IFMR GSB at Krea University welcomes incoming MBA cohort

IFMR GSB at Krea University welcomed the new cohort of MBA students with Prarambh – a week long virtual orientation program. The orientation programme for the 2020-2022 MBA batch was a 5-day event, hosted from July 1 until July 5, packed with engaging sessions from leadership, faculty, staff, students and alumni. This is a historic year for IFMR GSB, marking a journey of 20 years steered by some of the best minds from academia and industry, creating immense value for students and society.

Prarambh 2020 witnessed the Krea community extending a warm welcome to the incoming cohort. The incoming class comprises 182 students from across the country who have been through a holistic admission process which evaluates applicants with tailor made rounds catering to diverse aspirants.

Leading industry leaders actively participated and engaged in Prarambh 2020.

Industry stalwart Mr CK Ranganathan – Chairman and Managing Director of CavinKare, addressed the 180+ students on the inaugural day. Tracing his humble beginnings in Cuddalore to building a major business, Mr Ranganathan encouraged students to walk the path of personal transformation and use education as a starting point.

On day 3, Tech leader and co-founder of Fractal Analytics, Mr Srikanth Velamkanni spoke to the students. He carried them through important life lessons that students can take from their business school, including staying humble and constantly keep pushing to learn more broadly.

Speaking to the students on the concluding day Mr Rajiv Lochan, Executive Director at Sundaram Finance Limited, shared 5 key lessons with students. Addressing the uncertainty of our times, he highlighted why this is the best period to remain a student and learn as much from the world as possible, so they are prepared to reap the benefits of learnings in two years.

Renowned academia including Prof N Ravichandran, Former director, IIM-Indore and Prof V Anantha Nageswaran, Part-time member, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India & Former Dean, IFMR GSB, actively interacted with students.

In her welcome address, Dr Shobha Das – Dean of IFMR GSB commended the students for their decision to invest in education amid the global crisis and put forth her vision for the new cohort, “We hope to develop well rounded human beings as well as managers. There are four attributes we hope IFMR GSB graduates will come out with, they are elements of being reflective, ethical, effective and professional.”

Dr Sunder Ramaswamy, Vice Chancellor, Krea University added, “As the world has shown, with crisis comes opportunities. Hopefully it prepares you to handle these opportunities, no matter what you want to do when you graduate with an MBA degree, whether you want to join the corporate sector, be an analyst, join the banking sector, the nonprofit sector or want to be an entrepreneur. What I really hope that you’re here for is building yourself up as a professional and as an individual and human being, because I think that is really what the world currently needs.”