For Academic Preparation and Personal Growth

Leaders must know how to recover from setbacks, handle stress and continue moving forward. B-schools can design leadership labs, mentorship programmes and reflective exercises that push students to understand themselves better

- By Mahadeo Jaiswal

THE WORLD TODAY IS MORE unpredictable that ever before. Businesses, communities and governments are facing continuous change. Whether it is shifting global alliances, new tariff regimes, restrictions on outsourcing or stricter visa rules, the landscape is becoming increasingly complex. For young professionals, this uncertainty is not just about how they can contribute as leaders in such a world. Business schools, therefore, have an important responsibility. They are no longer just preparing students for jobs; they are shaping leaders who must operate in what we now call the VUCA world,.

The question is: How do B-schools build leaders who are ready to navigate such realities? Traditionally, management education focused on technical knowledge like, finance, marketing, operations and strategy. While these remain important, they are no longer enough. A leader in the VUCA world must be adaptable, emotionally intelligent and capable of managing change. B-schools must, therefore, integrate leadership development with technical knowledge. This means teaching students to think critically, analyse situations from multiple perspectives and be open to new information. Case studies and simulations must go hand-in-hand with opportunities for students to work on real-world problems with industry and society.

IIM Sambalpur has been incorporating multiple elements in its programmes and structure that respond to VUCA, such as its Blended & Experiential Pedagogy, that helps students learn by doing, adaptively, rather than theoretical study.

Building a Global Mindset