Convocation 2026
15th Convocation Ceremony of Great Lakes Institute of Management, Gurgaon
Held on August 9, 2026 | Brahmakamal Auditorium, Yashobhoomi, New Delhi
The 15th Convocation Ceremony of Great Lakes Institute of Management, Gurgaon, was held on August 9, 2026, at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi. The event marked a significant milestone as 448 students from the Post Graduate Program in Management (PGPM 2025–26) and 278 students from the Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM 2024–26) graduated, celebrating years of academic excellence, perseverance, and holistic development.
The ceremony was graced by Mr. Mahesh Aras, Managing Director and Head, Risk and Compliance, J.P. Morgan, as the Chief Guest, along with Mr. Mohan Lakhamraju, Chairman and CEO, Great Lakes Institute of Management, and Dr. Raj Krishnan Shankar, Director, Great Lakes Institute of Management, Gurgaon, presiding over his first Convocation in this role. Distinguished faculty members, proud parents, alumni, and invited guests gathered to honor the achievements of the graduating Class of 2026.
The event commenced with the invocation, followed by the Director's Report, the Chairman's Message, and the Convocation Address by the Chief Guest, setting the tone for an inspiring ceremony that reflected the institute's unwavering commitment to academic excellence, leadership, and ethical growth.
Director's Address
Presenting the institute's annual report, Dr. Raj Krishnan Shankar, Director, Great Lakes Institute of Management, Gurgaon, highlighted the institute's continued growth over the past academic year, ten years after the institute first received AICTE approval.
He shared that Great Lakes Gurgaon now ranks in the top 6% of management institutes in the country as per the latest NIRF results, and holds the national NBA accreditation. In February 2026, the institute became the youngest B-school in the country to be double-accredited by both AMBA (UK) and AACSB (US), placing it among a select group of business schools globally.
Dr. Shankar also spoke about the institute's growing research output, its Karma Yoga community outreach programme — now active across 32 villages and 27 village schools — strong student achievements in national competitions, and a placement season marked by resilience despite a cautious hiring market.
Closing his address, Dr. Shankar left the graduating batch with three guiding thoughts for the road ahead.
"Stay curious. Be human. Embrace technology, intelligently."
— Dr. Raj Krishnan Shankar, Director
Chairman's Address
Addressing the graduates, Mr. Mohan Lakhamraju, Chairman and CEO, Great Lakes Institute of Management, spoke about how success is rarely the product of a single moment, but of consistent daily effort compounding quietly over time.
Drawing on stories from his own career as well as the journeys of the day's guests, he urged students to hold on to their sense of agency through setbacks, treat early career challenges as opportunities to build strength, and trust that clarity comes only in hindsight.
"Success may manifest itself in a few big moments, but it is built in the many little moments every day."
— Mr. Mohan Lakhamraju, Chairman & CEO
Chief Guest's Address
Delivering the convocation address, Mr. Mahesh Aras, Managing Director and Head, Risk and Compliance, J.P. Morgan, reflected on his own four-decade career journey and offered the graduating class a framework for approaching the years ahead.
He spoke about the three phases of a professional life, the importance of choosing a role that plays to one's strengths rather than one built around compensation alone, and the value of critical thinking paired with deep domain expertise. He also reminded students that relationships built early, with sincerity, compound into trust over a career.
"Don't choose a job, choose a direction."
— Mr. Mahesh Aras, MD and Head, Risk and Compliance, J.P. Morgan
Awarding of Diplomas and Recognitions
As the convocation proceeded, each graduate stepped onto the stage to receive their diploma from the Chairman, Director, and Chief Guest, marking the culmination of their academic journey. Of the 448 graduates, 170 belonged to the PGPM programme and 278 to the PGDM programme, with women comprising 42% and 43% of the respective batches.
Fifteen students were also recognized with the prestigious IDFC FIRST Bank MBA Scholarship for their academic merit and leadership potential, while nearly 100 students had earned podium finishes in national and corporate competitions during the year — up sharply from just 15 a few years ago.
The auditorium resounded with applause, pride, and gratitude as every handshake symbolized years of dedication and growth, closing another memorable chapter in the journey of Great Lakes.
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