From EQ To Smart Choices How IIMA Students Are Told To Walk The Talk

FIIMA's chief guests at its convocations also reflect its vision and values

- Suman K Jha

FIIMA’s chief guests at its convocations also reflect its vision and values, writes Suman K Jha If IIMA has maintained its undisputed leadership in management education in the country, its vision and values also get reflected in its choice of chief guests to address the graduating students at its convocations.

Former SBI Chairperson, Arundhati Bhattacharya, told the class of 2016: “There are things beyond an IQ. People who top academic classes don’t necessarily talk as leaders. The people who talk as leaders are those who are able to develop their emotional quotient and also their spiritual quotient... The moment you stop learning, your brain is like a knife - it will get blunt.”

In his 2023 chief guest address, Infosys founder N R Narayana Murthy recounted the life lessons that he said had helped him found the company. He said: “I wish to share with you what I have learnt in this extraordinary journey and what has made Infosys unique.” His learnings include:

a) A culture of meritocracy and values should determine the mindset of a company;

b) The best management guru is market competition;

c) The most powerful instrument of a leader is leadership by example;

d) A confident leader hires people smarter than himself or herself;

e) Performance leads to recognition. Recognition leads to respect. Respect leads to power;

f) Free cashflow is the best index of the success of a company;

g) Success is half due to performance and half due to luck. So, we must be humble;

h) The softest pillow is a clear conscience. Therefore, when in doubt, disclose.

A number of chief guests, through the years, have told the graduating students about the importance of smart and appropriate choices.