Double honours for KIAMS in Malaysia

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Pune. 13 April 2016.

KIAMS bagged dual honours at the recently held ‘Golden Globe Tigers Education Leadership Awards’ in Malaysia.

KIAMS won the ‘Knowledge Management Leadership Award’ for 2016 while Dr. CN Narayana, Principal Director KIAMS won the ‘Outstanding Asian Faculty of HRM Award’ for 2016.

2016 has been an eventful year with Dr. CN Narayana winning awards at the International Education Leadership Awards 2016 by International Association of Researchers and Academicians (‘Indo Global Exemplary Educationist Award’ and ‘Best Director Award for B-schools’) and KIAMS bagging the ‘Top Institute Award’ by Competition Success Review magazine.

Reacting to the awards, Dr. Narayana said “I am indebted to all my students and well-wishers including my faculty, staff of KIAMS, for making me worthy of my 2^nd international award and a dozen total awards till date for academics, research and leadership contribution to management education”.

This is the second international award KIAMS has won under knowledge management – the earlier one being in Dubai and these awards are a reflection of the efforts put in my management under the leadership of Dr. Narayana, who has joined a little over a year ago. KIAMS is scaling new heights and continues to aspire for even greater success in future.

About the awards

The Golden Globe Tigers Awards aim to recognise “TIGERS” in Marketing, Branding CSR & Social Innovation, Education& Academics across leadership levels in individual and organisation that aim at believing that excellence is infinite and perfection has no limit and targets are milestones not an end of the journey.

The Golden Globe Tigers Awards is multifunctional, multidisciplinary and industry focussed.

About Kirloskar Institute of Advanced Management Studies

Kirloskar Group Of Companies, one of the largest industrial conglomerates in India, has been growing and enriching lives for more than a century now. KIAMS was conceived as a training institute and knowledge hub in 1991. It was envisioned as a learning centre where Kirloskar Group Managers shared their expertise, experience and kept up with the latest concepts and movements in Management.

In 1995, the training institute was opened to managers all over the country.

KIAMS hosts its 17th Convocation Day

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On April 9th, Kirloskar Institute of Advanced Management Studies (KIAMS) organized its 17th Convocation ceremony in the presence of leading names from the industry and the world of academia. The bright, new graduates were joined by their family members and proud faculty members at the Pune Campus of the Institute. Mr. Sanjiv Bajaj, Managing Director, Bajaj Finserv Ltd., was the Chief Guest of the ceremony and his Convocation Address was one of the highlights of the day.

The convocation was the culmination of two years of hard work by the PGDM 2016 class. In all, students received their diplomas. The convocation also saw medals awarded for merit – Shruti Hariharan was the winner of the Gold Medal (Overall), while the Silver Medal (Overall) was awarded to Karen Saldanha . There were also four Gold Medalists (for each specialisation) from PGDM Batch 17 – Shruti  Hariharan (Human Resource); Karen Saldanha (Marketing); Bimal Raj (Operations) & Vinay Maurya (Finance).

The President, Mr. Rahul Kirloskar, declared the 17th Convocation Day of KIAMS open at eleven in the morning as the convocation procession entered the venue. In his welcome address, he said, “It’s a mixed day for us at KIAMS having to see so many beloved students leave us, while the sense of pride in them and our best wishes for their future make it a very grand occasion”. With this, he also introduced the Chief Guest, Mr. Sanjiv Bajaj.

Dr. C. N. Narayana, Principal Director, KIAMS, then presented the Director’s Report. It had been a noteworthy year for KIAMS with two national level awards and one international level award under its belt, including the “National Education Award for best B School with Industry Related Curriculum in Marketing.” It also won the “Top Business School of India” award given by the renowned CSR magazine, along with several other recognitions for excellence in management education. For the first time, KIAMS made it to Top 50 private Business Schools of India (Business World 2015) and overall top 50 Business Schools of India (including IIMS and FMS by Outlook and the 32nd position in Career 360 ranking).

Dr. Narayana mentioned different initiatives like the introduction of ‘Expert’s Day Out’ with renowned academicians from IIM-B, Washington University, and Howard University. To give students exposure, the institute has started accepting corporate challenges, such as devising the advertising campaign for Onida. The results have shown in the placement season, which maintained the Institute’s consistent track record with more than 90% of students placed by the 31st of March. Over 70 companies took part in placements this year and the highest CTC package was a substantial Rs. 14 lakhs.

Dr. Narayana then wished the new graduates good luck, urging them to realize their dreams as they become future ambassadors for KIAMS. “There is a paradigm shift in education sector because of the advent of technology, he said. “KIAMS has tried to keep up with that with innovative tools to offer our students the best modern learning experience. We hope you will build on that and scale new heights of success as you represent your B School that will remain proud of you”.

Congratulating the graduating students in his address, Mr. Bajaj advised the students “this is your day and you should make the most of it. You all will disperse after today and you need to make the most of your time together today. Tomorrow, a new chapter of your life begins.” The graduates were then handed their diplomas by the Chief Guest. Mr. Rahul Kirloskar.

With a formal Vote of Thanks and presentation of the Memento to the Chief Guest, the ceremony was drawn to a close. Students then got together for the Class of 2016 photograph. They leave campus with cherished memories of the two years spent there and an eye firmly fixed on their future.

Megha Dey, student of PGDM Batch 17 talks about the key to cracking the placement process

As a BBA graduate, Megha Dey could have opted for an MBA to further her career prospects. But she chose to do her PGDM because she believed that the curriculum would make her industry ready. After spending two years at KIAMS, an institute she had heard a lot about, she agrees that she made the best decision. She has now been placed in a facility management role with Quess Corp Avon, which is a subsidy of the global giant IKEA. Here she shares the journey of her transformation from a hopeful student to a confident management professional.

When asked to put her journey with KIAMS in words, Megha counts many positives. According to her things that seemed difficult and intense when doing them were also a huge learning experience in hindsight. “The rigorous presentations were definitely tough but they were totally worth it at the end of the day. I have learned so much about team effort besides gaining theoretical and practical knowledge. While the job I have bagged is the perfect entry in the corporate world for me, the knowledge I have gained during my time here will last me a lifetime,” she says.

In her new role as a professional with the company Megha will be responsible for meeting clients and discussing various facilities offered. She will also have to strive to boost the sales of the company. She is keen to prove her mettle by delivering on these tasks, just like she managed to impress during the placement interview. On what went right in the interview, she says “I had gathered fair bit of knowledge about the company, which is why I could talk about different scenarios and offer them the best solutions. I also relied on my SIP experience with Bank of Baroda (Kolkata) to come up with relevant answers during the interview.”

Megha mentions the IRP sessions at KIAMS as the main preparation for placement because not only did they improve her communication skills but they also helped her answer situational questions, which were the crux of her interview. Above all her confidence gained during the PGDM years showed clearly. That’s her advice to her juniors at the institute as well. “Be confident and everything will fall into place. Pay attention to classroom learning and projects because that will prepare you well. But also make the most of your time on the campus and with friends because it won’t come back,” she ends on an emotional note.

Abhijit Das talks about his placement with careers360 and how KIAMS has helped him develop to potential

Abhijit Das, student of PGDM Batch 17 at KIAMS believes that his placement as a Management Trainee with Pathfinder Publishing Pvt. Ltd (the company that runs careers360.com) is a big deal not only because of the reputation of the company but the fact that it is the perfect culmination of his academic tenure. The going has been tough for him as he lost his father during the first year of PGDM. But that only pushed him to excel in his studies and focus on the placement process. He admits that with the help of his faculty team and friends at the institute he has managed to get the final outcome he was hoping for.

Reflecting on his two years at KIAMS, he says “The placement with such a prestigious firm was the icing on the cake. My mother, who is a housewife, was extremely supportive during these two years. The placement has made our dream come true. But at the same time I feel the knowledge and confidence I have gained at the institute will help me in the long run. It certainly helped me crack the all important placement interview.” He goes on to add that all the assignments and activities he was a part of during his program helped him learn in the best possible way. That coupled with the confidence he had gained enabled him to impress his recruiters.

After completing his graduation in engineering, Abhijit was working in the construction field but soon enough realized that he needed to boost his competencies to build his career prospects. That’s why he chose to do his PGDM from KIAMS and believes that it’s a decision that has held him in good stead. “I would like to specifically mention the contribution of our faculty members in molding us as future professionals. They were always available to clear our doubts, point out mistakes and help us rectify them in a constructive manner. I believe this relationship goes beyond placements and will be with me for the rest of my life,” he states.

According to Abhijit, every day spent at the institute was a stepping stone towards his future career. The Summer Internship he did at Tata Steel helped him put the concepts he had learned into context and that’s how he made his mark during the placement interview. He is now at the cusp of an exciting journey ahead. “KIAMS has been a new life experience for me and it has prepared me for challenges in my career. Managing product life cycle, Project development and management, Planning, Scheduling, Co-ordination with different teams, Product testing, Market Research and analysis will be some of my job responsibilities and I feel up to the task,” he adds confidently.

Ask him about the aspects of his life at the institute that he is going to miss and Abhijit mentions different celebrations, the time spent with his friends and the campus itself. He holds those memories close to his heart and is going to cherish them for a long time to come. He also has valuable advice for his juniors at the institute. “You should follow your dreams and identify your area of interest. Whatever domain you choose; be it Product Management or Operations, you will find a lot of scope in it if you have in-depth knowledge of the subject. Try to build on your learning and the sky is the limit,” he says all ready to spread his own wings.

Avisek Sarkar student of PGDM Batch 17 realizes his dream by getting placed with Oracle

Avisek Sarkar believes in following his instincts and making smart decisions at the right time. That’s why the engineering graduate who was interested in technology decided to switch to management. He says that he wanted to give his career the best platform, which is why he opted for the PGDM with KIAMS. He now stresses that he has managed to combine his technical abilities from engineering studies with analytical, logical thinking from his management program. Perhaps that is what impressed his new employer; Oracle Financial Services Software.

The excitement of being placed with a global powerhouse like Oracle is written large over Avisek’s face. He also realizes that his corporate journey has only begun and he will have to prove his mettle. “The role I have been offered is in financial analytical application development. As a member of the software engineering division, I will have to do detailed design based on high level design specifications. I will also have to assist in system planning, scheduling and implementation, testing bugs, building enhancements etc. I feel prepared for these challenges thanks to my learning at KIAMS,” he says.

Bagging campus placement with a corporate biggie like Oracle is no mean feat. There is a great deal of preparation that goes into making one’s mark in the interview. Avisek sheds light on the process as he says, “One thing that went in my favour was the fact that I had domain knowledge. I also believe you need to be calm and composed during the interview to be able to make the best impression.KIAMS not only helped me build a solid foundation of knowledge but through different initiatives like IRP sessions ensured that I had overcome my fear of public speaking. It reflected in the interview and helped me a lot.”

Avisek also asserts that his learning at the B School was intense with long hours on a daily basis. But his faculty members made things easier by keeping things relatable. His SIP with Novotel Kolkata also enabled him to get valuable practical exposure that he counts on as he prepares for his corporate sojourn. “My time with KIAMS has been a memorable journey altogether. Even the tight class schedules, late night group studies, presentations were fun and lively for me. I am going to miss the hostel life, time spent on the campus and just hanging out with my friends whenever I want,” he says emotionally.

His advice for juniors who might be interested in a job profile like his – “It’s a Financial Analyst profile and if that’s something you are interested in as well then you need to have a strong base in finance and economics. Practical exposure besides academics is also important. But above all be confident and stay true to yourself. You will achieve your goals if you believe in yourself and put in the efforts.” That’s something he himself has done, and is now reaping the benefits for it.

Karen Saldanha, Class Representative PGDM Batch 17 talks about her experience at KIAMS and how the institute helped with her HDFC Bank placement

After completing her graduation in Oman, where her parents both work as corporate professionals, Karen Saldanha decided to come to India to pursue higher education. She was keen to pursue a career in management and believes that KIAMS has helped her in a big way, borne out by her placement with HDFC Bank.

Karen admits that it took her a while to get over the initial shock of being chosen as a Relationship Manager by HDFC Bank because there were several other right candidates for the job. She also thought her interview wasn’t going too well but managed to turn things around for herself. “Initially it was going all wrong and I think I gave some wrong answers. At one point they even gave me a chance to learn the correct answer for one of the questions. I came back having prepared for more than that, which might have impressed them,” she says with a smile.

She also talks about the efforts taken by her institute to prepare her for the placement process. According to Karen the courses in GD, interviews and business communications groomed students and instilled confidence in them. “Besides that the modules where we were taught what the industry expects of us were very helpful. They had included courses on Customer Insight, Digital Marketing, Strategic Management, International Business, Brand Management, Consumer Behaviour etc and they helped us tremendously,” she adds.

Karen also points out that though she had got placed in her very first attempt she chose to not accept the offer as she wanted to make a bright start to her corporate career. She expects it to happen with a big name like HDFC where her job responsibilities will include, “Meeting clients and addressing their problems, ensuring cross selling of banking products and overall maintaining good relationships with them. I did my internship with Reliance Retail, Chennai and believe that experience will come handy in my job,” she asserts.

While Karen is on cloud nine at the moment, she also feels a hint of sadness knowing that she won’t be spending time on campus with friends. She states that one major advantage of a residential PGDM program is that you make friends for life. Ask her if she has any advice for juniors and she says, “Take efforts to match industry’s needs of skills and knowledge, pay attention to classes and do your assignments diligently. The secret to my good grades is 100% attendance. You might also want to create a LinkedIn profile because networking is the key.” Speaking like a true professional, she already is.

Rajashree Bhuyan, PGDM batch 18 explains why she couldn’t have asked for a better second home than KIAMS, Harihar.

Coming from the North East, the journey to Harihar was a long one for me. It gave me a lot of time to think about how things were going to be here and whether I would be able to manage on my own. I was quite nervous, to be honest, and came to the campus with a lot of anticipation. It has been five months since then and I can comfortably say that I have found my second home.

I have stayed in hostels during earlier academic years, but this was the first time I was such a distance away from home and my comfort zone. Thankfully, I have adjusted here quite well and found my own comfort level with the surroundings and with the people. The campus itself is quite stunning, and I can also have my personal space and go out for long walks if I want to.

I feel overwhelmed with the kind of love and support I have received from my classmates, as well as my seniors. The faculty team is friendly and very encouraging, while Director Sir is my mentor. It’s because of their contributions that I feel there is a huge positive change in my personality. I will forever be grateful to all of them for their help on this journey.

I have to admit that since I am from an Economics Hons background, studying fourteen management subjects from the word ‘go’ was a bit tricky for me initially. Classes, assignments, etc. – it all got a bit hectic. But, as time passes, we are adjusting to the work schedule and the routine we have managed to build for ourselves.

The good thing is that it’s not just about studies at the present moment – we get to enjoy some lighter moments as well. The Independence Day celebrations with some of the alumni were interesting, while the Vasundhara Film Festival was an eye-opening experience. We got to interact with many professionals and that was a tremendous learning experience in itself.

Within a period of five months, I have started looking forward to my classes, assignments and presentations. Of course, the pressure does get to us from time to time and we look for ways to get rid of the stress. Thankfully for that we have the Triangle, Rotunda, the auditorium, swimming pool and the gym, which have made KIAMS, Harihar the best home I could have had for my studies.

Shivangini, Student from batch 2014 – 2016 Harihar campus talks about gaining important exposure during her internship, which has prepared her to take on the challenges of the corporate world.

“Summer internships offer management students primary learning about the corporate work culture. You learn how to behave in a work environment and interact with professionals, which is something you just can’t learn through books and classroom,” says Shivangini who has come back with more knowledge and richer in experience after her internship with Bharat Cooking Coal Limited, a Subsidiary of Coal India.

KIAMS tries to offer its students a diverse learning experience and it involves exposure to varied industry sectors. Shivangini’s SIP with the company was in the same vain and offered her vital experience, which she reflects on. “I worked in three different departments; Funds Dept, Sales and Accounts Dept and Cost and Budget Dept. I worked as a Management intern and did a project on Working Capital Management of BCCL,” she says.

According to Shivangini, this hands-on training during the SIP is what moulds students like her into future professionals. Her own project taught her a lot about Current Asset & Current Liabilities, concepts that she had only heard of in the classroom. “This practical training is vital in understanding the concepts we have learned,” she says. “Moreover, during the internship, I learned how to perform under pressure and it improved my decision-making abilities.”

These are some of the skills that Shivangini was keen on learning to boost her professional credentials, which is why she joined KIAMS in the first place. With her experience at the institute so far, she believes it has been the best decision she could have taken. “I wanted to enhance my management skills and career prospects,” she tells us. “I think KIAMS has helped work towards it and ensured that I fit in as a management professional in a corporate environment.”

Shivangini also talks about learning a great deal not only from her faculty members but seniors at the institute, who she believes have been incredibly helpful. “Every interaction at the institute has helped me broaden my horizons,” she explains. “I have learned so many things, right from managing financial databases of companies to holding my own in a corporate environment. Overall I have become more confident with the experience.”

And now with her SIP experience in an interesting and diverse field, Shivangini is ready to take her knowledge into her future career. Ask her what she would like to ensure in her first work place, and she says without batting an eyelid, “I hope for a good work culture, which will help me showcase my skills. I will be looking at the job profile that I am offered. My SIP has taught me how to tackle real life situations at work place.” There is a confident tone heard when Shivangini speaks – this is due to the world-class education she received at KIAMS, as well as the tremendous learning experience through her SIP.

Shweta Shivhare talks about the challenges during SIP and its role in moulding future professionals.

It was her interest in the business side of things that brought Shweta Shivhare to KIAMS to pursue the much talked about PGDM program. She admits that it was the reputation of the institute that helped her make the all-important decision, and feels that she has benefited immensely from the education she has received while studying at KIAMS. And things are just about to go a notch higher with her Summer Internship Program with Kirloskar Pneumatics Company Limited. SIPs are a crucial part of learning for management students and Shweta is geared up for its challenges.

She will be working as a Finance Intern with the renowned firm and will have to monitor the latest changes in tax policy, while keeping tabs on the company’s indirect tax profile. Shweta looks at her SIP as a huge opportunity to learn and discusses the importance of SIPs, saying, “It gives you a good idea about work culture in a professional organization. It is all about practical learning where you know how to apply the concepts you learned in class into practical life. It’s a great exposure to the corporate world.”

So what does Shweta expect to learn during her SIP and what are her thoughts on the work environment she will be in? “I am so excited to be working with a company like Kirloskar Pneumatics where I expect to find a progressive work environment,” she says enthusiastically. “I am looking forward to absorbing the work culture as I know it will prepare me for the professional challenges ahead. I think I am also going to relish the challenges I will face in my day-to-day work life because I look at them as opportunities to prove myself.” The reason Shweta feels up to the task ahead of her is because KIAMS has prepared her well for her SIP. In fact, she believes that every learning experience at the institute is geared towards creating industry-ready professionals. “Everything about the internship, right from the fact that it was in a place I didn’t know anyone in, was a big experience for me,” she says, with an air of optimism. “There is so much I have learned in the classroom, in addition to the practical training and different initiatives at the institute. Together, with this SIP experience I hope it will turn me into a well-rounded professional.”

“KIAMS gave me the confidence to carve a niche for myself,” shares Hina Afifa

Hina Afifa belongs to the 16^th batch of the management graduates from the Harihar campus of KIAMS. Hina has recently been placed with HDFC Asset Management and she is rightly proud sharing this accomplishment with the world: “This is the most memorable moment of my life at KIAMS, perhaps as amazing as the day I entered KIAMS, which was the first time I was away from my home.”

Every festival on the campus has left her with memories for a lifetime. Hina possesses a boisterous and happy personality that she displayed on every opportunity: “I was the most notorious student of the batch and have had fun every moment I spent on the campus”.

Leaving KIAMS is a bittersweet experience that fills her with a deep sense of nostalgia. Hina is excited about stepping out into the corporate world, and yet sad about leaving behind friends and a place that had become a second home for the last two years. The learning and academic rigor have not only groomed her for the job, but have also made her a more disciplined person. She understands that the corporate life will throw challenges at her and, due to her time at the institute feels prepared to face them all.

Hina shares that she will miss her faculty as well, especially Pai Sir and Anita Kshetri Ma’am who became an inspiration for all the young women on campus. Moving along, Hina advises her juniors to be careful while selecting their subjects and specializations. According to her, students must focus on the sector that they want to enter and then align the skills accordingly.