Dr. Subrata Kumar Nandi is the Deputy Director at FOSTIIMA Business School. He has completed his B. Tech in Mining from the Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad. He did a Masters in Business Administration from Bharathidasan Institute of Management, Tiruchirapalli, specializing in Marketing and Operations. He completed his FPM (PhD) from XLRI, Jamshedpur. He has over 26 years of experience, out of which 15 years have been in Academics, where he has taught undergraduate and postgraduate students in Management. He has also worked with companies like Coal India Limited, Dalmia Cement, Hughes Communications, and Archies Limited.

Fostiima Business School

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?

For me getting into academics was fortuitous. I was working for a company in Nagpur, Maharashtra. Due to a major life event, I decided to move to Delhi. While I was looking for a job opportunity in the new city, I was offered a teaching position in one of the Business Schools in Delhi. That was my first brush with academics and it shaped my destiny. After 3 years of teaching, I decided to return to a corporate job but soon returned to teaching. This is something I enjoy. The fact that I make a difference in the lives of people who are going to be business leaders in the future is reason enough for me to continue in this vocation. I feel proud to see my students reach positions of responsibility in their professional lives. Over the years, I have seen generational changes in the types of students. For the new technology-savvy generation, I learn a lot and enrich my knowledge and skills while interacting with them. The excitement of learning while teaching also keeps me going as a teacher.

What is your philosophy of leadership? How would you describe your leadership style?

My philosophy of leadership is that leaders should not only inspire others but should also identify and nurture other leaders who can fill in their shoes to take the group forward. It is not only about guiding others to their goals but also facilitating others to reach where they aspire to be. My leadership style is transformational. I do not believe that people should unquestionably follow what their leaders say. Leaders should give opportunities to others to take greater responsibilities and guide them whenever they need help. Leaders should encourage people to think independently while not deviating from their part to reach the greater goal.

What do you think should be the University’s top priority over the next ten years?

In the last 15 years, we have established ourselves as an institution of higher education which is different from many of our contemporaries. We have taken advantage of our legacy to impart an education that prepares students to build successful corporate careers. In the next 10 years, the top priority for us would be to emerge as one of the most preferred institutes for students who seek to pursue a career in management. Our curriculum has always kept pace with the changing needs of the industry. We would continue to adapt our curriculum to incorporate the changes in the skills that the industry requires from students.

Check Fostiima Business School Placement

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

Students who apply to our institute are aware of the high quality of education that we impart and our strong faculty pool who are from the best institutes of the country and have worked in some of the most renowned companies. We would like all of them to know about the other things that we do to offer a holistic education. We are the only institute where students are given opportunities for industry visits during the induction period itself. In the first month of their joining, students are sent on outbound training to impart team-building skills. Throughout the year, industry leaders address our students and apprise them of what is happening in the industry. We have more than 15 clubs which are managed and driven by the students. We believe in the overall development of our students. We want more people to know about all the initiatives that we undertake.

What do you see as the University’s greatest strengths?

The institute’s greatest strengths are the faculty, the curriculum, and the other non-academic interventions that we offer. Our faculty members come from premier B-Schools like the IIMs, FMS, XLRI, etc., and have spent years in top corporate organizations in India and abroad. They bring the practical aspects of business into the classroom discussions. Our students, therefore, are completely industry-ready by the time they seek placements in different companies. In addition to all the things that have been mentioned earlier, we have a strong mentorship program, where each faculty mentors a set of students throughout their stay in the institute.

How is your relationship with the students of your college?

My interaction with students is at two levels – one, as a teacher, and two, as a mentor. As a teacher, I impart knowledge and guide students in their efforts to develop a skill. As a mentor, I am like a friend, philosopher, and guide who listens to their worries, excitements, and dreams and helps channel their efforts towards a goal that they discover to be more beneficial for them. In both my roles, I work closely with students and maintain the relationship of a friend and a guardian at the same time.