IIM Ranchi commenced the 18th MBA (Executive) Programme 2026-28 Summer Batch welcoming working professionals from across the country. The inaugural programme marked the beginning of a two-year academic journey designed to strengthen leadership capabilities, strategic thinking, and business acumen among experienced professionals.
Welcoming the new participants, Prof. Manish Bansal, Chairperson, MBA (Executive) Programme, congratulated them on joining IIM Ranchi and described the Executive MBA as much more than an additional qualification. He said the programme is a transformative learning journey that prepares professionals for higher leadership roles in a rapidly changing business environment. Highlighting the programme’s contemporary curriculum, he spoke about its integration of Artificial Intelligence, experiential learning, industry engagement, global exposure, and immersive classroom pedagogy. Referring to the diverse cohort of experienced professionals, he encouraged participants to learn from one another, remain curious, actively participate in classroom discussions, apply classroom learning at their workplaces, build strong professional networks, and uphold integrity in leadership. He expressed confidence that the programme would equip them with broader perspectives, stronger analytical abilities, and the confidence to create meaningful value for their organisations and society.
During the inaugural session, participants of the Summer Batch introduced themselves, sharing their diverse professional backgrounds and expectations from the programme. The programme also featured interactions with distinguished alumni of the MBA (Executive) Programme. Ms. Sumarani Sulibele Muniraju, Technical Lead, Boeing India, and Mr. Suman Maiti, General Manager, Hindalco Industries Limited, shared their learning experiences at IIM Ranchi and explained how the programme helped them enhance their leadership capabilities, strengthen decision-making skills, and accelerate their professional growth while successfully balancing academic and workplace responsibilities.
Addressing the participants, Prof. Tanusree Dutta, Dean, Academics, encouraged students to make the most of every classroom interaction and learning opportunity. She urged the students to take back meaningful knowledge that could create a lasting impact on their professional careers. She also emphasised that the true value of management education lies not only in acquiring knowledge but in applying it responsibly to solve real-world business challenges and create positive organisational impact.
Prof. Amit Sachan, Dean, Executive Education & Consulting (EEC), encouraged participants to bring their professional experience into the classroom but to leave their egos behind. He emphasised that the strength of an Executive MBA classroom lies in collaborative learning, where experienced professionals learn from one another while enhancing their leadership capabilities through meaningful discussions and knowledge sharing.
The Guest of Honour, Mr. Anuj Srivastava, Director, ASCELA Global, an alumnus of IIM Ranchi’s MBA (Executive) Programme, shared his personal journey and encouraged participants to actively engage with faculty members and peers throughout the programme. He advised them to maintain a healthy balance between their professional responsibilities and academic commitments. He highlighted that every industry today seeks leaders who combine technical expertise with strong managerial capabilities. Encouraging participants to continuously upgrade themselves, he said they should keep adding new dimensions to their knowledge, remain passionate about learning, and prepare themselves for greater leadership responsibilities in the future.
Delivering the keynote address, Mr. Manoj Kumar Agarwal, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), emphasised that continuous learning is essential for becoming an effective leader in the era of Industry 4.0. Referring to emerging sectors such as Artificial Intelligence, renewable energy, digital transformation, advanced manufacturing, mining technologies, logistics, and data analytics, he said that while technical specialisation is important, leadership requires much more than domain expertise. Leaders must continuously adapt to changing business environments, convert challenges into opportunities, effectively manage both people and technology, and develop collaborative problem-solving abilities. Sharing three guiding principles with the participants, he urged them to stay curious, remember that knowledge grows when ego reduces, and recognise that true success lies in making complex things simple. The inaugural programme concluded with participants expressing enthusiasm for the transformative learning journey ahead, reaffirming IIM Ranchi’s commitment to developing future-ready leaders.
