Women in Management - IIM Kozhikode

Teamwork, resilience, discipline, and how to get back up when you've suffered a life-altering blow: This week on the 15 Minutes with the Boss podcast, Zip Co CEO Cynthia Scott tells Sally Patten there are more parallels between professional ballet and investment banking than you'd think. Listen now on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gSqczuxb Apple: https://lnkd.in/gX2rsgN4 Or wherever you get your podcasts. #15mwtb #leadership #career

✈️ #90DaysofCountlessLearnings: Lessons from My Exchange Semester in Belgium 🌍 As the MBA Class of 2025 gears up for their foreign exchange, bringing nostalgia to former forex students with their stories, here are a few insights from my own time abroad. I call it "#TravelManagement" in 90 days: 1. Time and good health are your biggest assets (Travel, Time & Health Management): > Three months sounds a lot — until you're trying to visit 15+ countries. So, prioritize and time your destinations well. For e.g. Spain’s beaches are best enjoyed in summers, while Austria’s Werfen caves would get missed if you plan it in winters. > Balance fun with rest: Travel is exciting, but downtime is crucial for your health #ProTip: Eating fruits daily saves your budget and keeps you healthy. 2. People & Priorities (Friends and Conflict Management): > Travel exposes differences in priorities. Early conversations on expectations are key to avoid conflicts—whether it’s hostel vs. Airbnb, or trains vs. flights. > Leverage teamwork: Divide and conquer by splitting tasks like planning itineraries, groceries, and, of course, taking those Instagram worthy shots. 3. Budget & Money Management > Choose experiences over luxuries: You may forget an Indian meal in Italy, but not the perfume making class in Fragonard of Eze, France. > Be practical with souvenirs: Collect meaningful mementos, whether it’s a ticket from Mt. Titlis or quick buys from €1 stores. #ProTip: Always carry cash even if you are an advocate of digital currency. Look out for the steal stores like La Roca village in Barca, Serravalle of Milan 4. Stay curious, Stay Aware (Observation & Opportunities) > Learn by observing for cultural assimilation: Language may be a barrier, but culture speaks through architecture, gestures, and local customs. > Stay vigilant: Instances of mugging are more common than you have heard of. But believe me, losing your passport is worse. > Build new connections: Ask professors about their research, compliment strangers and listen to stories of people sitting next to you in trains. 5. Push your boundaries (Comfort Zone vs Adventures) > Solo trips = introspection: Believe me, it’s an underrated experience, an opportunity to grow and find lasting friendships. > Sign up for every adventure - whether it’s deep-sea diving, tackling roller coasters in Disneyland, or navigating Iceland in a campervan. > Find those offbeat places beyond touristy spots. Remember, the best travel stories often come from the most unexpected places. #ProTip: Join free city tours to discover hidden gems and local history. Special thanks to my travel partners: Chahat Goel Sankrit Nimmagadda Samriddhi Sharma Each of us might have similar lessons, but our journeys are shaped by unique moments. Let’s embrace them fully. #ExchangeSemester #GlobalLearning #TravelManagement #MBAJourney #CulturalAwareness #FunAndForex #TravelAndWork #Consulting&Travel

LSM?! How is it different? This is the question most people ask me when they come to know that I am pursuing the Post Graduate Programme in Liberal Studies and Management (PGP-LSM) at the Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode. So, let me take you through what makes this journey truly unique 💡 PGP-LSM is not just an MBA, it is more than that. The programme is a unique offering that aims to prepare future managers who are equipped not only with the knowledge of management concepts but also emotional, cultural and creative intelligence. 💡 LSM integrates management with liberal studies. As students of this programme, we study subjects like sociology, psychology, critical reading and writing, Gandhian leadership, etc. - alongside the conventional business concepts. 💡 This multidisciplinary approach enhances problem solving skills which are crucial in management for tackling complex business challenges. 💡 LSM encourages 'Diversity of thoughts'. Our Class of 2026 is a vibrant mix of engineers, commerce and management grads, and individuals from backgrounds like history, sociology, physics, biotechnology, mathematics, literature, law—you name it! This diverse cohort fosters rich discussions and holistic learning, making every day a new opportunity to broaden our horizons. Proud to be part of this one-of-a-kind program that’s redefining what an MBA can be! 🎓 P.S. - A photograph of the LSM Class of 2026 that we took during inauguration:) #PGPLSM #IIMKozhikode #BeyondMBA #DiversityOfThought #FutureLeaders

I hate the idea of networking! I love singing. And that’s why I often sing my way into new networks. I left the conventional corporate world 22 years back. And yet since then, I’ve had very fulfilling roles in a variety of places – edtech startup, consulting with niche Organizational Development consultancies, being a researcher, teacher and now as an independent coach-facilitator and founder of my own coaching practice. So how does singing connect to all this? In many ways – to start with, I sang at my IIM Ahmedabad interview, in year 2000!  I am normally a rather quiet person, who likes to listen more and talk less (it’s also why I like being a coach and am good at it 😊). So when the interviewers at IIM, after asking me some questions related to Economics (my undergrad subject) then turned to my interest in singing (I have learnt Rabindra Sangeet for 10 years), I was only too happy to have to talk less and instead sing. I sang one of my favourite songs “𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘪 𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘬𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘢” and they asked me to explain what it means. The switch from talking to singing, immediately put me in a zone of joy, confidence and flow as I was doing what I love to do. And I believe that confidence, along with my other credentials, supported my entry into the hallowed IIMA networks. Almost 20 years later, one of the IIM alumni from Delhi, Salil Agrawal, posted a message in the Delhi chapter Whatsapp group, inviting alums who would like to sing at an upcoming chapter meet. I raised my hand – not because I like networking, but because I like singing. In fact for years, I hadn't attended any chapter meets or events. I thoroughly enjoyed myself singing at the event, made friends with alumni across batches and got tagged by some of them as the ‘singer’. Even after I moved to Coimbatore in 2021, a couple of Delhi alumni called me to come and sing at the next chapter event. Of course I couldn’t go, but it was good to simply catch up on where we are in our lives! I’ve made lifelong friends, found teaching and consulting opportunities and been remembered, only because I showed up to sing! Sometimes, simply showing up as your authentic self—doing what you love—can lead to the most genuine connections. So, what’s your “singing”? How can you lean into what you love in order to build the networks that matter to you? #music #networks #networking #iim

Why did our “Assume That I Can” campaign go viral? Firstly, I believe many people resonated with the message and, by sharing the campaign, wanted to help shatter prejudices and change perceptions of people with Down syndrome. However, I also think there are a few less evident — and sometimes executional— reasons. Here’s my take: - We adhered to the crucial rule: "Hook the audience from the very first seconds." Our film begins with the actress Madison Tevlin staring powerfully into the camera and saying something unexpected from a person with Down syndrome: "Hey bartender!" This grabs attention immediately, making people curious about what happens next. - The film maintains a fast pace through a dynamic combination of acting, direction, editing, and music. This keeps viewers engaged and prevents boredom, ensuring they watch until the end. - Madison discusses topics like alcohol and sex. And she swears! This isn’t done for shock value but to reinforce the campaign's message and break more taboos (even within the community). But again, it’s something unexpected from a person with Down syndrome, which makes it more impactful. - The insight is relatable to many people, even those outside the Down syndrome community, prompting them to share it. - Since it's a campaign for a charity, people are more inclined to share it as there’s no for-profit brand behind it. - Lastly, we created a vertical version for TikTok and Instagram. While this may be challenging for those who love horizontal formats, vertical content is arguably more effective on these platforms. #AssumeThatICan #SmallTheAgency SMALL

Thank you Times of India for this beautiful feature which coincides with our son’s second birthday! Parenting is something I learn something about every day, but I sincerely hope to help shape the narrative about working moms. CEO, reality show judge, entrepreneur, author, there is nothing a mom can’t be!