Dr. Karthikeyan Balakumar is an Assistant Professor in the Marketing Area at IIM Sirmaur. He also serves as the Chairperson, of Placements and Career Development. After securing a PGDM from IIM Tiruchirappalli where he also secured the Gold Medal for academic proficiency, he worked in channel sales for TTK Prestige and helped set up and manage tertiary eye hospitals in Africa.

Dr. Balakumar has a PhD in Marketing from IIM Calcutta and his doctoral research focused on exploring retail channel strategies. In addition to receiving the Association of Consumer Research- Transformative Consumer Research grant in 2020, he has also published in the Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services and the Economic and Political Weekly. Dr. Karthikeyan also writes regularly on his website on his current research interests which are in the domains of retailing, channel management and sales management. He also works on topics about public policy from time.

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You have held key positions at education institutes throughout your professional career. What are the key factors that keep you connected with the education sector?

I’m still a very young faculty member, still learning from the very best. I think the most important factor that connects me with the education sector is the love I receive from my students. Even when I’m sick, I feel good interacting with my students. Something about them motivates me to give my very best, every time.

Being a Professor of IIM Sirmaur, what is your philosophy of leadership? How would you describe your leadership style?

I have served as the placement chair at IIM Sirmaur for a little under a year now. During this time, I have mostly led from the front and by example. I feel that it is necessary to be in the thick of action when you are trying to champion a cultural change of sorts. The fact that you are there with them ensures that the team is also motivated and students, in general, don’t lose morale.

Being the President/VC of IIM Sirmaur, how do you strategize about the key programs and plans for the marketing and administration of your school? 

Our director, Dr. Prafulla Agnihotri, always tells us that there are three pillars on which any IIM stands: Research, Teaching and Administration. In addition to my teaching and research work, I have been given the key responsibility of handling the career aspirations of our 600 students. At Sirmaur, we seek to be a technology lead pioneer for our recruitment partners. We have one of the most progressive placement policies and have a very inclusive placement team that students love.

The education systems in India and other foreign countries are structured very differently. In your experience, what can an inbound student gain from studying at IIM Sirmaur? 

IIM Sirmaur offers a unique learning experience that one does not find in other places. Since it’s a young school, it is rapidly growing. Students are provided with excellent opportunities, and they can take centre stage and deliver results. For example, our placement brochure was fully designed and developed by a team of our students. The same goes for our social media pages and our website. This sort of ownership of the institute does not happen at many institutes. Students who are entrepreneurial at heart and want to learn by doing will find that Sirmaur has much to offer them.

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How does the curriculum of IIM Sirmaur ensure the best practice of industry?

While the curriculum at most IIMs is rather standardised, I feel from a placement point of view we have an industry-first approach. Every year, we collect feedback from both our interning students and our industry partners and arrange for the inputs to be incorporated into the post-graduate program. This year, for example, we have identified 30+ key themes that will need to focus on. These themes will be highlighted to the respective faculty members so that they can update their courses and incorporate them into classroom teaching.

Any insights into how your university could be more welcoming to students of different races or economic backgrounds? 

Being a Tamil, I think IIM Sirmaur is very inclusive. There are people from all parts of the country. I feel that regardless of where students come from, and what languages they speak, they are bound together by the ethos of our institute. Students should come and experience it themselves to understand it better.

What do you think your roles and responsibilities to the University and the students are?

I have the responsibility of grooming a bright set of individuals to contribute to the nation. It’s difficult to describe in words the quantum of responsibility that each of us has on our shoulders. However, we are given the resources and facilities by the institute to deliver our best and work on ourselves as well.

What would you like people to know about your university they may not know? 

IIM Sirmaur has over 40 full-time faculty from a variety of specialisations. That’s an impressive 1:15 student-to-teacher ratio for just full-time faculty. If you include the part-time faculty members, this number will quickly increase. I think that’s something people don’t know. Sirmaur is sort of a panacea that’s locked in the foothills of the Himalayas. 

What do you see as IIM Sirmaur’s greatest strengths? 

The ability to adapt to changing market realities is our strength. I think from a placement perspective, IIM Sirmaur’s strength is its student friendliness. We have never opted out of any student or mandated any opportunity, which means that our institute is one place where students can truly achieve their career aspirations. Even in a tough market, we have not closed the placements and have continued to release results. We truly will leave no one behind and ensure that we give our best for the batch.

What are some of the biggest challenges you see, both for higher education in general and for IIM Sirmaur specifically?

I see AI as both a challenge and an opportunity, especially in the context of higher education. A lot of students today use AI in ways that can limit their learning outcomes. I feel that is something we are learning to overcome as educators. The future holds much promise if we take this challenge into account.

Any suggestions you would like to give to the current youth and the aspiring students? 

For students, I would advise them to build real skills that the world needs. This will help you stay competitive and stand out from the competition. Pursue your passion and you will never suffer from burnout. When you enjoy what you do, money will follow.