ISB Celebrates Class of 2009 Graduation Day The Indian School of Business (ISB) celebrated its Eighth Graduation Day for the Class of 2009 on April 4, 2009. The day marked the end of an eventful academic calendar. This year, 440 students were awarded certificates for the Post Graduate Programme in Management. The Chief Guest for the occasion was Arun Sarin, Chief Executive (Retired), Vodafone Group. He gave away the certificates to the students, amidst cheering parents, visitors and friends present in the audience. Also present for this special day were eminent members of the ISB Board, Dean Dipak Jain from Kellogg School of Management, amongst other dignitaries.Dean Ajit Rangnekar formally addressed the gathering and welcomed everyone. His address summarised the many events and achievements of the last academic year. To the Graduating Class of 2009Dean Rangnekar said, “Congratulations to all of you for successfully completing a very demanding and touch programme. You have gained new knowledge, made lasting friends, and collected memories that will be with you lifelong. Equally, you have learnt important lessons for life. We are very proud of you. I personally admire your tenacity, your resilience, pragmatism and the ability to rise above short term difficulties. You are a very special class indeed. I am sure that you will not let circumstances decide your future, you will script your own destiny. You will build doors when opportunity is slow to knock on your door. You will go confidently in the direction of your dreams and live the life you have imagined.”Dean Rangnekar mentioned that these are challenging times for the industry and that the economic slowdown has had a direct impact on the Placements. He then pointed out that the founder Class of 2002 also graduated during a downturn. Today they are among the top performers in the industry, and so will the Class of 2009. Chief Guest Arun Sarin in his address to the outgoing Class said that business models all over the world are rapidly changing, and innovation is key to business leadership in the future. “Lead the change and shape the word,” he said to the eager faces in the audience. Pointing out to India’s key role in developing Greenfield innovations, new business models and ideas, he said that these ideas are ‘exportable’, and that leaders coming out of the ISB have a big role to play in exporting it to the rest of the world. Defining the ingredients of a good leader, Sarin said that a good leader must be a “good strategic leader, a good operational leader and a good people leader”. “Leadership is hard work. So, shape yourselves so that you can shape the world,” he added. Finally Sarin shared some “personal advice” with the graduating class - “do what you love to, be excellent at it, be curious, learn constantly, think big, do not be afraid of failures and temporary setbacks, be more than just ‘book smart’, finally leave the world a better place, and remember that integrity and ethics is core to good leadership.” Chairman of the Board, Rajat Gupta in his address mentioned, “The ISB is now ranked among the best B Schools in the world. In such a short time, the School has traversed a challenging but rewarding journey, and I am sure that the future will unfold many more accomplishments.” After the key addresses, the School recognised the outstanding members of the class of 2009 for their excellence in academics. At the ceremony were honoured the ISB Scholars of Excellence, Sumit Popli and Vivek Lath. The top 10 percent of the Class who made it to the Dean’s List for their distinctive performance in various activities were also given their dues on stage, amidst applause and good wishes. This was followed by the handing over of certificates toall the other students. A vote of thanks was proposed by Savita Mahajan, Associate Dean of ISB. Any Graduation Day is not complete without the “Hat Toss” and “Gown Drop”, and the ISB was no exception in this case. The air was filled with cheers from the students and their well wishers, and shutterbugs went on ceaselessly. The most awaited day in the life of a student at ISB came to a befitting and memorable end. |
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