ADMAP – Learning with a New Perspective

Prof Parimal Merchant, a respected faculty at SPJIMR, Mumbai is widely renowned for his innovative initiatives. Enriched with Twenty-four years experience in industry, consultancy and capital markets, he comes across as a person who is not bigoted to the orthodox theories of management. We had a chance to taste the flavour of his style of pedagogy just after the completion of our first term. As a co-ordinator of ADMAP (Assessment and Development of Managerial Aptitude & Potential), which in itself is a unique initiative at SPJIMR, he addressed us on the “Traits of a Leader”.

To everyone’s surprise, he started the talk by ridiculing MBA as a degree. He challenged everyone to come up with a valid and convincing reason to do an MBA. He countered the explanations given by the startled participants with aplomb. Gradually, he builded the platform to explain the true essence of a management degree and bought forward the unique pedagogy of SPJIMR’s ADMAP program.

He urged the participants not to take this course just as a mean to good placements, but to imbibe the true essence of management. He elaborated on the philosophy of this course by asking us to develop and inculcate qualities which will ensure their success in today’s era of cut-throat competition. He mentioned eleven traits of a true leader based on various findings and research which are mentioned underneath:

• Hard work
• Analytical ability
• Initiative
• Attention to details
• Leadership
• Entrepreneurship
• Influencing without power
• Perseverance
• Team skill
• Value for values
• Persuasiveness

The session ended with a movie on Aditya Vikram Birla, former chairman of the Aditya Birla Group. Aditya Birla was a great visionary who himself set out a bold, uncharted path that proved that Indian businessmen are second to none when it comes to creativity and adventure. We could clearly identify all the above traits in him.

Finally, when the session got over, everyone was bubbling with enthusiasm and energy of new found wisdom. We realised the rich heritage we are part of and experienced the truly unique approach of learning, tutored only at SPJIMR.

Cheers..

Saurabh Shukla