Events @ IIMB

Dilemmas in Central Banking: Implications for Corporate Managers – Dr. Duvvuri Subbarao, Former Governor, Reserve Bank of India

“Not only should you learn, but you must convince the world that you have learned”

Dr. Duvvuri Subbarao addressed students of IIM Bangalore’s one-year full-time MBA, the Executive Post Graduate Programme in Management (EPGP), on: ‘Dilemmas in Central Banking: Implications for Corporate Managers’, as part of the EPGP Seminar Series, on 10th Aug 2022.

During the interactive session with students, Dr. Subbarao shared the challenges faced by an RBI Governor and the necessary skillset a manager must possess when managing large stakeholders. Dr. Subbarao emphasized on the role of communication in managing expectations. “The significance of communication is paramount for a Public Policy manager. Earlier, RBI used to refrain from making regular public statements. However, for the last few years RBI has been effectively communicating, which has helped in gaining public confidence.” 


Govt of Karnataka inks MOU with IIMB to train SC/ST women Graduates in Entrepreneurship

The Department of Social Welfare and the Department of Scheduled Tribes Welfare, Government of Karnataka, in association with Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, launched a training program, this morning, to support SC/ST women graduates in developing their skills as entrepreneurs.

The program was launched, at IIM Bangalore, in the presence of IIMB Director Dr. Rishikesha T Krishnan; Shri Kota Srinivas Poojary, Minister for Social Welfare and Backward Classes; Capt. P. Manivannan (IAS), Secretary to the Govt of Karnataka; Dr. E. Venkataiah (IAS-Rtd.), Advisor, SCSP/TSP Nodal Agency, Social Welfare Department; Dr. Ganesh Prabhu,  Professor of Strategy and Program Director, IIMB; Dr. G Shainesh, Chairperson, Executive Education Programmes, IIMB; faculty of IIMB and senior members of the Executive Education Programmes Office at IIM Bangalore.

An MoU to this effect was exchanged between Prof. Rishikesha T Krishnan, and Minister Shri Kota Shrinivas Poojary after which Prof. G Shainesh presented an overview of the Executive Education Programmes at IIM Bangalore.


Insights in Pharma and Biotech

Shenil Varghese Pudussery, Head of HR and Global Operations for Commercial and Branded Formulations at Biocon Biologics, addressed students of IIM Bangalore’s one-year full-time MBA, the Executive Post Graduate Programme in Management (EPGP), on: ‘Insights in Pharma and Biotech’, as part of the EPGP Seminar Series, on 29th June 2022. The session covered topics such as challenges in Pharma and Biotechnology, as well as career opportunities and future trends in Pharma.  

He spoke at length on Biotechnology. “Biotechnology is all about the use of technology in medical fields. It can be in the form of identification of DNA or in the form of coding”. He added, “In Biotechnology the production process is standardized, but it uses natural products as raw material. It is very difficult to find the same raw material with the exact same properties. As a result, it is challenging to maintain the quality of the reference product.” 

Shenil Pudussery’s talk included subjects like Biosimilar and Biologics. Talking about future trends in Pharma, he said: “Pharma is going to be revolutionized by Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Gene Editing, Precision Medicine, Gene Sequencing, Bio-manufacturing, Bio-printing, Microfluidics and Tissue Engineering”. 


Leadership and Careers in SaaS Start-ups – EPGP Seminar Series

“As long as you are not one of many, there are opportunities everywhere”

Khadim Batti, Co-founder and CEO, Whatfix, addresses EPGP students at IIM Bangalore on Leadership, Business Opportunities and Career Possibilities in SaaS on 3rd Aug 2022

Talking about his own career journey, Khadim Batti said that he started his career working at Huawei. In 2010, he set up his own start-up ‘SearchEnabler’. His current organization, Whatfix, is a byproduct of SearchEnabler. “Whatfix today has 550-plus customers, and over 60 fortune 500 accounts, and is operational in more than 30 countries”.

Speaking about the challenges of SaaS start-ups, he highlighted that SaaS is dominated by large players who already have a strong presence and network with business partners. However, he added, whenever there is any shift/new wave, or new category creation, there is space for a new company to enter. “Whenever any company grows and gets employees more than 1000, there are challenges in the adoption of new software. More than 90% of the revenue of Whatfix is from companies with 1000-plus employees.” Talking about the growth opportunity, he said: “As long as you are not one of many, there are opportunities everywhere.”

He also addressed queries on topics such as go-to-market strategy, expansion strategies and career opportunities in SaaS. He pointed out that career in a start-up is more focused on growth through hustle, however, a career in MNC is more focused on growth through scale. 


Kotak Mahindra Bank partners with NSRCEL to develop India’s Future Women Entrepreneurs

Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited (KMBL), Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) and NSRCEL, the start-up hub at IIMB, today announced their CSR partnership to implement the Women Start-up Program (WSP 4) and support women by developing their entrepreneurial and managerial skills. 

The program, launched under KMBL’s CSR project on Education and Livelihood, aims to support ambitious and innovative women entrepreneurs by enabling them to transform their ideas into successful business ventures.

Professor Rishikesha T Krishnan, Director, IIM Bangalore, said: “Our CSR partnership with Kotak Mahindra Bank will enhance the entrepreneurial and managerial skills of women business leaders by supporting the incubation and funding needs of their ventures early in the ideation stage. I am confident that the cohort of the program will build a vibrant ecosystem for women-led enterprises across the country.”

Rohit Rao, Joint President & Group Chief CSR Officer, Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited, said: “With NSRCEL’s Women Start-up Program, Kotak Mahindra Bank is aiming to build the next layer of fruitful business ventures run by women leaders. The participants will go through a rigorous process of selection and training. WSP 4 will give flight to their imagination and dreams. Naari Shakti will exhibit itself in full force when top-notch women of excellent calibre will strive to seek funding for their business ideas.”