IIMB Orators Club
IIMB Orators Club Installs New Executive Committee
Theme for July-December 2025: Onwards and Upwards
On January 10, 2025, the IIMB Orators Club—the official Toastmasters chapter at IIM Bangalore— the longest running alumni initiative (16+ years), held its Installation Ceremony at the IIMB Auditorium, marking the formal transition of leadership from the July-December 2025 term to the Jan- June 2026 term. The event, which began at 4:30 PM, brought together club members, alumni, students, and distinguished Toastmasters District officers to celebrate the achievements of the outgoing Executive Committee and welcome the new leadership team.
A Celebration of Excellence
The ceremony opened with high tea at an unconventional 4:00 PM, setting a festive tone for the evening. As members and guests filled the auditorium, TM Deepak Gupta, serving as Toastmaster and Sergeant at Arms, called the meeting to order with his characteristic warmth. TM Karthik Ramaswamy, Past President and Master of Ceremonies, commanded the stage with wit and grace, focusing everyone’s attention on the purpose of the gathering.
Outgoing President TM Sakti Bagchi delivered a moving presidential address, sharing his journey through the analogy of a seed becoming a tree.
“Just as a seed’s only effort is to stay alive while nature does the rest to transform it into a magnificent tree, I, as a member, simply showed up—and this beautiful community shaped me into who I am today,” Sakti reflected, embodying the Ubuntu philosophy of ‘I am because you are.’
The ceremony included recognition of exceptional contributors throughout the term:
| Award Category | Awardees |
| Toastmasters of the Month | DTM Sharada SC, DTM Senthil Kumar Thavamani, TM Anantha Lakshmanarao, TM Kiran S, TM Bhawna Shah |
| Outstanding New Members | TM Anirudhan CN, TM Sreepriya Payyalore Thekkanath, TM Subhasini N |
| Energy Masters | TM Dr. Nagasubramaniam Alagirisamy, DTM Tony V Francis |
| Kindness Master | TM Sudhir Shetty |
| Advisor Extraordinaire | DTM Madhavaraju Munuswamy |
A Vision for the Future: Onwards and Upwards
TM Hithaa Priya, serving as Installation Officer on behalf of Area Director DTM Amitabha Saha Roy, formally installed the new Executive Committee. Incoming President TM Michael (Mike) Cruz PCC-ICF then took the stage to deliver his presidential address, articulating a compelling vision for the term ahead.
Mike framed his role through two complementary lenses: as
STEWARD of the club’s 16-year legacy—protecting the culture and sacred space that members have built together—and as CAPTAIN charting the course toward new horizons. This dual commitment underpins the term’s theme: Onwards and Upwards—building on the foundation while aiming higher.
Drawing inspiration from pole vaulter Sergei Bubka, who broke the world record 35 times by raising the bar just one centimeter at a time, Mike outlined an incremental approach to excellence: mastering fundamentals, completing pathway levels one at a time, and welcoming new members one guest at a time.
“Each small win proves the next one is possible. Small steps, repeated weekly, until extraordinary becomes inevitable,” he explained.
The 5E Framework: A Navigation System
To guide the club’s journey, Mike introduced the 5E Framework—visualized as a classical temple with a foundation, three pillars, and a crown:
ENABLEMENT (Foundation): The systems that keep the club organized and accountable—showing up, keeping promises, making success easy for each other.
EDUCATION (Pillar 1): Where members advance their skills, growing not someday, but this Saturday—one pathway level, one evaluation at a time.
ENGAGEMENT (Pillar 2): The spirit that binds members together—the speeches matter, and the Saturday morning feeling of belonging.
EXPANSION (Pillar 3): The capacity to welcome new voices—bringing one guest, telling one story, making room for those wondering ‘Is this place for me?’
EXCELLENCE (Crown): What emerges naturally when the other four elements work in harmony—not through pressure, but through patience and consistent effort.
Mike emphasized that like any well-built structure, every element matters. Remove the foundation, and the pillars collapse. Weaken a pillar, and the crown cannot rest securely. But when all work together, the structure stands strong—built to last.
Meet Your New Executive Committee
The newly installed Executive Committee for the July-December 2025 term brings together experienced leaders and fresh perspectives:
| Position | Name |
| President | TM Michael J Cruz PCC-ICF |
| VP Education | TM Sunil Vaya |
| VP Administration | TM Vasanth Sridharan |
| VP Public Relations | TM Srimala Rao |
| Treasurer | TM Deepak Gupta |
| Secretary | TM Subhasini N |
| Sergeant at Arms | TM Sreepriya PT |
Joint Officers:
Jt. VP Education: TM Akhil
Jt. VP Membership: TM Deekshit Minocha
Jt. VPs Public Relations: TM Bhawna Shah and TM Sunny Babbar
Jt. Sergeant at Arms: TM Anirudhan CN
Jt. Secretary: TM Gurunathan
Gratitude and Acknowledgments
The ceremony included heartfelt recognition of those who made the event possible. Founding President DTM Pradeep Kumar inaugurated the club newsletter, while the event itself was made possible through the steadfast support of IIM Bangalore’s alumni office: Utanka Sarma (Head of Alumni Office), Ankita Maslekar (Alumni Office Coordinator), and IIMB staff member Kumar.
In a magical conclusion to the formal proceedings, Spiritual Architect Shilpi Das took the stage and transported the audience to a mystical realm through her enchanting musical performance, leaving attendees with smiles and the vibrations of her melodies still resonating as they departed.
An Invitation to Alumni
The evening concluded with a networking dinner at the MDC Dining Hall, where members, families, and guests celebrated against the backdrop of IIMB’s beautiful campus under pleasant weather.
As IIMB Orators Club embarks on this new chapter, the message to alumni and prospective members remains simple and powerful:
“Just visit once,” as TM Dinesh Bez told Mike Cruz three years ago. That one visit transformed a curious guest into the club’s president. Small steps—choosing one pathway level, mentoring one member, inviting one guest—compound into real transformation.
The club is a place where you can practice your executive presence before a Senior leadership meeting, hone your storytelling skills before a client-pitch and experiment with humor before the next townhall through the structured learning paths.
IIMB Orators Club meets every Saturday at 7:30 AM at IIM Bangalore. For more information about visiting or joining, alumni can reach out through the club’s official email id iimborators@gmail.com or contact any Executive Committee member.
I am because we are.
Onwards and Upwards, IIMB Orators.
