PGDM Batch Commencement
PGDM 2025-27 Commencement Program
The PGDM Commencement Ceremony at Great Lakes Institute of Management, Gurgaon, welcomed the Batch of 2027 with enthusiasm, purpose, and a spirit of new beginnings. Bringing together academic leaders, faculty, and distinguished guests, the ceremony set the stage for a transformative journey ahead. As students embark on this pivotal phase of their careers, the event marked not just an entry into management education but into a vibrant and value-driven learning community.
Welcome Address by Dr. Poornima Gupta - Program Director, PGDM
Dr. Poornima Gupta, Program Director for the PGDM program, extended a warm welcome to the 16th batch, marking the beginning of their transformative journey at Great Lakes. She highlighted the diversity of the cohort — with students from 24 states and 44% women — bringing together a rich mix of academic backgrounds across engineering, commerce, science, arts, and management. Emphasizing the institute’s core values, she spoke about the importance of community, character, and continuous learning. Dr. Gupta also introduced the carefully curated induction program, designed to help students transition smoothly, build meaningful connections, and embrace the journey ahead with purpose and passion.
Batch Name Reveal
Dr. Jones Matthew, Principal & Head of Institution, officially named the incoming cohort the “Trailblazers – Batch of 2027.”
In his welcome address, he encouraged students to take ownership of their journey, manage their time with intention, and sustain their enthusiasm through all six terms.
Reinforcing Great Lakes’ pursuit of excellence, he inspired the batch to embrace diversity, build lifelong networks, and lead with curiosity, purpose, and ambition.
Guest Address by Navneet Singh, Chairman & CEO, Korn Ferry India
- Shared lessons from his early career highlight the value of ownership and humility.
- Urged students to take charge of their learning and growth, beyond classroom teachings.
- Stressed the need for adaptability and continuous upskilling in a fast-evolving job market.
- Advised students to build strong values, self-awareness, and resilience as future leaders.
Guest Address by Mr. Sunder Ramachandran – Head of Transformation & Commercial Excellence, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories
- Brought 22+ years of experience in healthcare, tech & finance; previously led GSK Sri Lanka during economic turmoil.
- Emphasized that “You will be fine” – shared 7 personal career lessons:
- Failure isn’t final - Learn from setbacks.
- Your pace, your race - Growth is personal.
- Early hustle builds character - Grunt work matters.
- Cold outreach works - Be bold, reach out.
- Master your craft - Skills > brand names.
- People first - Empathy over cleverness.
- Lessons come with a price - Own your journey.
- Bonus Lesson: “Go Deep” – A tribute to his undergrad professor who emphasized depth over superficial success.
Address by COO & Co-Founder - Mr. Gautam Lakhamraju
- Mr. Gautam emphasized the importance of bringing high energy and enthusiasm into every environment, especially at the peak of youth.
- He encouraged students to treat business school as a safe space to take risks, make mistakes, and learn from failures without fear.
- He advised students to actively take initiative — whether through cold calling, networking, or sponsorships — to build real-world skills early.
- He highlighted the importance of focusing on long-term growth and learning, rather than being fixated on short-term metrics like starting salaries.
- He reminded students that they are among a privileged few, and with that opportunity comes the responsibility to create a meaningful impact for themselves, their families, and the country.
Keynote Address by Mr. Varun Vijay Singh, Senior Business Leader – Military, Airbus Helicopters
In a candid and insightful session, Mr. Varun Vijay Singh, Senior Business Leader – Military, Airbus Helicopters, shared unconventional lessons on navigating careers with clarity, courage, and curiosity. His talk resonated with humor, honesty, and hard-hitting truths about life beyond the MBA.
- Careers aren’t ladders but jungle gyms - embrace unpredictable moves and keep evolving with purpose
- Clarity comes from chaos - don’t fear confusion; keep building until the right opportunity aligns.
- Visibility matters - showcase your impact, speak up, and never wait to be discovered.
- Growth begins at discomfort - take on the groundwork, nurture real relationships, and choose yourself.
Building Purpose-Driven Leaders: A Session with Prof. S.K. Palhan
Prof. S.K. Palhan inspired us to reflect on the deeper meaning of leadership — one rooted in social impact and empathy. His initiative, Karma Yoga, aims to shape not just capable managers but responsible individuals who contribute meaningfully to society. He also introduced the concept of idea-flowering, emphasizing how structured thinking can help identify real-world problems and design effective, sustainable solutions.
Learning Through Experience: Faculty-Led Interactions
A series of engaging sessions with our faculty helped us gain valuable insights into goal-setting (Prof. Ojha), personal branding, and team dynamics through interactive exercises and reflections. A standout session by Prof. Venkatesh introduced us to innovative ways of approaching case studies, blending academic rigor with practical methods, making learning both insightful and impactful.
