Mindful leaders for the fastest-growing economy: IIM Bodh Gaya launches ambitious EMBA programme

The Indian Institute of Management, Bodh Gaya, inaugurated its first-ever Executive MBA (EMBA) programme with a grand orientation ceremony held on the campus for the 2025-27 batch.

The EMBA program extends IIM Bodh Gaya’s key differentiator of developing mindful and socially responsible leadership to working professionals through a specially crafted curriculum and pedagogy that blends academic rigour with the flexibility for the industry.

Mr. Ninad Gadgil, CEO of Wendt India, and Mr. Siddharth Balakrishna, Senior Partner at BOD Consulting, along with Prof. Vinita S Sahay, Director, IIM Bodh Gaya, were the key speakers at the inaugural function who shared valuable perspectives on leadership, innovation, and navigating the ever-changing global business landscape.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof.Sahay emphasised the institute’s commitment to designing future-ready programs that balance academic excellence with industry relevance. She noted that the launch of the EMBA reflects IIM Bodh Gaya’s mission to nurture mindful leaders for the global economy who can drive meaningful impact in organisations and society.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Ninad Gadgil urged everyone to define themselves not by their titles, but by their work, habits, and the impact they have on others’ growth, while Mr. Siddharth Balakrishna hailed the importance of clarity and precision in bringing greater impact.

Prof. Manoj Kumar, Chairperson of the Executive MBA programme, further elaborated that the EMBA programme has been tailored to empower working professionals to accelerate their leadership journeys by gaining holistic business insights, strategic perspectives, and peer-to-peer learning opportunities. He reiterated that Bharat, being the world’s fastest-growing economy and now the fourth largest, needs a new generation of visionary business leaders.

The first EMBA cohort comprises a diverse mix of professionals with 3 to 21 years of work experience, representing industries across various sectors, including Deloitte, PwC, Accenture, Tata Consultancy Services, NTPC, Ultratech Cement, Godrej Properties, Warner Bros. Discovery, Apollo Tyres, Siemens Technologies, Indian Bank, Bank of Maharashtra, and Hilton.

The orientation also witnessed enthusiastic participation from faculty as well as students of IIM Bodh Gaya’s MBA, MBA-Digital Business Management, and MBA-Hospital & Healthcare Management program, who gained exposure to the insights shared by senior industry leaders and the accomplished professionals of the first EMBA batch, fostering cross-learning and collaboration.

With this milestone, IIM Bodh Gaya has entered a new era of growth, reaffirming its role as a dynamic bridge between academia and industry, and further positioning itself as a hub for nurturing visionary leaders of tomorrow.

Building on the grand heritage of the IIM brand, IIM Bodh Gaya fosters a culture and curriculum aimed at creating socially responsible managers and emotionally mature leaders. In addition to classroom learning, the institute emphasises hands-on experience through live projects, industry interactions, and research-driven pedagogy. With a rapidly growing reputation, IIM Bodh Gaya has consistently improved its standing in national rankings and continues to produce professionals who make significant contributions across industries.