IIM L MBA Class of 2016 Induction: The Start of An Epic Journey

Experience how it feels to step into IIM Lucknow as a student of the globally accredited MBA (one-year full time IPMX) through this first hand account from the eyes of the newly inducted MBA Class of 2016. 

The epic journey through International Programme in Management for Executives (IPMX) started long before the actual commencement of the program. Once the list of the selected candidates was out, a good percentage of us started reaching out to each other using Facebook, Linkedin and other social media platforms.

Initially we created WhatsApp groups and Google hangouts but very soon there were lunches, brunches and dinners across all major cities. A few of us also connected on phone and in person with our enthusiastic and helpful alumni. 

Students with a cumulative work experience of 600 years had just entered IIM Lucknow, Noida campus – people with experience ranging from 5 years to 20 years are a part of our class.

The reporting day approached and slowly but surely all the future students reached the hostel. Everyone was experiencing a range of emotions – a little confidence, a little apprehension and also a tinge of excitement about the new friendships that would soon be formed.

The registration day finally beckoned. An army of 65 suited and booted fresh recruits marched into a spacious and crisply air conditioned auditorium. Students with a cumulative work experience of 600 years had just entered IIM Lucknow, Noida campus – people with work experience ranging from 5 years to 20 years are a part of our class.

Nitin Seth of Fidelity with the IPMX Class of 2016

We were all full of so many ‘hows’ – “how to get the best out of this one year”, “how to learn everything in the coming months” and “how to go about managing our studies with extra-curricular activities.” The sessions that followed answered many of our questions.

One after the other the faculty and Programme Chairs – Prof. Rajiv K. Srivastava (Director, IIM Lucknow), Prof. Ajay Singh (Chairperson, IPMX), Prof. Punam Sehgal (Dean, Noida Campus, IIM Lucknow), took their seats.

Soon after, we had esteemed professional from the corporate world and professors come to the podium and share their experience and advice with us. “The aim should be success at large, at life”, “drink deep”, “we mentors will often seem to be tormentors”, “all wisdom is not on this side of the table”, are just some of the nuggets of wisdom the professors shared with us.

Mr. Pradeep Kashyap said that material success inevitably follows when one looks beyond self interest.

Mr. Pradeep Kashyap, the ‘father of Rural Marketing’ and Founder & CEO of MART, Mr. Nitin Seth, Managing Director & Country Head – India, Fidelity Worldwide Investments and Mr. Subramanian Chidambaran Engagement Manager, McKinsey & Company shared their perspectives with us.

Mr. Pradeep Kashyap said that material success inevitably follows when one looks beyond self interest. He shared how he gave up a flourishing corporate career in pursuit of his life’s purpose, which eventually emerged in the form of serving the poor and changing their lives for the better.

Mr. Nitin Seth, spoke on a topic which answered many of the dilemmas and questions we were dealing with – he spoke about Nine things I wish I knew in Business School.

Day 3 took a different turn all together. We had an ice breaking session which made us shed our inhibitions and created a friendly atmosphere within the batch. As the day progressed, we spent more time with our new classmates. The eventful day ended on a high point – a midnight celebration of the birthday of one of our classmates! (Article adapted from IPMX Blog)