Tell us something about yourself and your institute?
I have completed my MBA from SIBER more than 25 years ago and have corporate experience of marketing pharmaceuticals, financial services of over 15 years and then about a decade of Teaching at UG, PG , Training and Research. I started full time teaching when I joined MET's Schools of Management as a Senior Lecturer, was also associated with University of Mumbai's Alkesh Dinesh Mody Institute and presently working with DES's NMITD.
When did you join teaching profession? Why did you choose to be a professor?
After completing my MBA (topping the merit list) from SIBER, I had a work experience of more than 10 years, which was of marketing of financial services - I marked UTI's mega schemes UTI Master Plus and Master Gain, IDBI flexi Bonds and also worked as a Investment Banker to market IPOs like IFCI. After that, worked with some well known brokers of BSE and my last job in the corporate was as a Regional Manager with SANMAR Financials - an NDFC company. One day, in 1999, while returning home, I saw sunset and realised that, while corporate job gave me the financial security, I was missing quality time in life. That's when I decided to join Academics. I have taught at various Institutes, like BGIMS, MET , Alkesh Dinesh Mody Institute of Management Studies and also at ICFAI Business School and SP Jain Institute.
As a part of being a educator, I have also authoured over 12 books at undergraduate level and have written ion subjects like Indian Edthos in Management, Business Ethics and Corproate Governance, Corporate Social Responsibilty and Strategic Management for Mumbai University's BMS and B.Com ( Banking and Insurance) students. Apart from this, I have also written books on Capital Markets for B.Com ( Financial Markets) students. I have also conducted training programmes called the Basic Setries - Basics of Stock Market. Basics of Derivatives etc for students and housewives.
I choose to be in Academics, as I believe that once I was financially secure, I had to contribute to society, and what better than being a teacher, facilitator?
What about teaching at b-schools inspires you the most?
Students 's focused approach to professional studies, sharp and curious minds, keeps me updated about my subjet matter.
Which subjects do you teach? Which ones do you like the most?
As my basic post graduation is in MBA ( Marketing), I started my career with subjects like Marketing Management, Marketing Applications, Consumer and Industrial Buying Behaviour. As I had my corporate experience in Financial services - I have also taught - Financial Markets and Institutions. However, when I joined MET, I was enthralled by the speeches and conversations of Dr. Vijay Page, Director General - MET, and started teaching a subject - Indian Ethos in Management and also Business Ethics and Corporate Governance. Today, these two subjects are close to my heart.
What is your teaching philosophy?
I believe that, at a post graduate level, the Faculty's focus must be on creating an interest in the subject taught by them, and later on be a facilitator. The basic aim of a teacher is to create an environment conducive to learning, and at the PG level to be a facilitator. I feel proud when my students bring laurels to the Institute as they do well in Academics and later in the Corporate World.
Do you believe teaching should be more application based than theory? If yes, then how do you support it?
Management Education is application based, after the student has got conceptual clarity. Even in the lecture session, in the 3 hour session, I introduce the concept in the first 90 minutes, then involve the students participation, through case studies, examples, class room assignments or activities so that the students understand the subject. In the last 30 minutes, I tell them about how the concept has undergone a change in the corporate world in India or abroad . I also encourage the students to read as much as possible and give them assignments and presentations where they would have to interact with the corporate world.
Who in your life has influenced you the most?
My Parents - especially my mother who was a professor and researcher of Maratha History. Even today, her energy and vivacity for writing a research article moves me. When I joined Academics, I have been inspired by Dr. Vijay Page , Director General, MET and Dr. Sorab Sadri , the then Director, MET's IOM. Both were and are a source of inspiration for me.
What suggestions would you like to make in the course of MBA?
The students presently have a summer internship and may be they opt for a winter internship, which lasts for 2 months and 1 month respectively. My suggestion is that, If the Institute make a collaboration, with various firms, there can be a internship of at least 4 to 5 months in the last semester of MMS wherein the firm can judge the students if they are fit for the organization, and the students also can know if they would like to work with the corporate. This would give a more in-depth exposure of the real business world to the MBA / MMS students.
As a faculty, what kind of projects do you expect students to work upon?
Apart from working on projects which have corporate exposure; I have also experienced different approaches to internal evaluation, which includes poster presentation on various topics, learning from films / Indian music/ advertisements etc. I also take the students to visit the factory s, visit to stock exchanges like BSE and NSE, Reserve Bank of India etc which gives them an exposure to the working of these institutes.
How are current technological advancements changing your teaching style?
According to Steve Jobs, " We can't ask the customers, what they want and then try to give that to them. By the time you get to build, they would want something new. Information Technology, is about updating information and keeping pace with the struggle to survive in the turbulent times. Today's Manager is like Alice in the Wonderland. He/ She has to keep running all the time, just to be in the same place. They need to constantly keep learning and unlearning or else they would be fired.
As regards, delivery of lecture is concerned, today's students have information at their finger tips. I too had to be a netizen. I make use of Power Point Presentation and other visual aids like clips from you tube etc to illustrate a point. Also I use packages and programmes like Excel, SPSS.I need to keep pace with the dynamic world of technology and thus update my knowledge by attending various conference and seminars and faculty development programmes.
What is the impact of mobile technologies boom influencing your area of specialization?
Students use mobiles to store the classroom presentations, notes etc. Also as regards finance specialization, one gets updates of the
indices and stock prices on the mobile and hence is an important tool which cannot be ignored.
How are social networks influencing your discipline?
Various blogs, websites have created a plethora of information and it is quite bewildering. It is important to be focused, while searching the websites, to get the right information, through the tight source. Also there are many social networking sites which connect the academics with corporates and a teacher with student, and learning can be a great experience through these social networks.
How does the economy story of India change your discipline?
Indian economy - before and after liberalization are two different worlds, in which I have grown up. Everything including the working of Stock Exchanges, Life styles, Consumer Behaviours and Socialization has undergone a major change. Management of India Inc, before and after liberalization are two different stories. As a observer, I sensitize my students to the " License Raj" and also to the " Controller of Capital" regime which existed prior to 1990's in India. Today's Managers have to be multi skilled, able to work with people from diverse culture and background and in different countries. The dynamic business world of today is not confined to fixed geographical locations. Todays Businesses are about Mergers and Acquisitions and the Managers need to be able to adjust to these changing circumstances. Environmental factors, Business Ethics and Corporate Governance, Corporate Social Responsibility are now pivotal to business and also to the changing Management Paradigm.
Indian Management as a separate discipline is now evolving. Some time tested Western Management principles cannot be applied blindly to the Indian Corporate world and have to be rephrased in the Indian context. Thus as part of the subject " Indian Ethos" , the students are exposed to these core Indian Management Principles and values , which are the epitome Indian culture.
What changes do you see on the horizon in your area of discipline?
Today's Managers is multi tasking and has a multi disciplinary approach. He needs to be a Master of All Trades and also be flexible to new ideas, technology and respond positively to changes in the economy and the market. This means Management Education would have to be focused on the decision making skills, to solve complex business problems. This would mean Management Education should empower the students to be multi faceted and to work with a positive mindset in a team.
One touching incident that happened with you in your teaching career?
When I was working for University of Mumbai's Alkesh Dinesh Mody Institute, was nominated as a committe member of the University of Mumbai's sesquicentennial celebration in 2006. I faciliated a sesquicentennial Souvenir, which was appreciated by the then President of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.
There is a shortage of eminent professors at b-schools. With more and more institutes offering the MBA course, do you think MBA will become just another degree?
A teacher can never truly teach unless he is still learning himself.” – Rabindranath Tagore. It is difficult to find passionate, dedicated teachers who are upgrading their knowledge and skills on a real time basis, just as the changes are taking place in business environment and technology. Also as AICTE has given approvals to so many Institutes to start Management Education, the supply of MBA's surpasses its demand and hence there is a fear that MBA is loosing its luster as the days pass.
Do you think the course curriculum is at par with industry expectations?
There will be GAPS in what is taught in the classroom and what happens in the real world and expectations from the world of business and commerce. Today human capital is the most valuable asset, which is created, nurtured and business acumen honed in the Bschools. The Business Leaders who employ young Management Graduates want them to bring semblance to the dynamic and turbulent world of business. They do not want the students to be an "apprentice" to learn and earn on the job. The students on the other hand, see Bschool as a placement agency, which will give them the best availble position in the corporate world. This GAP is the most important GAP apart from upgrading the syllabus as per the requirements of the Business Environment. There is a dearth of dedicated and pasionate faculty.
If you hadn’t been a professor, what would you be? What are your professional/career goals?
If I had not been a professor, I would have been a author, connecting with my students and expressing myself through writing.
What message would you like to give to students across the globe?
My advice to the budding Managers of today and tomorrow is that there is no future in the job; the future lies in the person who holds the job. Hence believe in yourself and pursue your dreams.
.
Any feedback for ManagementParadise.com?
One of the often visited websites, both by students and faculty which is informative and helpful.
I have completed my MBA from SIBER more than 25 years ago and have corporate experience of marketing pharmaceuticals, financial services of over 15 years and then about a decade of Teaching at UG, PG , Training and Research. I started full time teaching when I joined MET's Schools of Management as a Senior Lecturer, was also associated with University of Mumbai's Alkesh Dinesh Mody Institute and presently working with DES's NMITD.
When did you join teaching profession? Why did you choose to be a professor?
After completing my MBA (topping the merit list) from SIBER, I had a work experience of more than 10 years, which was of marketing of financial services - I marked UTI's mega schemes UTI Master Plus and Master Gain, IDBI flexi Bonds and also worked as a Investment Banker to market IPOs like IFCI. After that, worked with some well known brokers of BSE and my last job in the corporate was as a Regional Manager with SANMAR Financials - an NDFC company. One day, in 1999, while returning home, I saw sunset and realised that, while corporate job gave me the financial security, I was missing quality time in life. That's when I decided to join Academics. I have taught at various Institutes, like BGIMS, MET , Alkesh Dinesh Mody Institute of Management Studies and also at ICFAI Business School and SP Jain Institute.
As a part of being a educator, I have also authoured over 12 books at undergraduate level and have written ion subjects like Indian Edthos in Management, Business Ethics and Corproate Governance, Corporate Social Responsibilty and Strategic Management for Mumbai University's BMS and B.Com ( Banking and Insurance) students. Apart from this, I have also written books on Capital Markets for B.Com ( Financial Markets) students. I have also conducted training programmes called the Basic Setries - Basics of Stock Market. Basics of Derivatives etc for students and housewives.
I choose to be in Academics, as I believe that once I was financially secure, I had to contribute to society, and what better than being a teacher, facilitator?
What about teaching at b-schools inspires you the most?
Students 's focused approach to professional studies, sharp and curious minds, keeps me updated about my subjet matter.
Which subjects do you teach? Which ones do you like the most?
As my basic post graduation is in MBA ( Marketing), I started my career with subjects like Marketing Management, Marketing Applications, Consumer and Industrial Buying Behaviour. As I had my corporate experience in Financial services - I have also taught - Financial Markets and Institutions. However, when I joined MET, I was enthralled by the speeches and conversations of Dr. Vijay Page, Director General - MET, and started teaching a subject - Indian Ethos in Management and also Business Ethics and Corporate Governance. Today, these two subjects are close to my heart.
What is your teaching philosophy?
I believe that, at a post graduate level, the Faculty's focus must be on creating an interest in the subject taught by them, and later on be a facilitator. The basic aim of a teacher is to create an environment conducive to learning, and at the PG level to be a facilitator. I feel proud when my students bring laurels to the Institute as they do well in Academics and later in the Corporate World.
Do you believe teaching should be more application based than theory? If yes, then how do you support it?
Management Education is application based, after the student has got conceptual clarity. Even in the lecture session, in the 3 hour session, I introduce the concept in the first 90 minutes, then involve the students participation, through case studies, examples, class room assignments or activities so that the students understand the subject. In the last 30 minutes, I tell them about how the concept has undergone a change in the corporate world in India or abroad . I also encourage the students to read as much as possible and give them assignments and presentations where they would have to interact with the corporate world.
Who in your life has influenced you the most?
My Parents - especially my mother who was a professor and researcher of Maratha History. Even today, her energy and vivacity for writing a research article moves me. When I joined Academics, I have been inspired by Dr. Vijay Page , Director General, MET and Dr. Sorab Sadri , the then Director, MET's IOM. Both were and are a source of inspiration for me.
What suggestions would you like to make in the course of MBA?
The students presently have a summer internship and may be they opt for a winter internship, which lasts for 2 months and 1 month respectively. My suggestion is that, If the Institute make a collaboration, with various firms, there can be a internship of at least 4 to 5 months in the last semester of MMS wherein the firm can judge the students if they are fit for the organization, and the students also can know if they would like to work with the corporate. This would give a more in-depth exposure of the real business world to the MBA / MMS students.
As a faculty, what kind of projects do you expect students to work upon?
Apart from working on projects which have corporate exposure; I have also experienced different approaches to internal evaluation, which includes poster presentation on various topics, learning from films / Indian music/ advertisements etc. I also take the students to visit the factory s, visit to stock exchanges like BSE and NSE, Reserve Bank of India etc which gives them an exposure to the working of these institutes.
How are current technological advancements changing your teaching style?
According to Steve Jobs, " We can't ask the customers, what they want and then try to give that to them. By the time you get to build, they would want something new. Information Technology, is about updating information and keeping pace with the struggle to survive in the turbulent times. Today's Manager is like Alice in the Wonderland. He/ She has to keep running all the time, just to be in the same place. They need to constantly keep learning and unlearning or else they would be fired.
As regards, delivery of lecture is concerned, today's students have information at their finger tips. I too had to be a netizen. I make use of Power Point Presentation and other visual aids like clips from you tube etc to illustrate a point. Also I use packages and programmes like Excel, SPSS.I need to keep pace with the dynamic world of technology and thus update my knowledge by attending various conference and seminars and faculty development programmes.
What is the impact of mobile technologies boom influencing your area of specialization?
Students use mobiles to store the classroom presentations, notes etc. Also as regards finance specialization, one gets updates of the
indices and stock prices on the mobile and hence is an important tool which cannot be ignored.
How are social networks influencing your discipline?
Various blogs, websites have created a plethora of information and it is quite bewildering. It is important to be focused, while searching the websites, to get the right information, through the tight source. Also there are many social networking sites which connect the academics with corporates and a teacher with student, and learning can be a great experience through these social networks.
How does the economy story of India change your discipline?
Indian economy - before and after liberalization are two different worlds, in which I have grown up. Everything including the working of Stock Exchanges, Life styles, Consumer Behaviours and Socialization has undergone a major change. Management of India Inc, before and after liberalization are two different stories. As a observer, I sensitize my students to the " License Raj" and also to the " Controller of Capital" regime which existed prior to 1990's in India. Today's Managers have to be multi skilled, able to work with people from diverse culture and background and in different countries. The dynamic business world of today is not confined to fixed geographical locations. Todays Businesses are about Mergers and Acquisitions and the Managers need to be able to adjust to these changing circumstances. Environmental factors, Business Ethics and Corporate Governance, Corporate Social Responsibility are now pivotal to business and also to the changing Management Paradigm.
Indian Management as a separate discipline is now evolving. Some time tested Western Management principles cannot be applied blindly to the Indian Corporate world and have to be rephrased in the Indian context. Thus as part of the subject " Indian Ethos" , the students are exposed to these core Indian Management Principles and values , which are the epitome Indian culture.
What changes do you see on the horizon in your area of discipline?
Today's Managers is multi tasking and has a multi disciplinary approach. He needs to be a Master of All Trades and also be flexible to new ideas, technology and respond positively to changes in the economy and the market. This means Management Education would have to be focused on the decision making skills, to solve complex business problems. This would mean Management Education should empower the students to be multi faceted and to work with a positive mindset in a team.
One touching incident that happened with you in your teaching career?
When I was working for University of Mumbai's Alkesh Dinesh Mody Institute, was nominated as a committe member of the University of Mumbai's sesquicentennial celebration in 2006. I faciliated a sesquicentennial Souvenir, which was appreciated by the then President of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.
There is a shortage of eminent professors at b-schools. With more and more institutes offering the MBA course, do you think MBA will become just another degree?
A teacher can never truly teach unless he is still learning himself.” – Rabindranath Tagore. It is difficult to find passionate, dedicated teachers who are upgrading their knowledge and skills on a real time basis, just as the changes are taking place in business environment and technology. Also as AICTE has given approvals to so many Institutes to start Management Education, the supply of MBA's surpasses its demand and hence there is a fear that MBA is loosing its luster as the days pass.
Do you think the course curriculum is at par with industry expectations?
There will be GAPS in what is taught in the classroom and what happens in the real world and expectations from the world of business and commerce. Today human capital is the most valuable asset, which is created, nurtured and business acumen honed in the Bschools. The Business Leaders who employ young Management Graduates want them to bring semblance to the dynamic and turbulent world of business. They do not want the students to be an "apprentice" to learn and earn on the job. The students on the other hand, see Bschool as a placement agency, which will give them the best availble position in the corporate world. This GAP is the most important GAP apart from upgrading the syllabus as per the requirements of the Business Environment. There is a dearth of dedicated and pasionate faculty.
If you hadn’t been a professor, what would you be? What are your professional/career goals?
If I had not been a professor, I would have been a author, connecting with my students and expressing myself through writing.
What message would you like to give to students across the globe?
My advice to the budding Managers of today and tomorrow is that there is no future in the job; the future lies in the person who holds the job. Hence believe in yourself and pursue your dreams.
.
Any feedback for ManagementParadise.com?
One of the often visited websites, both by students and faculty which is informative and helpful.