Amritsar: The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Amritsar inaugurated the sixth batch of its Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA-06) programme through a hybrid inaugural ceremony, welcoming a new cohort of accomplished working professionals from diverse industries. The ceremony marked the beginning of a transformative two-year learning journey designed to equip experienced professionals with advanced managerial knowledge, strategic thinking, and leadership capabilities.
The sixth EMBA batch showcases remarkable academic and professional diversity, with participants holding degrees in commerce, architecture and various branches of engineering. This incoming batch brings together professionals from diverse industries and functions, with work experience ranging from 4 to 22 years, creating a rich environment for peer learning and collaboration.
The inaugural ceremony was graced by Lt. Gen. Ajay Chandpuria, AVSM, VSM, Commandant, Army War College, as the Chief Guest. In his inspiring keynote address, Lt. Gen. Chandpuria congratulated the participants on embarking upon a significant milestone in their professional journey and highlighted the unique value proposition of the Executive MBA programme at IIM Amritsar.
He emphasized that the participants would experience an empowering academic environment enriched by the Institute’s highly competent faculty and benefit immensely from peer-to-peer learning through interactions with professionals possessing diverse operational and managerial experiences. Stressing the importance of lifelong learning, he remarked, “Growth is always outside the comfort zone.”
Speaking about leadership and personal transformation, he underscored that every meaningful achievement begins with a vision. Quoting Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, he said, “Dreams are not the ones that you see in your sleep; dreams are those that never let you sleep.” He encouraged participants to dream audaciously, set ambitious goals, and establish clear timelines to transform aspirations into reality.
Lt. Gen. Chandpuria also introduced participants to the emerging concept of the BANI world—Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear and Incomprehensible—explaining that today’s leaders must possess agility, resilience, and adaptability to navigate unprecedented uncertainty. Drawing examples from global leadership, he highlighted how decisive leaders such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin have significantly influenced national policies and reshaped strategic narratives, illustrating the profound impact of visionary leadership.
Welcoming the incoming cohort, Prof. Vartika Dutta, Chairperson, Executive MBA Programme, congratulated the participants for taking a courageous step toward personal and professional growth. She acknowledged that the decision to pursue an Executive MBA is often made after thoughtful discussions with colleagues, peers, and family members, accompanied by the inevitable question: “Is it worth it?”
Addressing these concerns, she reassured the participants by stating that the decision taken to make oneself better is rarely a wrong one. She encouraged them to continuously challenge themselves, remain open to new ideas, and strive to become future-ready leaders. Reflecting on the programme’s vision, she shared that when the Executive MBA was conceptualized five years ago, it was carefully designed to respect the realities of working professionals while preparing them for future leadership roles. She concluded by encouraging participants to embrace change, reminding them that by joining the programme they had consciously chosen growth over familiarity and invested in themselves.
Congratulating the newly admitted participants, Prof. Sujit Raghunathrao Jagadale, Dean – Academics & Programmes, appreciated their commitment to balancing demanding professional careers, personal responsibilities, and rigorous academic pursuits. Drawing inspiration from Austrian psychiatrist Viktor Frankl and his celebrated work Man’s Search for Meaning, he emphasized the importance of discovering one’s purpose.
He encouraged participants to constantly ask themselves “Why?” they chose to pursue the Executive MBA, explaining that once the purpose is clear, the answer to “How?” naturally follows. He acknowledged that managing assignments, examinations, deadlines, and professional commitments would be challenging, but reaffirmed that a clear sense of purpose would help participants successfully navigate the journey.
Addressing the participants, Prof. Gurbir Singh, Dean – Research & Strategic Initiatives, reflected on the evolving responsibilities that participants would shoulder over the coming two years while balancing their professional, personal, and academic commitments. He encouraged them to identify and effectively utilize the “time pockets” available in their daily lives to maximize learning.
He emphasized that the Executive MBA programme extends far beyond classroom instruction, stating that its true value lies in enabling participants to apply managerial concepts and frameworks to solve real-world business challenges. Appreciating the diversity of the incoming cohort, he remarked that the programme offers immense opportunities for collaborative learning and also enriches the faculty members through meaningful classroom interactions with experienced professionals.
Representing the Institute’s distinguished alumni community, Mr. Amarinder Singh, Senior Director, Virtuous Digital and Alumnus of the Executive MBA Programme, shared his inspiring journey and reflected on how the Executive MBA transformed him both professionally and personally. Recalling his own apprehensions at the beginning of the programme, he admitted that he too had questioned whether he would be able to balance academics with a full-time career and family responsibilities.
He shared that the programme enabled him to strengthen his strategic thinking, accelerate his career progression, earn a prestigious academic credential, and build a lifelong network of high-performing professionals. Encouraging the new cohort to fully embrace the experience, he advised them to embrace the friction, rely on their cohort rather than compete with one another, remain fully present throughout the journey, and remember that time passes much faster than one expects.
Earlier, Prof. Samir Kumar Srivastava, Director, IIM Amritsar, welcomed the participants and congratulated them on becoming a part of one of India’s premier management institutions. He highlighted the Institute’s commitment to academic excellence, innovation, industry engagement, and responsible leadership while encouraging participants to make the most of the rich learning ecosystem, distinguished faculty, and collaborative peer network offered by the Executive MBA programme.
The Executive MBA programme at IIM Amritsar is specifically designed for experienced professionals seeking to strengthen their leadership, analytical, and strategic decision-making capabilities while continuing their careers. The programme combines academic rigor with practical application through case-based pedagogy, industry engagement, experiential learning, campus immersion modules, and an optional international immersion experience. The ceremony witnessed enthusiastic participation from the newly admitted Executive MBA cohort, faculty members, academic associates, alumni, and representatives from TimesPro, the Institute’s programme outreach partner. The event concluded with a vote of thanks, marking the formal commencement of an exciting and transformative academic journey for the EMBA-06 Batch.
