20 Years of Great Lakes

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20 Years of Great Lakes

The Great Lakes Odyssey

Founded in 2004 by Dr. Bala V. Balachandran, Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai has become one of India’s premier business schools over the past two decades. Renowned for its innovative one-year PGPM, comprehensive PGDM and Executive Leadership Programs, the institute emphasizes on innovation, leadership, and global perspectives. Accredited by AACSB and AMBA, Great Lakes Institute of Management is now among the only ten schools in India to achieve the ‘Double Crown’ status.

Great Lakes at 20 - Bangalore Chapter

Great Lakes, marked its 20-year milestone with a grand celebration in Bangalore, bringing together corporate partners, senior alumni, and thought leaders for an evening of insights, inspiration, and networking.

We were honored to host Mr. N R Narayana Murthy at the final showdown of the 20- year celebration, where he shared his insights on principles of long-term vision, ethical leadership, and the role of innovation in shaping institutions that stand the test of time. His role on the Business Advisory council and his contributions to Great Lakes have been tremendous and noteworthy.

The event also featured an engaging panel discussion with industry leaders from Uber, BCG, Informatica, and Alvarez & Marsal sharing insights on data, AI, and business transformation.

Founded In
2004

Full Time Faculty
50+

Alumni Network Of
14000+

Corp. Executives Trained
2000+

Campuses
2

20 Years of Transforming Lives

Great Lakes commences operations at Saidapet

2003

PGPM launched by HH Pujyashri Jayendra Saraswathi

2004

Executive MBA Program - PGXPM launched

2005

Kotler-Srinivasan Center for Research in Marketing created

2006

Union Bank - Great Lakes Center for Excellence in Banking created

2008

LEED Platinum-rated Green campus Inaugurated

2009

Great Lakes Gurugram campus inaugurated

2010

PGDM launched

2012

AMBA Accreditation for PGDM and PGPM secured

2014

Institute wide SAQS AMDISA Accreditation secured

2015

NBA Accreditation for PGDM secured

2016

AGBI Incubator (NITI AAYOG) inaugurated

2019

Center for Women's Leadership created

2022

AACSB Accreditation for the Institute secured

2023

Great Lakes’ refreshed identity

Reflecting growth, evolution
and relevance to changing times.

Giving wings to our aspirations!

The Green of the Meadows
representing nourishment,
growth and sustainability.

The Bird
denotes aspirations to soar high
and explore uncharted territories

The Upward moving Wave
signifying growth, progress
and a fluidity of intellect.

Dr. Suresh Ramanathan Dean & Principal Great Lakes Institute of Management

Our partnerships with the corporate world play an essential role in this journey, helping us craft a curriculum that is responsive to the dynamic needs of the industry. As we celebrate two decades of excellence, we continue to focus on strengthening these ties and inspiring our students to reach new heights.

Mr. Gautam Lakhamraju COO and Admisisons Director Great Lakes Institute of Management

Taking the world with our new renewed vision. While retaining our existing values, the new identity seeks to be bolder, less cluttered and more impactful while catering to our current requirements and future aspirations.

20-years celebrations across India

Great Lakes Alumni

14000+
Alumni Network

33
Countries

Hinal Parekh Student, PGPM 2025

I feel incredibly fortunate to have joined Great Lakes Chennai during this momentous year as the institution celebrates its 20th anniversary. Over the past two decades, the college has truly evolved in every sense, embracing change and innovation.

Siddharth Thomas Student, PGPM 2025

The PGPM program at Great Lakes has been a game-changer, equipping me with the skills, insights, and confidence to thrive in today’s competitive business landscape.