Preparing leaders for the AI Era

The term “Management Education” often conjures images of dusty case studies and rigid classroom hierarchies.

- Aanchal Ghatak

But at Great Lakes, the narrative is being rewritten with a dose of AI and analytics. Dr. S. ramanathan leads the charge to infuse management education with relevance, agility, and innovation.

In this candid conversation, Dr. Ramanathan delves into the institute’s dynamic curriculum, its commitment to experiential learning, and how partnerships with industry giants like PayPal and Accenture are shaping future leaders. While traditional management programs may still be grappling with digital transformation.

As the world is now governed by algorithms and automation, the question arises: are B-schools teaching future leaders to think like humans or to merely compute like machines? Excerpts from the interview...

Since you joined Great Lakes in 2019, the institute has seen significant initiatives, accreditations, and academic transformations. could you share the unique aspects of your curriculum, especially with the growing relevance of ai and analytics?

Our approach to the curriculum goes beyond focusing on specific tools like AI or ML. We aim to equip students with critical reasoning and problem-solving skills. This year, we undertook a massive restructuring of our one-year program to align with industry demands. We analyzed what companies truly need—skills like critical thinking, data handling, and storytelling.

Our revamped curriculum emphasizes experiential learning, enabling students to learn by doing. For example, the Data Science specialization offers in-depth courses, including six focused on AI and ML, ensuring students are prepared for modern, tech-driven roles.

On faculty training, we are organizing a comprehensive AI workshop. This will help integrate AI into pedagogy across disciplines.