India is at an interesting juncture, on its way to becoming a $5 trillion economy. Clearly, the country needs more leaders and entrepreneurs going forward, and we can’t overstate the need for more management schools. After a decade of its presence in Kochi, the Indian Institute Of Management–Kozhikode (IIM– Kozhikode) is ready to expand its presence in Kochi, the business capital of Kerala. IIMK recently laid the foundation stone for the new campus in the presence of A Vellayan, Chairman Board of Governors of IIMK, Debashis Chatterjee, Director IIMK, and Loknath Behera, Managing Director, Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL).

Kochi has a vibrant business and start-up ecosystem, is centrally located and offers great connectivity to

domestic and international participants. With its executive education program seeing increasing traction, the institute is set to accommodate more programs. Commencing on the new initiative, Debashis explains the plans: “The new campus at Kochi under scores our emphasis on “hi-tech and hi-touch,” as it will enable us to offer a variety of executive programs in multiple and blended formats. We are the only Top-3 ranked management school in Kerala and Kochi. We want to continue bringing the rigor and excellence of a top IIM to serve the needs of businesses and working professionals in Kerala and its hinterland, including the Middle East and South Asia.”

IIMK has also revised its admission policy. According to the new policy, the weightage for CAT exams has been set at 35 percent. The institute has also assigned 10 percent weightage to gender diversity and 5 percent to academic diversity in the revised PGP admission policy. In this yearly special issue, we delve deeper into stories from IIMK, focused on its prestigious alumni.

Work that comprises scientists, technologists, business managers, entrepreneurs, and whatnot. This special issue is dedicated to them.