SPJIMR celebrated a significant achievement with the inauguration of its 100th batch of the Post Graduate Executive Management Programme (PGEMP), underscoring the programme’s transformative impact on executive education. The milestone was commemorated with a two-day event that brought together the PGEMP founding team, faculty, alumni, industry leaders, and participants.
The inauguration on January 22, 2025, began with the lighting of the lamp, followed by keynote speeches from the leadership team. Prof. Varun Nagaraj, Dean of SPJIMR, highlighted the unique opportunity the programme offers to engage with industry partners and address their evolving needs. He encouraged participants to embrace a mindset shift for lifelong learning and skill acquisition.
Prof. Shabbir Husain R.V., PGEMP Chairperson, reflected on the programme’s success, attributing it to the continuous support of industry partners. He noted that Batch 100 participants, with 5 to 33 years of professional experience across various sectors, exemplify the programme’s diversity. He also highlighted key milestones:
Mr. Yogi Sriram, Member, PGEMP Advisory Council and SPJIMR Governing Council, Ex – Sr. Vice President, Corporate Human Resources, Larsen & Toubro; Dr. Suresh Mony, First Chairperson – PGEMP, Retd. Director, NMIMS, Bangalore, Advisor Higher Education Institutions and Member PanIIT Executive Council; Mr. Deepak Shetty, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, JCB India (PGEMP-8, 2008) and Prof. Preeta George, Associate Dean of Executive Education at SPJIMR deliberated the programme’s evolution since 2002. They shared insights into PGEMP’s success, including:
Summarising the insightful discussion Prof. Preeta George said, “I have had a front-seat view of PGEMP’s growth journey, and it would not have been possible without the immense contribution of our faculty and programme chairpersons, both past and present. Over its nearly 25-year journey, PGEMP continues to combine academic rigour with practical learning to develop leaders who inspire change.”
On January 24, 2025, SPJIMR hosted a grand celebration with the SPJIMR community, PGEMP industry partners, and alumni. The event featured panel discussions, the launch of the PGEMP Impact book, and partner recognitions.
Moderated by Prof. Varun Nagaraj, this panel featured Mr Anurag Sahai, Chief Executive Officer, Asian Paints PPG Pvt. Ltd.; Dr. C Jayakumar, Executive Vice-President & CHRO, Larsen & Toubro Ltd.; Mr. Mandeep Singh Kumar, Vice President & Managing Director – India, Medtronic; Mr. Shankar Krishnan, Group Head – Strategy, HR, IT & Corporate, Communication, Shapoorji Pallonji Group. Key highlights included:
Speakers: Ms. Anshu Sarin, Chief Executive Officer, 91Springboard (PGEMP-39, 2014); Mr. Krishnakumar S, General Director, Kirby Southeast Asia (PGEMP-1, 2004); Mr. Shailesh Chandra, Managing Director Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Limited | Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Limited (PGEMP-1, 2004); Mr. Shardul Kshirsagar, Global CEO & Managing Director, Fowler Westrup (India) Pvt. Ltd. (PGEMP-1, 2004); Mr. Rana Ashutosh Kumar Singh, Managing Director, State Bank of India (PGEMP-22, 2011).
This panel, featuring PGEMP alumni, shared leadership lessons, focusing on agility, empowering teams, embracing failure, and adapting to changing business environments. Key insights included:
The event concluded with the launch of the PGEMP Impact coffee table book, celebrating the programme’s legacy of developing leaders who drive change. The celebration also honoured PGEMP’s longstanding partnerships with leading corporations. The networking dinner offered alumni, industry leaders, and participants the opportunity to reflect on PGEMP’s legacy and its continued influence on the future of executive education.