Mankind 4.0

Faculty, IILM Graduate School of Management, IILM Institute for Higher Education21 MayDr. Anjali JindalCampus Life, Career, IILM, IILM Blog, IILM Graeter Noida, IILM GSM, Industry 4.0, Marketing 4.0, Student Engagement

Humans are ever-evolving- This phenomenon is triggered by their needs and wants that are required to be fulfilled for survival; well sometimes for luxury too. Every kind of change that takes place in the world develops mankind in certain ways that makes them a little more capable. There are no limits to what humans can do, but it is only discovered when they face a crisis. This is the perfect time to move up the ladder of maturity and once again prove that nothing is superior to humans and nothing can end this mankind’s reign on earth.

What happened so far?

2020 is the year that escalated the revenues of the News Industry and Media Houses. A series of events have been taking place globally which have had a large impact, rather a very negative impact be it to people, biodiversity, climate, or economic growth. The Australian bushfire, Delhi communal riots, coronavirus pandemic are just a few examples to site. The effects of the pandemic have been the most massive so far, so huge that the world has come to a standstill. Lives have been lost exponentially and so have the hopes of people of going back to normal ever again. There is going to be the start of a new normal soon after there is some control over this situation. The pandemic has had far-reaching consequences on human behavior and there have been unforeseen innovations and development taking place concerning a new lifestyle.

It is the beginning of a new era with changes influencing healthcare, consumption, values, society, education, politics, finance, economy, and so on. Such humanitarian revolutions had been taking place from time to time with the genesis of civilization. Firstly, it was the discovery of fire, secondly, the rise of agriculture and thirdly, the industrial revolution. Perhaps a technology revolution is on its way because that’s the only way to keep things going in this crisis. Just when the world was moving towards technology adoption at a very rapid pace, the Covid19 pandemic has fuelled this phenomenon.

Re-shaping industry and economy

All the sectors that are likely to be dominant from now on are healthcare, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, manufacturing, logistics, agriculture, education, and social welfare. There will be a significant influence of technology either in the form of virtual reality or artificial intelligence, in all these sectors. The new economy will be technology-driven. Disruptive innovation is going to be a focus point. Social welfare also will gain significance. All of it will be facilitated by public-private partnerships which can lead to socio-economic development. The need for the hour is to focus on all these areas so that the world is ready to face such a pandemic again without severe loss. Otherwise, the economic depression cycle will continue for a prolonged duration. The cycle goes on like this- business exists for profit and no production leads to no sales and hence no profits. The capability to employ becomes less. So, companies only hold on to very essential employees to meet demand when the economy picks up. Subsequently, people lose jobs or have the fear of losing jobs and buy less, consume less. So demand goes down and profit automatically goes down. It is evident that revenues are falling and both consumption and production are going down paving a path towards economic recession. However, post the pandemic, the countries with a zero growth rate will be looked upon as an attractive business hub as compared to the countries with a negative growth rate which is going to be common after this catastrophe.

Life comes first

Many of the best paying jobs only facilitate the exchange to make money and serve the no wider purpose to society. This leaves us with huge consulting firms, the advertising industry, and the financial sector. Health care and social care never got the limelight as they were considered “unattractive”. Looks like in the present-day people are realizing that there’s more than making money to survive. A much wider approach to life needs to be followed. Life should be valued more than anything else. Nobody anticipated that a microorganism can devastate the most evolved and developed organism on earth; the humans. This is a signal that the next phase of evolution has arrived where we need to reconsider our way of life. The priorities need to be altered and a more vigilant human needs to take shape.

A transition in lifestyle

Post the 1918 Influenza pandemic, many lifestyles, and hygiene etiquettes were being followed that were never imagined about earlier, yet are a part of our daily routine in the present day. Similarly, there will be some concrete transitions now. Just to cite an example, as social distancing is so essential, multistory buildings might become history. Too many people jammed in one apartment is undesirable. We need more open spaces with better ventilation. Filtration and neutralization of air and water will become mandatory. The home will be the new office for jobs that don’t essentially require movement and physical interaction. Work will be digitized to the farthest extent. The internet will be more accessible and the blood of information flow. Traditional jobs will be replaced by robots. Education delivery will become blended and rich. Globalization will move towards localization. Countries will try to be self-sufficient by having an entire supply chain within the country borders. Country borders might be closed except for extremely essential exchanges and international trade will be redefined. Social welfare, poverty reduction, education, and employment will be prime concerns. In addition to this, people will value their jobs, focus on productivity. Family life will be back, eating nutritious home food with the family together, interacting, bonding, all of it which was somewhere lost in the mechanical life will revive. The scarce resources will be better utilized for needs first and then wants.

Life on earth is precious and with every passing day, facing challenges and changes, mankind has always learned to adjust and endure. With this optimism, we can hope that with time we will evolve to a stronger, more sensible, and responsible being and harmoniously share the planet with our fellow beings. We need to make some quick lifestyle changes and inculcate healthy habits. With our efforts, we can have a better and happier ending to the year 2020 and have a successful decade ahead.

Please comment and share your views on how the Human Race will evolve in 2020.

By Manisha Kar Dr. Anjali Jindal

IGSM/PGDM Student Assistant Professor (OB & HR)

Holding Space For Students: How It Helps Them Grow

Campus Life, IILM Institute for Higher Education, IILM University20 MayParnika Sharma

Have you ever thought about ‘Holding’? Holding refers to support. The 20th-century psychoanalyst Winnicott used this word to explain the importance of a supportive environment provided to a person to help him achieve his/her full potential.

It is likened to the nurturing and caring behavior a mother engages in with her child to help him/her become independent. It has become an important concept in education where the role of the educator is to provide a safe environment where students can discover themselves without being judged and learn new skills that help them follow their calling in life.

What is Holding

To practice Holding requires attention at multifaceted dimensions. It is the art of being present with others. It is an attitude that comes from deep-rooted compassion for others. It requires cultivating the skill of active listening to understand what the other person is feeling, i.e. listening from the heart. It is about practicing unconditional positive regard which means treating another person with the utmost respect and completely be with the person to whom you are Holding space with.

In the life of a student, joining college after school is a period of major transition, especially if it requires moving to a new city. It is a time to cope with uncertainties which at times lead to loneliness as he/she is trying to fit into a new environment among strangers. At that time the environment that conveys trust and support becomes crucial for the overall growth of the students.

Holding Space for Students at IILM

At IILM, as a team we try to provide that safe space to the students where they can discover their interests and enhance their skills.

I still remember that day when I interacted for the first time with a student who came from a large family in a small town to join IILM to pursue his graduation. During that conversation that usually happy looking boy shared that he felt lonely and homesick. That comment by him was enough to understand that we need to offer him support to make him feel at home on the campus. After a series of one-on-one sessions to help him feel cared for and heard he realized his goal and the reason for pursuing graduation.

To help him follow his interests and exhibit his strengths, we encouraged him to be a part of various in-house club activities. Soon he became the part of a team to organize major events on campus which helped him make friends who were always there to support and motivate him. The supportive environment on campus gave him the sense of belongingness which he was missing initially. As a result, he became more punctual for classes and was always one of the first students to take initiative. This resulted in enhanced class participation and higher grades. This change in him was possible because of the Holding environment which was provided to him by IILM, filled with care but at the same time non-intrusive where we responded to all his concerns.

Benefits of Holding

Holding provides a safe environment for students to understand and manage their inner and outer worlds. It helps them develop a strong personality with a clear understanding of one’s strengths and weaknesses.

During my work at IILM, I discovered that ‘Holding’ is a key element in a student’s overall growth and well-being. Practicing holding requires that one is grounded and has a clear purpose at work. It requires that we treat others with our hearts. At IILM, these are the important values being practiced by all faculty members to help students to adjust well when they become part of the IILM family. A good Holding not only helps students to feel comfortable and confident but also helps them shape themselves and IILM prides itself in providing such a conducive and caring atmosphere for its students.

SmartSelect_20200519-184411_Office Mobile

Placements at IILM – Training, Guidance and Opportunities

Career Development (Placement), IILM Institute for Higher Education, Testimonials19 MayIILMIILM Placements, Placements at IILM

As I entered the gates of IILM, the red brick buildings with lush green creepers seemed to welcome me. I was looking forward to a great journey of pursuing knowledge beyond traditional boundaries. My experience at IILM for the one year that I have spent here has not disappointed. IILM has lived up to all my expectations and beyond. Let me share a key aspect of IILM that is relevant and important for all the students aspiring to do a PGDM course in a B School. It is a question that is in the minds of every student studying at IILM and those aspiring to take admission in this B School. Yes, I am going to share with you about how Placements happen at IILM.

Preparing for Placements

IILM believes in preparing the students and equipping them with the latest knowledge and skill sets. It offers more than your usual PGDM course, where practical experience and live market exposure are of utmost priority. Our Placement Cell is aligned with the values of our institution and grooms students to make them corporate ready from the day we step into the classrooms, focussing on training and developing the students through innovative methods and best practices inspired by the best B Schools in India and the world.

Career Resource Centre (CRC)

I soon realised that IILM has a robust and active Career Resource Centre (CRC) that is well connected with the corporate world and with all sectors of industry. I was relieved and happy to learn about the placements of IILM students over the years many of whom have been placed in good organizations and are today well recognized leaders and executives in the corporate world. IILM has a great track record of developing industry-ready managers and successful placements. I felt that my future was secure with IILM as it would offer me the best placement opportunities.

If we talk about the internal processes carried out by this department, it includes:

►Helping students choose their career options.
►Assisting in drafting the industry-grade resume and building LinkedIn profiles.
►Organizing mock Group Discussion sessions, Aptitude Tests, and Personal Interviews to prepare the students for the final placement process.
►Giving students proper assistance for the Summer Internship process.

Student Board of the CRC

Another interesting part about the placement cell is that it not only includes faculty members for conducting all due processes, but also has a Board of 4 student secretaries who are responsible for efficiently coordinating/conducting Personal Interviews, Group Discussions, Guest Lectures and other placement related activities. Through this platform the freshers get great experience of the complete placement process which is a crucial learning. Being part of the Placement Cell is a great opportunity for students who begin the process of being managers right at the institute giving them an edge over other students.

I have been fortunate to be an active part of the Placement Cell and have gained crucial and significant knowledge in the one year that I have been at IILM. This has helped me to perceive my professionally journey strategically and make the right decisions during my course at IILM. I have also developed a good network as I have had the opportunity to interact with Alumni and industry experts.

How Mentorship Program helps Placements

I was really happy to learn about the Mentorship Program at IILM that has helped me immensely in my first year. At IILM the journey of every student isn’tstandardised but customised to suit his/her needs. Students are observed carefully, and the CRC is in touch with their mentors to constantly discus their interest and aspirations. The mentor-mentee platform provided me personalised attention and guidance to help me choose the right professional path in accordance with my interests and abilities. I can interact with my Mentors as often as I want to seek their guidance and I have built a relationship of trust with my mentor as have other students of my class. Our mentors help us to discover our core competencies and guide us towards career development programs in those respective fields providing 360 degree assistance to crack our dream job.

Industry Interaction

Apart from these internal activities, I was also part of other experiences that enriched my journey. IILM believes in connecting industry veterans and leaders with budding managers that study here. My friends and I had a very interesting and useful exposure and learning through guest lectures, Industry-institute interaction, industrial visits which were aligned with our course structure. The industry exposure helped us understand how to apply the classroom concepts in real life.

Future is Safe with IILM

I have realised that IILM works very hard to provide its students with the right career opportunities with some of the best organizations coming to IILM for campus placements. IILM believes in providing students all kinds of support such as personalised attention, guidance and trainingto be get their dream jobs.

I am happy to be studying at IILM, an institute that cares, guide, trains and provides the best career opportunities. I believe that my future is in safe hands.

IILM Website: https://www.iilm.edu/

Akash Pk
Batch 2019- 21, IILM LR

Family Business: The Need for Alignment in Times of Uncertainty

Center for Family Business, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation, Events, General Blog, IILM Institute for Higher Education18 MayRahul K.MishraBuilding Airplane While Flying it, IILM Webinar, Webinar organised by IILM

The Corona Virus pandemic has put more than half of the world under the lockdown with practically very limited economic activity. The economic growth rate has slumped into negative and unemployment rate has soared high.

In this uncertain situation, businesses need to adapt and change. Family businesses face bigger challenges for survival. In this context, IILM invited Dr Stephanie Brun de Pontet, principal consultant, Family Business Consulting Group to give insights into challenges that family businesses face in this scenario. Dr Stephanie titled her talk “Building AirplaneWhile Flying it”- the need for alignment in the times of uncertainty.

Provide Stability and Innovation

Dr Stephanie started with pointing out the way people are feeling intense disorientation because global corona pandemic. The life as we know has been disrupted. This has changed many things in the world while lot of things have remained same. There is sense of grief in this loss. In this scenario when it is difficult to predict the future, it remains quite a challenge for businesses to plan and look ahead. Quoting from Charles Darwin who had said “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent ones but the most responsive to change”, Dr Stephanie went on to emphasise the need to provide both stability and innovation for family business . Family businesses have strengths as they look at business long term and also they have long term connection with employees, suppliers and customers.

Adapt and Reinvent

The intensity of disruption is quite massive and there is sudden loss of control of everyday life and business. In this scenario of crisis when the future is not clear, there is a need for definitive planning to protect people, and also viable part of business, to adapt and to reinvent the business. There is also a need to try out new things and innovate. Innovation is the least risky option now.

Alignment with Values and Core Purpose

Family businesses need to get aligned to values and purpose. The values and purpose give direction and also meaning to business which everyone shares. Clear values and purpose are great force if acted properly. It makes things simpler for employees, associates.

Family businesses need to look at the core values to protect the business in these uncertain times. Core values are the handful of guiding principles by which a company navigates. Giving an example of Disney’s core values of imagination and wholesomeness that stem from the founder’s belief that these should be nurtured for their own sake, not merely to capitalise on a business opportunity. Instead of changing its core values a great company will change its markets, seek out different customers to remain true to its core values.

Core purpose is an organisation’s most fundamental reason for being. It should not be confused with the company’s current product lines or customer segments. Disney’s core purpose is to make people happy – not build theme parks and make cartoons. Theme parks or cartoons or any other product will flow from the core purpose.

Struggle between Tradition and Innovation

Family businesses normally struggle with the choice of honouring tradition and pioneering change by bringing innovation. A good leadership always find a balance between the two. Few companies manage to do both – they are more stable, and they are more innovative.

Giving example of a company and how it has adapted its business in the current corona crisis by reinventing itself she spoke about J W Lopes, a 4th generation family owned suppliers of produce and dairy to restaurants and institutions. It has changed its business model shifting from institutions to residential distribution by configuring the new way of distribution channel. The company has rightly assumed that people are spending more time trying out new dishes at home and that they would like to have new fresh produce and dairy products. New ideas and experimentation are needed to survive and thrive in the new normal.

Rise of the Younger Leadership

Dr Stephaniebeautifully combined the new ideas and experimentation of rising generation with the experience of the leading generation. The future is going to be different. New ways of thinking and working are needed.
The leadership in this crisis is needed from both the young generation,and leading and older generation. The leaders are expected to do certain things to tide over this massive disruption and crisis. They are expected to figure out the situation and protect and support the team. Leaders also need to provide clarity and guidance and to bring wisdom and perspective. Leadership is also about sharing sacrifices. Dr Stephanie emphasised the action needed from leaders from younger generation. Leaders from younger generation need to gain different perspective on options and future. They need to share ideas on new technology and markets. They are expected to show solidarity and commitment of the family.

Honest and Transparent communication

The webinar was followed by a lively and robust question answer session where Dr Stephanie emphasised the need for honest and transparent communication during the period of crisis. She also went into great detail in bringing professionals in family business and keeping family members in the Board and the Management.At the end it is all about emotional resilience to bring change and adapt and survive.

The webinar organised by IILM that offers several courses on Family Business and Strategy as well as Management, was well received by the listeners. It gave insight into how family businesses need to tide over this current crisis that was informative for the students and faculty members of IILM as well as the for the guests who attended the webinar.

Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYtmeedo2V4

Professor Rahul Mishra
IILM

ART THERAPY- DISCOVER YOURSELF

Campus Life, Career Development (Placement), Center for Emotional Intelligence, Faculty, General Blog, Guest Blog, IILM Graduate School of Management, IILM Institute for Higher Education, IILM Undergraduate Business School, IILM University15 MayMegha KochharArt, art therapy, channelizing energy, Coaching, healing, IILM keeps students motivated, inner growth, optimism, psychology, stress management, Transformation, Well being

“Mirror is a reflection of our faces and Art of our Souls”

Art has the ability to change and transform lives, in profound ways. When words fail, we turn to images and symbols to narrate our stories. Through art we can reach out to people with our stories and find a path towards transformation and healing.

As they say there is a lot between the heaven and earth than just dreams. Art therapy has a therapeutic way of rooting the idea of creative expression that fosters healing our soul and leading us towards mental well-being. For years art has been a very communicative way to express our feelings. When we were young we would instinctively use painting, drawing, sketching to communicate and express our emotions, but as we grow, and maturity hits us we often forget the beautiful impact art had on our lives.

Through Art Therapy patients are provided with a safe place where they can explore not very pleasant feelings like fear, anger, aggression, unfulfilled expectations. Feelings that they would otherwise avoid to talk about. Rightly said “Art speaks where words end.” The field of Art and artistic people has always intrigued me. It feels like artistic people see life through a very different lens. They have immense waves of creativity within and so they life seems so sorted and calm. I wonder how various forms of art give them so much of peace. I guess the only reason why their life is so peaceful is that it’s not humans, but a form of art that is communicated as a Peacemaker and Healer adding the Art Therapy to experience the solace within.

Going back to Ancient history, art has been one of the oldest ways to communicate through wall carvings, sculptures, and paintings right from the Indus valley civilization. It is seen that when a person is unable to speak about his pain, they resort to expressing their feelings through Art.

Healing is totally an internal process which has a lot to do with a sense of positivity and inner strength. Ask an artist and they will enlighten you about the therapeutic impact Art has on them. Art Therapy is a type of expressive therapy that enhances a person’s emotional, mental, physical and spiritual well-being through the process of creativity. By art we mean everything that stirs our consciousness and inner strength to challenge our mind. This is the process where artistic expression helps lots of people to develop positive feelings, solve problems, change attitudes, boost their self-concept and be more content with themselves.

Art is like a life saving jacket in a world that’s growing crazy. Art keeps you grounded in your roots. It has a meditative impact to develop patience in life. We have to make a choice today either “let Art enter your world or you enter into the World of Art.” Choice is yours to discover the artist in you.

Remember friends Art is not a skill, but an expression and it really does not matter if you think you cannot draw or create. It’s an outlook towards life, which can be seen in the form of a new hobby, learning music, anything that keeps you occupied and for which you feel the desire to create time and it’s so becoming a part of your life in spite of the busy schedules you have as it heals you from all the stress that you’ve been carrying as a baggage of life.

It’s practically applicable and as a life skill trainer and therapist, I have seen my students experiencing the magic of art therapy in their lives. A group of IILM students took this initiative to apply this therapy for the first two weeks and shared such positive results in their level of expression, understanding of situations. One common response was that they learnt to respond rather than react in stressful situations.

Art Therapy gives people medium to express their feelings and problems and tread a happier life that is real and serene in nature. Art as a therapy has proved to be a powerful weapon to combat illness and spread well-being. It allows you to be yourself with no Form and that’s the Beauty. So let’s join hands together to inhale positivity and exhale creativity.

To connect on knowing more about the profound value and benefits of art, colors and visualization therapy write to me on megha.kochhar@iilm.edu

Alumnus Avlokita Narang shares her IILM experience

IILM, a great place to begin!

Alumni, IILM Institute for Higher Education, IILM Stories, Testimonials15 MayIILMAvlokita Narang Experience, IILM alumni, IILM Alumnus, IILM experience

HR Analyst at Google, Alumnus Avlokita Narang shares her IILM experience

When writing about my experiences at IILM, I have so many thoughts playing and dancing around in my mind. There is so much to say yet to sum up the lively and life changing experiences in one blog is rather difficult. Summarizing the amazing and awesome memories and learnings into a few hundred words seems like an injustice to the holistic and multi-dimensional experiences I had at IILM. However, let me pen down some of my thoughts and memories for you.

Caring and Supportive Faculty Members at IILM

The foremost thing I want to share about is the faculty at IILM. They are all brilliant minds brimming with knowledge. The faculty members at IILM taught us not just theory but explained all the concepts through experiential learning and case studies that helped us understand the theoretical concepts better and how to apply them to real situations. They trained us, groomed us, and trained us to make great presentations as well as how to speak and conduct ourselves with confidence. Although the daily routine and long hours of teaching sometimes felt tough but the professional environment and the strict code of discipline constantly pushed us to learn and improve ourselves, I am really grateful for it because it prepared us well for all the future challenges.

While the professors believed in academic rigour, they were caring and warm. They were always approachable, ready to lend a helping hand to students academically and emotionally. I developed strong bonds with my professors and some of them are still like family to me.

Industry Exposure at IILM

We were exposed to industry and their working style as IILM regularly organized industry visits, conferences attended by industry leaders, invited international guest faculty and internships. All these activities made us corporate ready by increasing our understanding of how the real-world works. The learning in the classroom and beyond had a long-lasting impact on my professional choices, decisions, and journey.

Exposure to International Education at IILM

The study abroad program offered by IILMprovideda great exposure to the students and we learnt about the nuances of business studies in other parts of the world. I had gone to University of Winnipeg in Canada and was exposed to a new culture and society as well as learnt about international business practices. I gained confidence and was able to do much better in my personal and professional interactions because of the study abroad program. The exposure was especially helpful when I began working in the corporate world.

After completing my PGDM I began my corporate journey and my experiences at IILM helped me to successfully manage my professional life. I can successfully approach problems, find solutions, and make right decisions because of my training at IILM. The encouragement received has also helped me to continue with my passion for public speaking and creative writing.

Thank you IILM for making me believe in me through an all-round educational experience, a holistic exposure and the support of your caring faculty

Avlokita Narang
Batch 2016-18

Life Skills that Matter – IILM Teaches More than Management

Campus Life, Career Development (Placement), Center for Teaching Research and Learning, IILM Institute for Higher Education, IILM Stories12 MayDr. Kakoli Senadapt to change, critical thinking skills, Life Skills, More than Management, People Management, working in teams

It is common understanding that a Business Management degree prepares you for Business Administration, so you study Management, Organizational Behavior, Human Resource Management, Finance, Marketing, Operations, International Business and a range of other subjects. However the 2 year programme at IILM also prepares you with certain other skills such as Effective Communication, Research and Analysis, Critical Thinking, Change Management, Ability to leverage technology, Time Management, People management, Teamwork, Decision making etc. which may be called soft skills but are actually life skills. Let me explain here how these are so relevant in the context of Covid – 19 which all of us are grappling with today.

The current crisis is a situation that almost no one living today may have faced in his or her lifetime, hence there is no way that anyone could have been prepared for, in advance. When it struck, the reactions were quite similar among most, ranging from brushing it off to disbelief to despair, businesses were no different. However during these times of crisis, Effective Communication is of paramount interest. At IILM, students learn who to communicate with, what to say, how to say and when to say. Your stakeholders are the ones who need to hear from you to have that continued trust in you, how you are managing their interest is what you need to tell them and tell them early on. Any message that is delayed looks like an afterthought, so communicate early and communicate regularly. Keep it short but relevant and regular.

The times are different, the challenges are different, the solutions also have to be different. IILM teaches its students to read, research and analyze what is happening the world over and make sense of it and how it affects our businesses and organizations. It teaches them critical thinking skills and inculcates a sense of judgment and positive thinking to manage any crisis situation. As a manager / leader it is important to know that we must be able to adapt to change as per the situation. In the current situation, it is imperative to stay safe and stay at home. If there is life, there will be a tomorrow and we can always plan and rebuild ourselves. There is just no point in being restless, rather take this time to spend with yourself, review what you have done so far, how you would do it differently, what you could have done better.

Technology they say is a leveler, the digital march is going to make it even more uniform. As millions of people are homebound, their major source of information, inspiration, communication, distraction, entertainment is through technology. IILM encourages its students to be technology savvy and Leverage Technology to bring in effectiveness to their work and business. A case in point, in the times of Covid, technology has moved up a few notches, K-12, Higher education and a good number of businesses have gone online, organizations are rethinking the Work from Home concept, also as an effective cost saving tool. All classes at IILM have been conducted on zoom through paid licenses ensuring security and privacy of teachers and students online.

This is a situation which has put everyone under pressure, be it the government, the police, the doctors, the medical supply chain, the food suppliers and the transport for continuing the work assigned. All others are under pressure to stay at home, manage their job, remain balanced, remain strong, stay calm and help others in whatever way possible, big or small. The Business Management program at IILM by the very nature of its being fast paced with classes, tutorials, assignments, simulations, meeting industry experts in Round Tables or Guest sessions, Summer internships, Live Projects, Placements creates the right kind of pressure with tight deadlines and helps students manage time and manage themselves very well.

People are the most valuable resource that one can have. IILM students develop skills of working in teams and learn to respect one another, value their competence and contribution. People Management is what management is greatly about. Students learn through case studies and role plays and address questions such as how to take people along, how to keep them motivated and engaged with the organization when the chips are down. How to make people feel wanted and part of your team are skills that come with practice. As a manager, you are required to take decisions, most of the times with limited resources, limited information and in limited time. IILM teaches Decision making as a process, a step by step approach to make good decisions. With practice, one becomes adept at following the steps and can still be quick. But if you miss some part of the processes in order to be quick, you will be prone to making mistakes, costly ones!

Most importantly, IILM has an NGO club through which students learn to help and support the marginalized sections of the society. We believe empathy is something, which need not be understood and expected when you are in a spot, but the continued will to share and care for others whatever the situation be. IILM is proud of its 12000+ alumni who as Managers and Business leaders running their businesses responsibly and building the nation.

Prof.(Dr.) Kakoli Sen

IILM Welcomes Summer Internships go Virtual in Lockdown

Career Development (Placement), IILM Institute for Higher Education06 MayMs Mini Biju DanielIILM Summer Internships, Summer Internships, Summer Internships at IILM, virtual internship

“Put your heart, mind, and soul into even your smallest acts. This is the secret of success.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Come Summer… and it’s that time of the year when students of B-Schools undertake internships. However, in 2020, the times are uncertain and unusual. No one has experienced such a situation before. The Covid-19 lockdown has forced companies to explore virtual internships or Work from Home (WFH) options. Summer internship for students is mandatory as per government rule and all parameters remain the same, except that it is now has to be done digitally keeping in mind the need of social distancing due to the pandemic.

IILM, an institute of great eminence, located in the heart of the city with campuses in Delhi NCR, the course structure not only reinforces the inherent qualities of curiosity and creativity but also help in creating and developing the sector-specific skill sets. As we understand, the desire and intention of young ambitious graduates, IILM under the strong mentorship helps students with various internships to choose from as part of the progression.
As most of you are aware, various internship portals have registered their summer internship need with WFH ranging for a period of 2 months to 6 months. Some companies offering stipend and some without stipend. Some private and public sector undertaking has also postponed their internship due to the lockdown. Even in this situation IILM students across campuses took up the virtual internship and we proudly saw an increase in students taking up the projects.

With strong placement team that IILM have, we share ample opportunity to IILM students to enrol in online trainings and WFH which will be considered as summer internship for them. This arrangement seeks to engage students pursuing Under Graduate or Post Graduate students to enrol with companies of any sector within India or abroad, as “Interns”. These “Interns” work on to various Verticals/Divisions/Units; the main being Sales, Marketing, Content Writing, Research, Finance, B2B, CSR projects, and many more. To name few companies are UNGCI, Bajaj Allianz, Feedback Infra, ICICI., etc.

At IILM, students are also encouraged to intern in their “Family Business” too. As family businesses move from one generation to the next, a key challenge is ensuring that younger family members—future owners and possibly future leaders of the company—feel a connection with the business. The benefits of family internship program can be great, for young family members as well as for the business. The students gain work experience that will prove valuable even if they don’t ultimately work for the family firm. The company benefits from family members’ deeper understanding of the business. In some cases, internships spark the interest of talented young family members who develop into key employees.

The various internships shared by industry expert, allow students to bring new perspectives, innovative ideas and latest research experience into the classroom, work and improve their skills while working in a diverse environment. IILM student’s internship is an opportunity to learn while gaining practical experience. Interns generally find the experience to be rewarding and interesting. In addition, it is a way to enhance their CVs with practical work experience.

Every student at IILM always wonders what an internship during B- School stint would be like. Will it entail any substantial work at all? Companies would not want to invest so much into them. But setting up a successful internship program requires careful planning in order to realize these benefits—and to avoid pitfalls. We, make our students feel comfortable giving ample training of the sector, bringing in guest speaker, alumni sharing experiential knowledge, the skill set required

There are also several benefits from the intern’s point of view in virtual internship:-

– all development occurs online,
– there is no requirement to travel as part of the internship program,
– students can work from anywhere,
– for the most part, a virtual internship works around the students schedule,
– Orientation, meetings and other discussion are held online… Webex, Teams, Zoom, etc.

Good internship is a challenge for all students of B-school and at IILM students’ performance helps them to get Pre-Placement Offers, and join the team successfully. Students carry some great memories and close friends, grow in social networking and we have successful stories where we teachers/ mentors feel cherished about.
Stay Safe! Stay Home!

Mini B. Daniel
Associate Professor of Communication

Relevance of IILM PGDM / MBA in the times of Covid-19

Campus Life, IILM Institute for Higher Education05 MayDr. Kakoli SenEffective Communication, Finance, Human Resource Management, IILM MBA, IILM PGDM, Marketing, People Management

It is common understanding that a PGDM / MBA degree prepares you for Business Administration, so you study Management, Organizational Behavior, Human Resource Management, Finance, Marketing, Operations, International Business and a range of other subjects. However the 2 year programme at IILM also prepares you with certain other skills such as Effective Communication, Research and Analysis, Critical Thinking, Change Management, Ability to leverage technology, Dealing with pressure, People management, Teamwork, Decision making etc. which may be called soft skills but are actually life skills. Let me explain here how these are so relevant in the context of Covid – 19 which all of us are grappling with today.

The current crisis is a situation that almost no one living today may have faced ever in his or her lifetime, hence there is absolutely no way that anyone could have been prepared for, in advance. When it struck, the reactions were quite similar among most, ranging from brushing it off to disbelief to despair, businesses were no different. However during these times of crisis, Effective Communication is of paramount interest. At IILM, students learn who to communicate with, what to say, how to say and when to say. Your stakeholders are the ones who need to hear from you to have that continued trust in you, how you are managing their interest is what you need to tell them and tell them early on. Any message that is delayed looks like an afterthought, so communicate early and communicate regularly. Keep it short but relevant and regular.

The times are different, the challenges are different, hence the solutions also have to be different. IILM teaches its students to read, research and analyze what is happening the world over and make sense of it and how it affects our businesses and organizations. It teaches them critical thinking skills and inculcates a sense of judgment and positive thinking to manage any crisis situation. As a manager / leader it is important to know that we must be able to adapt to change as per the situation. In the current situation when there is a complete stop to everything around us, it is imperative to follow what is required at this moment, which is staying safe and staying at home. If there is life, there will be a tomorrow and we can always plan and rebuild ourselves. There is just no point in being restless, take this time to spend with yourself, review what you have done so far, how you would do it differently, what you could have done better.

Technology they say is a leveler, the digital march is going to make it even more uniform. As millions of people are homebound, their major source of information, inspiration, communication, distraction, entertainment is through technology. IILM encourages its students to be technology savvy and Leverage Technology to bring in effectiveness to their work and business. A case in point, in the times of Covid, technology has moved up a few notches, K-12, Higher education and a good number of businesses have gone online, organizations are rethinking the Work from Home concept, also as an effective cost saving tool. All classes at IILM have been conducted on zoom through paid licenses ensuring security and privacy of teachers and students online.

This is a situation which has put everyone under pressure, be it the government, the police, the doctors, the medical supply chain, the food suppliers, the transport for continuing the work assigned. All others are under pressure to stay at home, manage their job, remain balanced, remain strong, stay calm and help others in whatever way possible, big or small. The MBA / PGDM programmes at IILM by the very nature of its being fast paced with classes, tutorials, assignments, simulations, meeting industry experts in Round Tables or Guest sessions, Summer internships, Live Projects, Placements creates the right kind of pressure with tight deadlines and helps students manage time and manage themselves by dealing with pressure.

People are the most valuable resource that one can have. IILM students develop skills of working in teams and learn to respect one another, value their competence and contribution. People Management is what management is greatly about. Students learn through cases and role plays, how to take people along, how to keep them motivated and engaged with the organization when the chips are down. How to make people feel wanted and part of your team are skills that come with practice. As a manager, you are required to take decisions, most of the times with limited resources, limited information and in limited time. IILM teaches Decision making as a process, a step by step approach to make good decisions. With practice, one becomes adept at following the steps and can still be quick. But if you miss some part of the processes in order to be quick, you will be prone to making mistakes, costly ones!

Prof.(Dr.) Kakoli Sen

How Leadership Works: And What Motivates People to Follow.

Blog Catgeory, Career Development (Placement), General Blog, IILM Institute for Higher Education, IILM Undergraduate Business School04 MayParnika SharmaCoaching, Engagement, entrepreneurship, Job Fulfillment, Workplace

This is one question that every leader thinks, that is how to persuade others to do what you want them to do in the most effective manner. To come to the definite answer to this question, there is a need to start reflecting on what motivates you to follow or listen to someone. The moment you start reflecting on this basic question, you will immediately start pondering upon what makes you passionate about things in life for which you are ready to expand your comfort zone. In majority of the cases, it’s all about making an impact in the lives of others with your work.

Purposive Leadership

The purpose in leadership is all about who you are and what makes you distinct, it’s all about your own unique brand. It is not so much about what you do or your educational qualifications but how you do your job.

It is your ability to articulate purpose behind your work that makes you distinct. Your ability to help your team members connect with the larger purpose behind your work i.e. making a difference in the lives of others, helps you to connect with your team and motivates them to go to any level to make a remarkable contribution at work.

David Ulrich , Professor of Business Studies at The University of Michigan, who is an expert in the field of human resource and leadership and has authored more than 30 books, shared that leaders in the organisation who enable their employees to find meaning and purpose from their work create a work culture in which employees are more enthusiastic and generate more value for their customers and investors.

Suresh Narayanan, MD of Nestle India, is one such leader who inculcates a sense of strong purpose amongst his team members and successfully brought the company out from the Maggie crisis and is now steering Nestle successfully during the Covid-19 crises with no retrenchment amongst his existing work force. He shared that it is important to have clarity of one’s purpose in life and it is not about becoming a corporate CEO or an entrepreneur or making a million dollars, but it is all about understanding what you want to be known for, and this makes the whole difference.

How to Lead With Purpose

The first step is to identify your purpose, which needs to be real and authentic. The second important step is to articulate that purpose amongst all your stake holders clearly and persistently. The third important step is to realise that when we use our strengths at work, then we reach in the state of flow, where we become so engrossed at work that time just flows by – and the same is true for our team members. So, help your team members identify their strengths and use it at work. Lastly, create a positive work environment by encouraging a positive work relationship and by giving positive feedback to your team members. Remember, you can help your team members grow by focusing on their strengths. It is only an uplifting and supportive work environment that can help your team members connect to the deeper meaning of their work.

This is what Yuon Chouinard, CEO of Patagonia, an American outdoor clothing company, has done. He clearly aligned his purpose i.e. “cause no unnecessary harm and use business to inspire and implement solutions to environmental crisis” in all his processes, be it product-lines, supply-chain or the pricing of its products. This motivated the company to switch to organic cotton in their clothing lines. The result is that today Patagonia is thriving due to its focus on overall purpose behind their business and not just the profits.

Purpose Assures Safety in The Times of Crisis.

Leaders who lead with purpose can easily bring their organisations out from crisis. American energy company, DTE Energy, could overcome the 2008 financial crisis by inculcating training programmes for employees that spoke about purpose behind their work. They conducted town hall meetings and conducted culture-binding activities that increased employee engagement to a new level. DTE won a Gallop Great Work Place Reward five years in a row, their financial performance skyrocketed, with the company’s stock price tripling from year end 2008 to year end 2017. Hence, the most important factor that makes an organisation grow amid challenges and crisis is its leadership, with strong purpose which is beyond one’s immediate interests.

Conclusion

Finally, it is important for a leader to help his team members not only to envision the outcome of their daily routines, but also to find meaning in those tasks. So, for me, I not only give lectures but as I teach, I also contribute in preparing Next Generation Business Leaders.

Purposeful leadership is all about creating value and leading a contributive life. It is about being genuine and helping others to develop and display their highest potential. Finally, leaders must create their own brand and think what they want it to be remembered as.