Mr. Mohammed Affan Mujahid has an MBA in Finance and Marketing and has been familiar with Lakhotia College since childhood. As the son of the college's founders, he has been proactive in business activities, academic planning, marketing and communication, and corporate social responsibility. With over 34 years of solid performance in the industry, Lakhotia College is now ranked number one in design education.

Affan began his journey with Lakhotia College as an academic counselor at the Banjara Hills campus in 2013. He gained experience in sales over time and served as the Director of Marketing and Sales in 2017. In 2019, to his surprise, Affan was announced as the Managing Director by his mother, the CEO of the company at the time. She believed that he was ready to take up the position for good.

Affan's journey at Lakhotia College has taught him professional and personal lessons, and he is committed to working harder and smarter with utmost dignity and integrity, following and implementing the footsteps and leadership skills of his late mother.

Lakhotia College of Design

What inspired you to pursue a career in design education and become a managing director of a design college?

It has been 30 years since we laid the foundation of Lakhotia College of Design, and ever since then, I have witnessed my parents working very hard to bring Lakhotia College to where it is today. It has been a rocky yet challenging journey. Being a part of this journey, I nurtured leadership skills and understood the importance of design and creativity in the education industry at a very early age. My passion for design, love for education, and desire to make a difference inspired me to pursue a career in the design education business and become the managing director of Lakhotia College. It's incredibly fulfilling to nurture creativity, foster innovation, and witness students grow as prolific designers.

How do you envision the role of the managing director in a design college? What is your leadership style?

In my opinion, leadership is nothing but making people understand their true potential, helping them push fears away, and finding the best abilities in themselves, which will help them grow as a person and the company. Most leaders think they are in a position of authority or control, and that’s where it all starts to go downhill. I lead by working as an active team member in all departments, inspiring them to work with integrity and dignity. I believe in leading by example and fostering open communication and collaboration among students, faculty, and staff.

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How do you stay updated with the latest design trends, technologies, and industry developments? How do you incorporate them into the college curriculum?

Lakhotia College of Design developed a research and development cell years ago, which helps the college's academic planners and students attain fine knowledge and hands-on understanding of current trends and technologies. The college also has an advisory board of industry experts and celebrity mentors who provide regular input on industry developments and the skills required of the next generation of students to make a career in the design and media industries. Moreover, the Academic planners and HODs of the college are encouraged to attend seminars, workshops, and boot camps, which keep them updated with current affairs in the design and education industries.

How do you attract and retain highly qualified faculty members who can contribute to the students' growth and development? How do you support their professional growth?

Attracting and retaining highly qualified faculty members is essential for providing quality education and fostering students' growth and development. The college Implements regular faculty development programs, workshops, and training sessions to keep faculty members updated with the latest teaching methodologies, industry trends, and technologies. The management respects the work-life balance of its staff members and hence provides a flexible work environment that allows faculty members to balance their professional and personal commitments effectively. Moreover, by promoting a healthy and supportive work environment that considers the well-being of faculty members

In your opinion, what are the current challenges faced by design education? How do you address them?

We face numerous challenges in the design education industry: the online style of education, diversity and inclusivity in the fashion industry, and keeping up with rapidly evolving technology in the education sector.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the shift to online learning has presented its own set of challenges. To face this challenge, we have adapted our teaching methods to accommodate online learning while maintaining interactive and live sessions. We leverage technology and virtual connection platforms to ensure students receive a quality learning experience.

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What measures do you take to ensure student success, including job placements, internships, and networking opportunities?

Ensuring student success is one of our top priorities. To achieve this, we take several measures to provide students with valuable experiences, including job placements in the best design studios, internships with the best designers, and Industry networking with experts. Lakhotia College developed a placement cell department several years ago that rapidly worked on making industry connections and finding the best job opportunities for our design and media students. 95% of our students get placed in reputed design firms across India. Lakhotia College also provides a platform for its students to showcase and sell their designed garments, named Label Lakhotia. An online design store to drive entrepreneurship amongst alumni of Lakhotia College of Design.