I frequently interact with several business leaders across industries…Leaders with astute leadership abilities have introduced pathbreaking changes and left an indelible mark on their industry. So, this has made me wonder as to what sets them apart? Is their thought process definitely different from many others? Is it their individualistic personality? Is it their upbringing? Or is it the education that they have received? It is usually an amalgamation of all these factors that sets them apart.
As an educationist, I realize that educational institutions provide environments where students learn the art and techniques for business, and therefore, they are crucial for creating effective business managers who contribute to the success and growth of any organization. Most B-Schools teach the same subjects, such as Principles of Management, Strategic Management, Operations, Human Resources, etc., which create business managers to drive the organizations’ goals.
However, good B-Schools like the IIMs, ISB, Symbiosis, and Harvard create business leaders. How do they do this? Apart from business-related courses, these schools imbue the students with the ability to build teams and collaborate, enhancing critical thinking by involving them in projects and involving students in community-building services. Therefore, this holistic development of students and the ability to think out of the box, ideate, and ask thought-provoking questions become the differentiating factors between creating business managers and business leaders.
Only a few students graduating from some of the best institutions get high pay packages, while many don’t. This year, SIBM Pune had 100% placements, with the highest packages being 53.58L and an average CTC of 28.83 Lakhs.
Several graduates from other institutions did not get such high packages because industries are constantly on the lookout for more people with leadership abilities than just business managers. Managers can be trained and skilled, but leaders need to have the ability to transform organizations.
The skills imbued into the students of Symbiosis are evident through the top positions held by alumni across the globe, such as the Chairman & MD of L&T, Mr. SN Subrahmanyan, Mr. Deepak Thakur, MD & CEO, Mahindra Susten Pvt. Ltd., Mr. Sampath Bulusu, General Manager Legal, Shell and Ms. Dorothy Thomas, Partner, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co, who are all Symbiosis alumni.
By encouraging creativity, embracing new technologies, and adapting to industry changes, Business Leaders help the company stay competitive and relevant in a constantly evolving marketplace. Therefore, I am proud and happy that Symbiosis empowers leaders who can steer the organizations toward their goals, address challenges effectively, and ensure sustainable growth.