Dr. Ruchi Rayat is an Accredited Management Expert and a Professor of OB and Human Resource Management. Currently, she is working with the GNIOT Institute of Management Studies in the capacity of Deputy Director. With a rich experience of more than 19 years as an academician, administrator and corporate trainer, she has held several faculty and administrative positions during her career. Before joining GIMS, Dr. Rayat worked in the position of Dean Post the Postgraduate Program and Programme Head of the undergraduate programme at the previous college. She has also acted as an in-charge Professor at the Incubation Centre to mentor young students in creating their own startups.

As a respected teacher and facilitator, Dr. Rayat has taught several courses in the area of OB and Human Resource Management at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. She has also conducted several FDPs and MDPs for academicians and executives from some of India's leading universities and companies. She is not only best known for her work on employee engagement and corporate culture, but has also conducted corporate trainings on Emotional Intelligence, Cultural Sensitivity, Stress Management, etc. Dr. Rayat has published several research papers in ABDC and Scopus-indexed journals. She has been awarded the Distinguished Educator Award in 2020 by Bestow Edutrex, the Quality Contribution Award from GNIOT Group in the year 2020 and the Best Faculty Award in 2021.

Greater Noida Institute of Management and Studies

What do you consider your roles and responsibilities towards the College and Students?

I have been associated with GIMs since their inception and I can rightly say that I am the founder member of GIMS and consider my roles and responsibilities to be greater towards the institute and the students. I want that whatever curriculum we are offering to the student should be primarily based on experiential learning, not just theoretical. This should be done so that students can become better leaders who can hold good positions in the corporate space. My role is to bridge the gap between the industry and the academy and inculcate discipline and ethics among the students because corporations not only look for domain knowledge or specific skill sets but also want people who can absorb the culture of the company. As the deputy director, my primary responsibility is to bring new collaborations for the institution and see what new initiatives can be taken for the institution that would help not only the institution but in the development of the students

What are the key factors that keep you connected with the education sector?

Previously, when I was working in the corporate sector, I realised that something was missing. Job satisfaction and contentment were not there. I wanted to learn new things and when I came into the education sector, I realised that every day you get to connect with the students. The energy and the vibe are something that keeps that positivity in you alive. You get to interact with the young generation, and seeing them grow in their lives is motivating. The kind of light that I see in my students, is something that makes me stay in this sector. This is what keeps me alive, and this is what keeps the spark in me alive. The kind of love, affection, respect and association that you get from your students, is amazing and inspiring to me.

What is your philosophy of leadership?

My philosophy of leadership is to empower people. As a leader, what is most important is not being just an example for others to follow but at the same time, believing in your people and empowering them. You need to empower your team so that they can become better leaders, and this in turn will help you grow. My philosophy is I believe in delegation of authority. I give complete authority to my people so that they can make better decisions on their own.

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What can an inbound student gain from studying here in your institute?

We are primarily focusing on experiential learning, and we want the students to be ready for the corporate world. To do this, we offer them different certification programs, skill augmentation certifications, life projects, and industrial projects. Students learn the real realms of the industry and we teach them diversity as well. Apart from academics, the course curriculum at GNIOT is very strong, which not only gives the students theoretical learning but also aims at experiential learning that will help them become better leaders. Apart from this, we also ensure that we have diversity and inclusion in the student population. In GNIOT, we have students from PAN India.

⁠What are the new initiatives taken by GNIOT for this academic session?

I believe that for any organisation to survive, it is very essential that you keep bringing something new to the table. We believe in upgrading our curriculum regularly and taking new initiatives for the students. For instance, the skill augmentation certifications that we are offering to the students are a new addition in this regard. This year we have also had a collaboration with Grant Thornton, under which we have already conducted a few certifications. We study the market and do a lot of research on what can be done for the betterment of the students and what can add value to the course. We also have an international immersion program that provides global exposure to the students. This is not just an excursion tour but an educational trip. Instead, we tie up with international universities like Middlesex University on the basis of which our students can go and attend certification programs.

⁠Any suggestions you would like to give to the aspiring students?

My only suggestion to aspiring students would be regarding upskills. Upskilling is very important, as it keeps you updated and competitive. Whenever you join any postgraduate program, it is important to have strong perseverance and to be open-minded, because a lot of students have certain reservations about the domains or about how things work. It is crucial to be flexible and open minded. Learning is also a continuous process, and you must be ready to move out of your comfort zone. If you want to be successful in life, then the only mantra is to break the boundaries, challenge yourself, and reskill.