program on 10 June 2024.
This year has 535 PGP and 72 PGP in Business Analytics students joining the cohort, including a whopping 40% female students. The orientation program will be conducted from 11 to 24 June 2024.
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Batch profile:
Prof. Kunal Dasgupta, Chairperson, Admissions & Financial Aid, and faculty of the Economics area of IIMB, congratulated the new cohort on facing what he termed “a very tough admissions process”. Discussing the batch details, he shared that there are 535 PGP and 72 PGP in Business Analytics students joining this year. “Out of the total PGP students who have gained admission, 11 are international students. This year, there is a whopping 40% female students joining, which is the highest in the last 18 years. The average work experience for PGP and PGPBA are 27 months and 20 months, respectively. The average ages for PGP and PGPBA are 26 years and 24 years, respectively. A total of 73% are from Engineering background, 14% from Commerce and 6% each from Arts and Science backgrounds.”
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The evening’s event also saw recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Awards (DAA) for 2024 being felicitated, and addresses by the DAA award winners – Hemanth K Bhargava (PGP 1986), T Koshy (PGP 1989), Prabha Narasimhan (PGP 1997) and Praveen Sood (PGPPM 2005). A DAA selection committee comprising the Director, Dean – Alumni Relations and Development, faculty members, IIMBAA (IIMB Alumni Association) President and an earlier DAA awardee reviewed the nominations received to shortlist the awardees based on a set of criteria that includes a stellar career trajectory, exceptional leadership qualities, thought leadership, impact and contribution to society or industry, and more.
Instituted in 2007, the Distinguished Alumni Awards are presented to alumni in recognition of their achievements of exceptional merit and excellence in their chosen field of endeavour – be it industry, management, entrepreneurship, research, academia, or social service. Each awardee receives a citation, and her/his name is engraved on the IIMB Wall of Fame.
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Special address by Chief Guest PC Musthafa
The inauguration ceremony featured a keynote address by the Chief Guest and IIMB alumnus from the Post Graduate Programme in Software Enterprise Management (PGSEM), batch of 2004-07, PC Musthafa. Famously known as the ‘batter king’, PC Musthafa is the Founder and CEO of iD Fresh Food, which offers fresh and preservative-free ready-to-cook food items. He was one of the recipients of IIMB’s Distinguished Alumni Awards in 2018. A native of Wayanad, he is today the owner of a 4000-crore business empire, featured prominently on the cover of Forbes India. His success story through hard work and determination makes him a role model and source of inspiration for many.
PC Musthafa shared insights from his own experiences, describing his very modest background, the challenges he faced during his growing up years, how he turned from a school dropout to a school topper, his well-paying IT job which he left to turn entrepreneur, and most importantly his experiences as a student at IIMB and how despite various challenges, he became a successful entrepreneur. “All this was possible because we did not give up. I had the courage to leave a well-paid job to make idlis. There was a time when we took nine months to sell 100 packets. Today, we feed idlis to more than two million Indians across the globe.”
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He added that he used his IIMB experience as an opportunity to build a network. “Look beyond your corporate jobs at market opportunities. The role of an entrepreneur is to identify potential customer problems and solve them. For me, the idli business was an academic project. Do not miss the opportunity to build business opportunities out of your IIMB experience.”
PC Musthafa pointed out that while it was very easy to make money, it was very tough to do so without taking shortcuts or compromising on values. “But we developed the iD business without compromising on any of our values. The courage to take tough decisions is the way to build businesses. So, identify and understand opportunities. Take the path less travelled, build on your IIMB experience, and be the change that you wish to see in this world.”
Welcome addresses
The event also included welcome addresses by Prof. Rishikesha T Krishnan, Director, IIM Bangalore, Deans, the Programme Chairperson, etc.
IIMB Director Prof. RT Krishnan, in his welcome address, advised the students that other than academic and analytical skills, they also need to deve
lop soft skills which will make a huge difference to their careers. “Your human contribution will be in terms of creativity and specific skills such as courtesy, care, empathy and the like, as all that will differentiate you from machines, in the current business world dominated by technology, AI, etc. Soft skills will differentiate successful managers from others – the people side of things will make a difference to your careers. Moreover, reach out and take care of self and each other. Remember, there is much more to learning than what is done in the classrooms, such as, guest talks, networking opportunities with visitors, entrepreneurs, etc. Do reach out to this wealth of knowledge and build networks to enhance your learning experience.”
“India is at the cusp of significant growth which will throw open innumerable opportunities and challenges. Take this opportunity to make significant contributions to issues faced by our country. Look for entrepreneurial opportunities and make an impact.”
Prof. RT Krishnan pointed out that IIMB has a no-tolerance policy towards discrimination or harassment of any kind. “Be familiar with the rules and ensure the highest standards of integrity.”
Prof. Manaswini Bhalla, Chairperson, Post Graduate Programme in Management and PGP in Business Analytics, and faculty of the Economics area of IIMB, said, “The next two years will be life defining for you all, during which we will help you fulfil your professional as well as personal goals. But all that will be possible only with your best efforts. Please strive for a collaborative environment around you while you are here.”
Prof. Mukta Kulkarni, Dean, Programmes, Chairperson, Office of International Affairs, and faculty of the Organizational Behavior & Human Resources Management area of IIMB, during her address, said, “While you learn a lot from IIMB faculty in the next two years, we will also get to learn significantly from you. So, share your knowledge and enhance the learning experience for all. Also, make best use of IIMB’s world-class library, faculty, the alumni body, students of other cohorts, and other facilities. We have top-class alumni and, in a few years, you will feature among them.”
DAA awardees thank their alma mater
Prof. Sourav Mukherji, Dean, Alumni Relations & Development and faculty in the Organizational Behavior & Human Resources Management area of IIMB, reminded the new cohort that while gaining admission in IIMB has made their dreams come true, in these dreams lie responsibilities. “While there will be intense academic pressure in the next two years, you will also have access to IIMB’s huge alumni network. Build your connections with them, gain valuable insights and give shape to your dreams beyond IIMB.” Thereafter, he introduced the DAA awardees, who received their awards from the Director.
Honored to receive the DAA from IIMB, Hemant K Bhargava said that IIM Bangalore is not only the Number One management school in India, but an institution that has played a vital part in his professional life, giving him lifelong genius friends. “IIMB has added to my toolbox of Mathematics, an introduction to analytics and computing in business, the core playfield of my professional life. I hope this award serves as a catalyst for new collaborations and creates new opportunities for contributing to fruitful use of technology in India, and towards education and business’ ‘.
T Koshy shared that the foundation that he received at IIMB, along with the guidance the faculty and colleagues provided and continue to provide, have shaped his journey. “These achievements of the alumni of our alma mater will continue to be an inspiration for the current and future students of IIMB.”
In her address, Prabha Narasimhan highlighted that getting an award was always special, adding, “But getting an award from such a prestigious institution, one that has been foundational to who you are, is even more special.”
Delighted at receiving the DAA from IIMB and thanking the institute for the valuable takeaways, Praveen Sood said, “My mid-career engagement at lIMB through postgraduation in Public Policy and Management provided me a new perspective of challenges faced by citizens and enabled me to tackle them differently using out-of-box solutions and leveraging technology.”
Awards, scholarships and message from SAC President
The day’s events also included announcements of the Director’s Merit List, Director’s Honours List and other scholarships, as well as an address by the Students’ Affairs Council (SAC) President Shubham Jagtap, on ‘Life at IIM Bangalore’. The inauguration ceremony ended with a cultural program.
