A total of 629 students were awarded their degrees at the 61st Annual Convocation ceremony of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) held today at the iconic Louis Kahn Plaza on the campus. Ms. Chandrika Tandon, Business Leader, Humanitarian, Grammy-Award Winning Musician, and alumna of IIMA’s PGP Class of 1975, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.  

The excitement in the air was palpable as the Convocation procession entered the venue, led by Professor Diptesh Ghosh, Dean (Programmes), together with the Chairperson of the Doctoral Programme in Management, Professor Sandip Chakrabarti. They also led the ceremonial reception of the Chief Guest, Ms. Chandrika Tandon; Mr. Pankaj Patel, Chairperson, Board of Governors, IIMA; Professor Bharat Bhasker, Director, IIMA; and members of the IIMA Board of Governors to the stage. They were followed by the Chairpersons of all the programmes, faculty members, and graduating students. 

IIMA’s 61st annual Convocation marked a pivotal moment in the lives of 629 future changemakers from four programmes as they received their degrees from Mr. Pankaj Patel, Chairperson, Board of Governors, IIMA. This included 20 scholars from the Doctoral Programme in Management (PhD), 408 students from the two-year Post Graduate Programme in Management (MBA-PGP), 45 students from the two-year Post Graduate Programme in Food and Agri-business Management (MBA-FABM), and 156 students from the one-year Post Graduate Programme in Management (MBA-PGPX). The degree recipients were cheered on by their family members and alumni of the Institute, who were also present at the event.

Five students, Viraj Modi, Akshit Mittal, and Devavrat Wagle from MBA-PGP; Jagrati Goyal from MBA-FABM; and Harsh Modi from MBA-PGPX; were felicitated with gold medals by the Chief Guest in recognition of their exceptional academic achievements.   

Addressing the graduating students while delivering the Welcome Address, Mr. Pankaj Patel, Chairperson, Board of Governors, IIMA, said, “You are now part of something far greater than yourselves. A global alumni community that has shaped industries, built institutions, and changed lives- across every corner of this world. That is not a footnote. It is the standard you now carry forward. IIMA’s legacy has been forged over six decades. Today, that legacy passes- in part- into your hands. Guard it. Honour it. Build upon it.” 

Urging the students to develop an entrepreneurial spirit, Mr. Patel added, “Whether you launch your own venture or lead within an established organisation, carry an entrepreneurial spirit. Be resourceful. Be adaptable. Stop seeing constraints as obstacles. The most transformative innovations in history were not born from abundance. They were born from limitation. Challenge assumptions, including your own. Leadership at its finest is not the exercise of authority. It is the acceptance of responsibility.”   

In his Ceremonial Address, Professor Bharat Bhasker, Director, IIMA, shared an overview of the key institutional developments and new initiatives that took shape during the past year. He informed the gathering about the two centres of excellence being established at the IIMA Dubai campus, focusing on case writing and startup incubation; and the inauguration of the Krishnamurthy Tandon School of Artificial Intelligence at IIMA this week, which will open doors to new possibilities in AI research and its real-world applications.

Addressing the graduating students, Professor Bharat Bhasker motivated them to cultivate resilience as they prepare to enter a dynamic, interconnected, and fast-evolving world. He said that in such a scenario, careers across industries often follow a non-linear trajectory and are shaped by opportunities, choices, and sometimes unexpected disruptions. He highlighted the importance of adapting to constant change with clarity and determination. 

Underscoring the significance of being rooted in values and humility, Professor Bhasker further added, “As you move forward, I would also encourage you to cultivate a perspective that is global in outlook but grounded in values. The world may be your marketplace, but your impact begins in your own communities. Understand global trends but adapt them thoughtfully to local realities. True leadership lies in the ability to connect global knowledge with local insights. The more you learn, the more you will realise how much more there is still to understand. Leaders who remain open to learning are often those who create the most enduring impact.” 

Delivering the Convocation Address, Ms. Chandrika Tandon, Business Leader, Humanitarian, Grammy-Award Winning Musician, encouraged the students to embrace what she described as the four guiding mantras for “Integrative Intelligence”: Insight, Intention, Inner stillness, and Impact. She said, “You need to get out of your bubble, whatever it is. Explore strategically. Think critically. Do not get stuck on a single path, because breakthroughs do not happen in the lanes. They happen at the intersections. Learn about the world far from you continuously. Insight gives you perspective. But you need intention to move from an accidental to an intentional life. You need intention to execute right with clarity and commitment, however challenging the goal. In the world of Artificial Intelligence, Integrative intelligence is about becoming ‘wholly’ human. That will define true Leadership.”

Talking about her own journey, she highlighted how practising meditation and cultivating inner stillness brought her greater calmness, clarity of thought, enhanced creativity, and a deep sense of compassion and confidence. Speaking about the importance of impact, she added, “Impact is the fourth area where your goal in some measure is to leave your corner of the planet a better place.”