Dr. Jayashree Veluthakkal has been working as the Associate Dean of Vishwa Vishwani Institute of Systems and Management, Hyderabad, Telangana. She is a distinguished academician and has done MBA and PhD in the Strategic Management domain from Osmania University. She also has 25+ years of rich work experience in academia. And till date, she has taught courses like Marketing Management, Services Marketing, Marketing Research, Consumer Behavior, and Marketing Metrics. Dr. Veluthakkal is also a seasoned educator and has delved into the realm of business consulting, bridging the gap between academia and industry. With a notable research portfolio, she has authored and published research papers and case studies in reputed journals, with a distinct focus on Services Marketing and Strategic Management.

Also, apart from teaching and mentoring budding and enthusiastic managers, she has been juggling between various administrative and institutional building activities like Program Management, Outcome Based Learning' program and managing statutory audits by prestigious accrediting bodies like NBA, NAAC and SAQS, Admissions, Strategic Planning Support, Placement Support and Alumni Relationship Support etc.

As an administrator, she has successfully managed the 2-year full-time PGDM program for over 15 years, overseeing critical aspects such as admissions, examinations, and results. A proactive collaborator, Dr. Veluthakkal liaises with regulatory bodies like AICTE and engages with associations such as MRSI and HMA. Also, in the last couple of years, she has taken charge of the admissions process, ensuring a seamless onboarding experience for incoming students. The commitment to mentoring young minds remains a steadfast passion, reflecting her dedication to nurturing the next generation of leaders.

Vishwa Vishwani Institute of Systems

How is the PGDM/MBA program of your college a best fit and worth pursuing for students?

The 2-year PGDM program of VVISM offers a holistic learning experience to students and is aligned with the vision of our institute, which is nothing but to produce globally relevant leaders. 

And we have also combined academic courses with various value-added programs on NSE Lab and Learn Biz Simulation. We also collaborate with IIM-A for case studies and we have an active Entrepreneurship Development Cell, Communication Lab, Industry Certifications and Sector-specific Elective courses. Along with this, our robust mentoring process helps students in their personal and career growth. 

What is your leadership style, and how do you cultivate a positive and collaborative academic environment within the college?

My leadership and management style is characterized by a collaborative and inclusive approach. And I firmly believe in promoting a positive and open work environment where individuals feel empowered to contribute their unique perspectives. Hence, to ensure a positive, trustworthy and collaborative academic environment within the college, I encourage my teaching staff, students and other stakeholders to regularly interact with each other and with us through formal and informal channels to share their ideas with each other, put forward their concerns and include feedback that could be helpful for everyone. Another benefit of this kind of collaboration is that everyone feels valued and included.

Faculty members are motivated from time to time to upgrade their skills and stay updated about the latest trends and advancement of their respective domains. Apart from this, fulfilling academic needs of my staff and students always remains my top priority, because I simply want to give them a journey they can cherish forever. Lastly, I engage all my stakeholders in key decisions to set a clear vision for the college’s future, ensuring alignment with the institution’s mission and goals. 

How do you strategize and develop the curriculum of the PGDM/MBA program to ensure its relevance in a dynamic business landscape?

For the purpose of making our PGDM programs more industry relevant and preparing our students for both current and future challenges, we regularly collaborate with our industry partners to develop such a flexible, dynamic, future-ready and technology integrated curriculum that aligns with their trends, requirements, standards and developments. This collaboration also helps us in regular knowledge upgradation of our faculty members and in considering global perspectives while delivering courses to students and inculcating much needed technical and soft skills in them.

How do you enhance students' engagement in the program, and ensure an enriching learning experience for them?

We have adopted interactive and participatory learning methods to promote students' active engagement in courses and allow them to apply their theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios. Latest technologies have also been integrated in curriculum to enhance their overall learning experience and personalized learning paths are defined from time to time to recognize and accommodate diverse learning styles of students. Apart from this, a plethora of specialization options and elective subjects are offered to students so that they can choose the most suitable one, based on their interests and career goals. Then we have a robust mentorship program to connect students with faculty members, alumni and industry professionals and provide them much needed guidance, support and valuable insights for career development. 

Dedicated clubs and organizations have also been formed related to particular subject specialization, to foster a sense of community, provide leadership opportunities, and enhance networking. Workshops on resume building, interview skills, and career planning are also organized by us from time to time, to equip students with the necessary tools to navigate the job market successfully. Last but not the least, we have counseling services in the form of mental health support, academic advising, and resources for managing stress to ensure holistic development of our students. And we never forget to celebrate the achievements of our students through recognition and awards and also engage them in community service or social impact projects.

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How do you foster the culture of diversity, equity and inclusion within your college?

I strongly believe that for creating a positive and enriching learning environment for students, promoting the culture of equality, diversity and inclusiveness within the college is very essential. Hence, we might consider establishing a DEI committee that can drive initiatives and recommend policies to promote such ambience. Apart from this, we regularly sensitise our faculty, staff members and students, on cultural diversity and enhance their awareness, understanding and respect for diverse cultures, backgrounds and perspectives. We intend to recruit and retain a diverse faculty and staff as well, because this not only brings a variety of perspectives to the institution but also provides role models to students from different backgrounds. 

Teachers are encouraged to adopt diverse yet inclusive teaching practices during lectures. Events including cultural festivals, awareness weeks, and guest speaker series featuring individuals from diverse backgrounds are also hosted on campus to celebrate the diversity of students which we have. Other than this, clear reporting mechanisms have been implemented for addressing any bias or discriminatory incidents promptly and transparently. Accommodations in the form of accessible technology and captioning services for individuals with disabilities are also available on our campus. 

What challenges and opportunities does the field of business administration have in higher education? And being a Dean, how do you tackle those hurdles?

There are few key challenges as far as the field of Business Administration is concerned. First hurdle is the rapid advancements in technology that require continuous updates to curricula and teaching methods to ensure graduates are well-prepared for the evolving business landscape. And to tackle this challenge, we regularly integrate emerging technologies in our college’s curriculum and arrange required training programs for faculty from time to time.

Next hurdle is changing and evolving student demographics which in return ask for adjustments in teaching pedagogies and support services. And to deal with this issue, we conduct regular assessments of student needs, create flexible learning pathways, and offer diverse support services to accommodate varying backgrounds and learning styles.

Also, if we talk about opportunities, there are many. First and foremost, the rise of online and hybrid learning presents immense opportunities to reach a broader student base and provide flexible education options to them. And to achieve this, we invest heavily in robust online platforms, provide training to faculty for online pedagogy, and leverage technology for innovative instructional approaches. In addition to this, interdisciplinary programs can prepare students for a holistic understanding of business challenges, therefore we encourage regular collaboration between departments. 

Building strong partnerships with leading industries also help institutions to provide amazing internship, research and placement opportunities to students. Hence, we dedicatedly work on our corporate relations and have established advisory boards to incorporate industry feedback into curriculum design. Last but not the least, we have integrated entrepreneurial concepts into the curriculum to provide required resources and support to students for startup initiatives. 

What suggestions would you give to the ambitious aspirants of the PGDM/MBA program?

I would advise all the aspiring students of PGDM/MBA to first clearly define their career goals and set realistic expectations, because these courses are quite challenging and clarity regarding workload, time commitment, and the need for a balanced lifestyle is very important for them as it will not only guide them throughout the program but help make the most of their academic experience. Also, thoroughly research everything related to the program including curriculum, specialization such as finance, marketing, human resources or entrepreneurship followed by faculty reputation, industry connections and alumni success to find a perfect course/specialization that aligns with your goals, preferences and values. In addition to this, make yourself well-prepared in basic business concepts and areas such as accounting, finance, marketing and management. 

Start building your professional network early by regularly attending networking events, joining professional organizations, and connecting with alumni to gain insights of the business world, industry trends and potential career paths. You can also subscribe to relevant publications, follow industry blogs and attend conferences for this. Also gain in-depth practical exposure through internships, part-time jobs or volunteer work, because real-world experience can enhance your classroom learning and make you more competitive in the job market. 

Apart from this, develop required communication, leadership and teamwork skills and thoroughly prepare for entrance exams like CAT/MAT/XAT/ATMA/CMAT etc. And approach your academic journey with a growth mindset, embrace challenges as opportunities for learning and continuous improvement, be open to new ideas and perspectives, engage yourself in different types of extracurricular activities and stay resilient through thick and thin. Seek support when needed and remember that growth often comes from overcoming obstacles.