Marching on: Lessons on Leadership from the Military

Speaking on “Military Leadership: Lessons for the Corporate” Lt. Gen Kochhar began by defining leadership as “knowing what to do and getting it done.” He proceeded to explain how companies could benefit by incorporating the military ethos that stresses good teamwork, an impartial and secular organisation and the ability to put the interests of the subordinates and the nation before the individual. People are more important than physical resources, he asserted. A good leader can provide strategic insights. Having a good leader implies good strategy that can translate to great performance. How then does one ensure the development of good leaders? Lt Gen Kochhar suggested that organisations identify junior leaders and help them develop the leadership traits such that when it is time for them to don the mantle, they can lead with ease.

AIKYA Launched at Mohali

ISB’s Mohali campus witnessed the launch of the AIKYA, ISB’s unique host family network. Around 40 host families from in and around the Chandigarh tri-city region were on campus and got introduced to their wards - the 200 students from the PGP, Class of 2013. The AIKYA Network helps students connect with the local community through host families. Each year, the host families welcome students into their homes over weekends, term breaks, and festive occasions. It’s a home away from home for the students and an opportunity to be a part of the families’ functions and festivities and get to know their culture.

The families that are part of the AIKYA network at Mohali campus include prominent industrialists, businessmen and government officials. Deputy Dean Savita Mahajan introduced the school and the campus to the families and thanked them for joining the ISB community. The students put up a cultural show to welcome the families.

ISB Initiative WoWs

Indian School of Business launched “Wealth out of Waste” (WOW) programme on the Earth Day recently. The programme was initiated as a pilot at one of the Student Villages, where in ISB provided four different types of garbage bins to collect paper, organic waste, plastic and other waste respectively. At the launch, school challenged its students to “be the change they want to see in the world” and the students embraced the challenge.

Students took it upon themselves to segregate the garbage at source and response was overwhelming. In the first year, the School recycled more than 12,000 kg of paper and plastic waste and by the second anniversary of the launch the recycled material increased to 30,000 kg. This is equivalent to planting 600 mature trees or avoiding land fill of approximately 80 m3. Since inception of WOW, ISB has received around Rs 1, 20,000 from selling this recyclable material.

Delivering Effective Presentations: A Workshop at Mohali

Jayadevan Thelakat, Director, Thales International presented a workshop on "Designing and Delivering Effective Presentations" at Mohali. In a six-step process, the workshop provided a methodology to develop, design and deliver effective presentations. Thelakat spoke about the ways to break the presentation into segments, sequence them logically, provide transitions and conclude effectively so as to ensure that the message is conveyed in a persuasive, impressive and convincing manner.