Harry Narang

Delighted to share this latest thought piece by Prof. Debashis (Deb Ashis) Chatterjee, Director, IIM Kozhikode, in the Open Magazine B-School Special. In this insightful article, Prof. Chatterjee reimagines the future of management education — proposing that an MBA today is evolving into a “Master of Business Ambiguity” in a world defined by AI, sustainability, uncertainty and complex global challenges. He explains why leadership in today’s business landscape demands technological fluency with ethical grounding, analytical rigour with human empathy, and the ability to navigate a rapidly changing world with purpose and wisdom. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/g8MiURur From AI-enabled learning to sustainability as a core pillar of Vision 2047, Prof. Chatterjee lays out how IIM Kozhikode is preparing future leaders who can thrive amidst ambiguity and lead with conviction. #IIMKozhikode #ManagementEducation #Leadership #AI #Sustainability #Vision2047 #OpenMagazine #MBA #FutureofMBA

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The first simple question asked by clients when you meet them for the first time. "What does your company do?" And the answer almost always sounds like this dialogue of Amitabh. Here is a quick exercise to fix your answer. Ask yourself three questions: 1/ Who do you help specifically. 2/ What problem do you solve for them. 3/ What changes for them after working with you. Now put it in one sentence. "We help [who] solve [what problem] so they can [outcome]." That one sentence is your starting point to create better first-time impact. It is infinitely better than hemoglobin in the atmosphere. ---- Rajeev Mamidanna Stop sounding generic. Be remembered.

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In the last few years, Kozhikode’s healthcare market has quietly moved from “local hospital ecosystem” to serious institutional capital story. KKR acquired control of Baby Memorial Hospital in a deal reported at around ₹2,500 crore. It has also reportedly invested another ₹1,750 crore into Baby Memorial for expansion. Baby Memorial has also acquired Meitra Hospital, another major Kozhikode healthcare asset. At the same time, Aster DM Healthcare, which operates Aster MIMS in Kozhikode, announced a merger with Blackstone and TPG-backed Quality Care, creating one of India’s top hospital chains with 38 hospitals and 10,150+ beds. This is not just hospital growth. This is a signal. When large capital enters healthcare, everything around the hospital changes. More patients. More doctors. More procedures. More follow-ups. More families travelling in. More demand for clean, safe, short-term and medium-term stays nearby. And this is where Airbnb becomes interesting. Because the most profitable short-stay assets may not always be in tourist destinations. They may be near hospitals. A tourist comes by choice. A patient travels by necessity. A tourist may cancel because of rain. A patient does not cancel because the weather changed. Families coming for treatment need proximity, hygiene, lift access, food support, pharmacy access, parking, and peace of mind. They may stay for 10 days. Sometimes 30 days. Sometimes longer. That is not tourism demand. That is necessity-led demand. And necessity has no off-season. Kozhikode’s hospital corridor could quietly become one of the most interesting real estate opportunities in North Kerala. The next winning Airbnb may not have a mountain view. It may have a hospital gate within walking distance. Sometimes, the biggest opportunities are not where people go to escape life. They are where people go to fight for it.

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3AI Bellwether (May 2026) newsletter capturing the salient accomplishments, high-impact engagements and strategic initiatives across India’s largest platform and marketplace for GCCs and AI leaders. In the May edition, you will find highlights from recent programs, insights from our leadership forums and updates on initiatives driving capability, innovation and transformation. Plus, get a preview of our upcoming events and opportunities to engage with the growing 3AI platform. Dive in to stay informed and inspired. This edition covers: 1.⁠ ⁠Meet our Upper Crest Leader Prithvijit Roy  2. BEYOND 2026: A Quick Recap 3. Partners & Speakers at BEYOND 26  4. Transformation Zone Sessions at BEYOND 26 5. Innovation Zone Sessions at BEYOND 26  6. ACME Awards 2026 Winners 7. Agentic AI Playbook by 3AI SIG 8. Spectra 2026: The Largest Virtual AI Summit 9. UCPL: Upper Crest Premier League 10. 3AI Offerings 11. 3AI Upcoming Events in 2026 12. Follow GCC ONE & AI ONE #3AIBellwether #GCCLeaders #AILeaders #LeadershipForums #Innovation #3AInewsletter #FutureOfAI #GCCEcosystem #3AIInitiatives #StayInformedStayInspired Nandakumar (NK) Ramaiah

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For 5 days, the India AI Impact Summit 2026 turned Bharat Mandapam into the most important room in global tech. From 16-20 Feb at Bharat Mandapam, India hosted the India AI Impact Summit 2026, bringing together a rare, high-profile lineup of global leaders from tech, research, and public policy. Notable invitees included Bill Gates, Sundar Pichai, Sam Altman, and Jensen Huang; alongside decision-makers shaping how the next decade of infrastructure, industry, and innovation will actually function. On-ground presence from global giants like: Google NVIDIA Amazon Infosys And the scale reflected it: 300,000+ participants Delegates from 100+ countries 35,000+ registrations 500+ startups showcasing deployable solutions 50+ ministers in attendance 40 global tech CEOs present But the real shift wasn’t in attendance. It was in intent. Live robotics deployments. Automation built for manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare. Founders solving for national-scale bottlenecks, not pitch-deck problems. An unseen side of Delhi emerged inside Bharat Mandapam: • Where policy aligned with product • Capital met execution • Research translated into rollout • Startups built for integration, not incubation For years, India has been described as the world’s fastest-growing market. This week, it looked more like the world’s fastest-emerging builder. Because when global leadership flies in from 100+ countries to see what your ecosystem is deploying in real-time, You’re not participating in the future. You’re shaping its direction. ♻️ Repost if you believe India’s next global advantage will be what it builds at scale.

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Now a days, I see a few start up brands advertising with the tagline "created by/ from the boys/ alumnus of IIT/IIM's". It is great that they have been able to spot the gap in the market and place their product for a competition...but if you look at the solutions they offer - may be a medicine delivery app or an ayurvedic pain reliever.....but is this what we as a nation expect from these so call genius brains? They have been through the grind of premier institutes to come out with flying colours...As a nation, should we be satisfied with these offerings from them? Or is this what sells as a trust in the mind of consumers? Or is this what makes funding pathway easier? Thoughts.....#Innovation #Startups

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The latest episode of Alt-Consulting Conversations is now live and this week I’m joined by Dr. CJ Meadows, one of Asia’s Top 10 Women in IT and Head of the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center at SP Jain School of Global Management - Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore & Sydney. Dr. Meadows sits at a fascinating intersection of technology, design thinking, strategy, and consulting education. With 25 years of experience across Asia, Europe, and North America, she is shaping the next generation of consultants through the Global MBA program for Consulting Management. In this conversation, we explore a few important questions: • How AI is changing the fundamental nature of consulting • Why asking the right questions is becoming more valuable than ever • What skills the next generation of consultants must develop • Why clients may increasingly use consultants to help them think, not just analyze • And how AI could open consulting access to millions of businesses that could never afford it before One insight that stayed with me: The future of consulting may not just be about serving large corporations. It may be about bringing consulting thinking to SMEs, startups, and underserved markets that never had access to it before. It’s a thoughtful conversation about how consulting, education, and innovation are evolving together in the AI era. The full episode is now live on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Link in the comments. #Consulting #AI #Innovation #FutureOfConsulting #AltConsulting #Podcast

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As we celebrate #Dhanteras, we honor not just #prosperity, but the principles that sustain it — #foresight, #design, and #disciplined creation. How timeless wisdom translates into modern business strategy: 1️⃣ Purity of Intent → Purpose Alignment In ancient times, every purchase or creation began with shuddh bhavna — pure intent. Today, this means building businesses around a clear, value-driven purpose that guides every decision. 2️⃣ Ritual of Preparation → Strategic Design Dhanteras marks the beginning of new ventures after cleansing and preparation. Modern translation: audit your business models, design processes intentionally, and clear inefficiencies before scaling. 3️⃣ Investment in Durability → Sustainable Growth Gold and silver were not just wealth — they symbolized lasting value. In today’s context, invest in #systems, #people, and #innovation that endure market shifts. 4️⃣ Invoking Lakshmi → Inviting Balance Wealth was never seen as mere accumulation, but balance between material and #spiritual growth. For businesses, that’s the sweet spot between #profit and #purpose — between #scale and #soul. 5️⃣ Illumination → Continuous Learning Just as diyas light the path forward, continuous learning keeps organizations agile in a changing world. This Dhanteras, let’s not just acquire — let’s design #prosperity with #purpose, #durability, and #light. #Dhanteras #BusinessByDesign #AncientWisdomModernBusiness #PurposeDrivenGrowth #SustainableLeadership #udyogpaathshala Udyog Paathshala Virendra Singh Rathore Progressive Federation Of Trade & Industry

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15 Suggestions to Expand GeM Portal's Reach and Empower Sellers. The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) is a game-changer in public procurement. But to truly empower MSMEs, startups, SHGs, and rural entrepreneurs, we need to simplify and amplify how sellers engage with the platform — especially in product listing and discoverability. Here are 15 practical, seller-focused suggestions: 🔧 Platform Improvements 1️⃣ Regional Language Interface – Enable multilingual navigation and registration to onboard local sellers. 2️⃣ Mobile-First App – A simplified mobile app with voice-based onboarding, document scanner & guided flow. 3️⃣ Smart Catalog Templates – Pre-designed, category-wise listing templates with auto-fill fields to ease product uploads. 4️⃣ Auto-Suggestion of Categories – Use AI to suggest appropriate categories/subcategories based on product description or keywords. 5️⃣ Bulk Upload Options – Allow sellers to list multiple products using Excel/CSV templates or import from existing catalogs (like Amazon/Flipkart for D2C brands). 6️⃣ Product Tagging for Visibility – Enable sellers to tag their products by application, industry, and department (e.g., "school use", "defence grade") to improve discoverability. 🛠️ Seller Enablement 7️⃣ Live Chat / WhatsApp Helpdesk – Real-time support for product listing, documentation & catalog issues. 8️⃣ One-Click MSME Integration – Auto-import PAN, UDYAM, GST details from other verified portals. 9️⃣ Localized Product Listing Camps – Conduct GeM Vikas Camps to train sellers on category mapping and uploading. 🔟 Video Tutorials & Guided Demos – Create short YouTube-style explainers in regional languages for product listing, service creation, and bid participation. 🚀 Outreach & Adoption 1️⃣1️⃣ Incentives for First-Time Sellers – Zero commission or featured placement for first few product listings. 1️⃣2️⃣ Showcase Local Success Stories – Highlight small sellers, SHGs, and artisans who scaled their business through GeM. 1️⃣3️⃣ District-Level Buyer–Seller Melas – Encourage direct interaction between departments and local vendors. 🧱 Ecosystem Integration 1️⃣4️⃣ Third-Party Cataloging Partners – Authorize trained GeM onboarding agents to help with listing & category mapping. 1️⃣5️⃣ Logistics & Packaging Support – Partner with India Post & courier services to help sellers with shipping and fulfillment. #MSME #GEM #business #traders #importers

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Thank you to the IIMT Business Incubator Foundation, Dr. Vaibhav Sharma, Zoya Naaz and the entire team for the warm welcome and the opportunity to be part of this ecosystem. For me, mentoring young innovators is not just about sharing advice - it is an opportunity to build alongside them, to nurture ideas from concept to product-market fit, and to keep learning in the process myself. Every startup journey teaches something new, and I believe mentorship should be a two-way learning experience. One of the biggest values I hope to bring is helping young entrepreneurs avoid some of the mistakes I made early in my journey - learning how to fail fast, iterate quickly, and sometimes even avoid failure altogether with the right guidance, structure, and execution discipline. Becoming a successful founder today requires much more than strong technology skills. It demands the ability to understand customers, build sustainable business models, communicate value, and execute across technology, sales, and marketing. My goal is to help founders develop this complete skill set and mindset. I also strongly believe mentorship should go beyond giving gyan. It should involve hands-on building, honest feedback, and practical guidance - working together to turn ideas into real, scalable products that create impact. Looking forward to collaborating with passionate founders and contributing to their journeys. #StartupMentorship #ProductMarketFit #Founders #DeepTech #Execution #Innovation #StartupEcosystem #MakeInIndia

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One of the most intellectually enriching experiences at the IIM Udaipur Summer School was attending Prof.Prateek Sharma’s sessions on Finance. Prof. Sharma brought clarity to what often feels like a complex subject — covering essentials like valuation, IRR, WACC, discounted cash flows, and financial decision-making. His teaching blended academic rigor with practical relevance. Whether it was understanding how to value bonds, evaluate risk-adjusted returns, or use NPV for investment decisions — every topic was made approachable and logical. What stood out most was his structured approach and ability to turn abstract financial tools into actionable thinking frameworks. Grateful for the learning and the clarity Prof. Sharma brought into every session. #Finance #IIMUdaipur #SummerSchool #InvestmentDecisions

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The invisible barriers preventing companies from scaling beyond INR 250 Cr This is a crucial point where > Growth is neither linear nor guaranteed. > The pace and the momentum begin to stall or slow down. > What worked before no longer does. In fact, in most cases, it begins to break. The factors for this don’t show up on any financial statements, but they creep in to undermine scalability. The failure is no longer due to the absence of ambition, capital or even capability. The plateau is due to invisible barriers that founders don’t recognise. 1/ Patchwork Strategy Up until INR 250 Cr, agility, founder intuition, and opportunism play a considerable role. Crossing and growing beyond this barrier sustainably requires a cohesive and structured strategy rather than a series of isolated initiatives and events. When your business plan is reactive, growth is only partial, and this will never contribute to scaling up; instead, it will merely enable you to survive each day as it comes. 2/ Org design Many companies at this stage outgrow their existing org structures way faster than the founders realise. The team managing 50, 100, or 250 Cr is expected to navigate the complexities ahead without considering leadership roles and accountability, and this is when efficiency leakages become more prominent. 3/ Capital allocation Moves to enter a new market, introduce new products, engage in capacity building, or make acquisitions require calculated bets, and these steps are necessary to grow beyond a certain point. The absence of a capital allocation strategy means that founders are taking blind bets, and this only leads to poor ROI and reduced risk buffers. Founders, as they scale, must employ scenario planning and informed bets to ensure capital allocation pays off in the long run. 4/ The Bottleneck While founders are the most significant enablers up to the 100-250 Cr mark, they unintentionally also become the biggest bottlenecks for growth beyond this point. Decision systems and creating more leaders internally become crucial. Scalability hits a roadblock when all roads lead only to the founder. 5/ Growth infrastructure Data-driven decision-making, performance review and monitoring, cross-functional communication & efficiency, organisational redesign, and finance as a strategic tool rather than merely for controls are all crucial growth infrastructures that founders need to consider. These have to be designed with an intent and to meet the business's needs, and copy-paste models do not cater to this. The barriers are often invisible on a post-mortem dashboard. They are both cultural and structural. If left unaddressed, these seemingly small barriers snowball into something unmanageable. Growth requires leadership to make uncomfortable decisions. The choice is between getting out of your comfort zone and bringing about the necessary changes, or being comfortable while competition quietly creeps, and you wouldn’t fathom what hit you.

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Leading Beyond Boundaries to Build Future-Ready Organizations: Insights from the IIM Raipur Leadership Summit 2025 This year’s Leadership Summit at IIM Raipur, themed “The CXO Compass—Navigating beyond Boundaries to Build Future Ready Organisations”, put a spotlight on several themes that deeply resonate with me. In a world that is constantly shifting, these reflections are close to my heart, and I want to formalize them here as guiding principles for navigating change. Key takeaways from the discussions: - Agility in uncertainty – Leaders must continuously adapt, balancing resilience with rapid response to change. - People-first strategies – Technology is essential, but human judgment, empathy, and inclusivity remain at the core of decision-making. - Vision-driven leadership – A clear sense of purpose guides organizations through complexity and helps align teams toward sustainable impact. - Future readiness – Combining adaptability, inclusivity, and innovation is the blueprint for leadership in the 21st century. The summit underscored a vital truth: leadership today is not about managing what is, but preparing for what could be. The question for all leaders now is simple: Are you ready to navigate? #Leadership #FutureOfWork #OrganizationalTransformation #IIMRaipur #CXOSummit #PurpleSalmon

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Careers aren’t built by rushing into specialization. Mr. Sitaraman Shankar (CEO, IIMBx) shares why early experimentation, trying different roles and skills, helps you discover where you truly belong. 🌱 Sitaraman Shankar Diljith Kannan #iimb #iimbx #sangam #careerexploration #skilldiscovery

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What if the most important MBA lesson isn’t in your textbook but in a movie? Every MBA student needs to watch “The Devil Wears Prada 2” Not for the management consultants or McKinsey references Not for the Harvard MBA cameo Not even for the classic “gut & repackage the business” strategy from the consulting handbook! Watch it for something far more practical: Being “referral-worthy” Because careers don’t just move on credentials They move on “trust” Throughout the movie, the biggest breakthroughs didn’t come from applications or cold outreach, they came from “referrals”: 🗝️ Andy (Anne Hathaway) hustled for an introduction to land the Sasha Barnes (Lucy Liu) interview 🗝️ To save Runway, Andy needed Emily (Emily Blunt) to unlock access to her boyfriend Benji Barnes (Justin Theroux) 🗝️ Nigel (Stanley Tucci) opened doors for Andy through his recommendation to Jay Ravitz (BJ Novak) that got his father Irv Ravitz (Tibor Feldman) to hire Andy to save Runway None of those moments happen without someone willing to say: “I trust this person. You should too!” And here’s the hard truth: 💡 No one refers a stranger 💡 No one risks their reputation or personal brand on someone they don’t trust Being referral-worthy means: ✅ Building genuine relationships before you need them ✅ Performing or showing consistency in how you deliver ✅ Earning credibility over time & not demanding it instantly Your network isn’t just about who you know It’s about who is willing to “stand behind you when it counts” So before your next job search or deal pitch, ask yourself: “Who would confidently refer me today & why?” What’s 1 thing you’re doing to become more referral-worthy? Share your tips below 👇

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Aspiring to be a CEO someday, then listen to the conversation with Toral Patel - Founder of India's leading Executive Search firm Accord India. Toral talks about CEO Searches, Qualities, and Compensation. To listen to the entire discussion, log onto YT Channel ( Sell Side Conversations) https://lnkd.in/dvV_4zkd

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When Listening Becomes the Product (Originally published for Slice of Startup Life on eChai Ventures) Radhika Mohta ❤️’s work begins with listening. Every part of what she does, the Elevate sessions that feel like conversations with a friend, the fortnightly check-ins in her relationship coaching, the confidential introductions on WhatsApp and Zoom, the sober curious parties where strangers meet without the crutch of alcohol, rests on how deeply she hears people. What starts as a short call often turns into a space where people share family pressures, past relationships, or the quiet loneliness of being misunderstood. As a matchmaker, relationship coach, and social health advocate, her work is about creating spaces for meaningful connections, one-on-one, in small groups, and through personal introductions, where people feel safe to open up and build relationships that last. She often says, “I strongly believe that the quality of our questions defines the quality of our conversations which then defines the quality of our relationships and therefore life. Let's start with being kind and curious, asking good questions and truly listening.” That belief runs through everything she designs, from intimate conversations to larger gatherings. Her business is built around this practice. The introductions matter because the stories behind them are understood. The coaching works because the check-ins reflect what people genuinely feel. The gatherings leave a mark because people sense they can be themselves without pretense. It leaves behind questions that linger: In our rush to move fast, how often do we pause to listen? What shifts in our work when we treat listening as the center? And as founders, when was the last time we created space where someone could speak freely?

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As IIM shortlists and interview dates approach, many aspirants are understandably anxious about the process. I felt the same way in 2024. Here are 4 key lessons from my experience that may help you: 1. Know your story and its context: My interviews focused on my CV and personal journey, but not in the way I expected. The IIMC panel asked me to design an algorithm for Zomato’s rider allocation (a nod to my CS degree), and questioned me about Uber’s impact on the car market (relating to my work at Sixt R&D). Review your experiences from a business perspective and be clear about your motivations. Interviewers may also verify your interests; I was asked to summarise the life of Thyagaraja just because I’m a Carnatic singer! 2. Breathe and keep your wits about you: Some panels will pressure-test you. You will be met with unwarranted scowls, rude words, and constant interruptions. It’s all about how you handle yourself. Stay cool, ask for some time to compose your answer, and don’t let them get to you. 3. Leave the interview behind once you leave the room: Some interviews will go sideways. Once you leave the room, do not keep obsessing over whether your mistakes cost you a seat. It will only get in the way of your performance in upcoming interviews. Write down your mistakes and ensure you don’t repeat them. 4. Be happy with having given it your best: I thought my IIMB interview was my second-best interview and expected to have cleared it. Imagine my surprise when I converted everything except Bangalore! In my 2 years at IIMC, I have seen so many people get everything right and still get disappointed. Some things are just a product of luck. Don’t lose faith in yourself. Here's wishing a very successful WAT-PI season to all IIM aspirants! Feel free to reach out to me in case you’d like to discuss something further.    #iim #iimc #cat

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