Leading by example

When it comes to forging a professional career, experience is only half the story. Business schools remain vital incubators for strategic thinking and transformative leadership, offering both aspiring and seasoned professionals a compass to navigate today’s complex global business landscape.

With one of the youngest workforces in the world, India is rapidly evolving into a global hub for business and data. The demand for management education has never been greater. From knowledge platforms such as SAGE, Bharat Book Bureau and TLS Group to data providers like Indiastat, students and professionals have access to an abundance of business intelligence resources.

These tools, however, only complement the transformative work being carried out by India’s leading management institutions. Among them, the Indian Institute of Management Nagpur (IIM Nagpur) represents a new generation of business schools dedicated to shaping ethical leaders, globally competitive managers and entrepreneurs ready for a rapidly changing business world.

Expanding executive education

According to IIM Nagpur Director Bhimaraya Metri, student enrollment has grown consistently since the institute’s inception in 2015, prompting the school to embark on an ambitious expansion plan.

“We began with just 55 students in 2015 and today, that number has risen to 360,” Metri tells The CEO Magazine. “To accommodate this growth, we’ve initiated an extensive campus expansion strategy.”

The development plan includes a 300-capacity hostel, a 100-capacity executive education center and a modern library, all slated for completion on the 53.4-hectare campus by 2027. These will complement the institute’s existing world-class classrooms and infrastructure.

“As the world transitions from traditional classroom models to hybrid learning, we’ve established advanced studios and a content design lab to support digital education,” he adds.

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It’s quite an undertaking, given IIM Nagpur is Atmanirbhar (self-reliant), but Metri says it’s all in service of the institute’s executive education suite.

“Executive education is the biggest strength of IIM Nagpur,” he says. “We are ranked top 10 in India and seven among IIMs in that regard, thanks to our strong variety of 18 programs. This has ensured IIM Nagpur is a rapidly growing and self-reliant institute.

“Through a partnership with the University of Lille in France, IIM Nagpur offers a dual-degree program. We also launched a postgraduate certificate in cybersecurity with the University of Memphis’ FedEx Institute of Technology – now run independently by our team.

“In the coming year, we will extend collaborations with universities in Korea, Australia and New Zealand – new territories for us.”

Metri adds that IIM Nagpur actively engages with data and research partners such as SAGE, Indiastat, Bharat Book Bureau and TLS Group to enrich its academic content and strengthen both its on-campus curriculum and online MBA program.

“Our online MBA is designed for working professionals who cannot take a career break,” he explains. “They join us on campus for a week of immersive sessions and then continue their learning online.”

IIM Nagpur is part of the prestigious network of Indian Institutes of Management, established by the Government of India in the early 1960s – a visionary move that anticipated the country’s rise as a global business power.

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“Today, India is at the center of global business leadership,” Metri observes. “Since independence, our economic growth has accelerated tremendously. From 1947 to 2007, India added its first trillion dollars to GDP; within the next seven years, it added another trillion.

“By 2020, we achieved the US$3 trillion mark and today, our economy stands at around US$4.3 trillion – the fourth-largest globally. We will reach US$5 trillion by 2026–27.

“With the world’s attention turning to India, our National Education Policy is rooted in the Indian knowledge system. It’s no coincidence that Indians form the largest group of foreign-born billionaires in the United States – they embody the values and traditions that define our success. Truly, the 21st century belongs to India.”

Shaping the culture

Leading IIM Nagpur is both a privilege and a responsibility, Metri says. An expert in supply chain, project management and quality systems, he previously led IIM Tiruchirappalli to national prominence – experience he now brings to Nagpur.

“You have to lead from the front,” he says. “I come from a small village and a hardworking farming family, so I’ve always valued discipline and dedication.

“That spirit drives me to explore new ideas and set new benchmarks – a culture that defines IIM Nagpur.”

Another cornerstone of Metri’s philosophy is the integration of tradition and technology.

“To make sense of the modern world, leaders must embrace innovation without losing touch with their roots,” he advises.

His third principle – thinking big – draws from Swami Vivekananda’s timeless wisdom: “Think the unthinkable, achieve the unachievable and see the invisible.”

This philosophy underpins IIM Nagpur’s mission to nurture leaders who inspire others.

“Setting benchmarks means leading so that others can follow,” Metri concludes. “After all, true leaders don’t just create success – they create more leaders.”