Chairman's Message

We are distinct and thus we make the difference’. This mantra lies at the very core of Great Lakes. This is what has helped us grow exponentially and establish a formidable reputation for ourselves amongst both academia and industry. I will to explain to you why – read on.

Education essentially brings about a change in a person based on what has been learned. What needs to be learned is different for different people. Some want to hone existing skillsets, others learn completely new ones, yet another wants an overall grooming or a leadership mentoring exercise or a personality development course etc. This said, understanding the need of prospective students and offering courses that will not only enhance their education but also transform them into hire-worthy professionals is an Art; and Great Lakes is the Artist. Over the last decade, we have perfected this art and now offer a range of courses that are tailored to suit the needs of the upwardly mobile and ambitious professional. In fact, we make sure that at the end of their stint with us, they are business-ready managers working for some of the best companies in the world.

The two-year PGDM program was born as a response to such a student-need. The freshers who are just out of under-grad colleges, those who have under 2 years of prior work experience require a different type of offering. The two years that they spend at b-school are necessary to help them understand the nuances of the corporate world, the economics of trade and commerce, the magic of interpersonal relationships, the ruthlessness of competition, the fantastic impact of technologies and practices to come etc. In essence, we need to prepare them for the onslaught of the real world – and this, we do, very well.

A rigorous selection process that brings to the class a heterogeneous peer group from across the country and all walks of life; superb mentors who are not only great teachers but also eminent gurus in their chosen fields of interest; a robust program across a choice of two locations, Chennai or Gurgaon, that uses a blend of different pedagogies like classroom instruction, experiential learning interludes, industry interface and interaction opportunities, seminars, conferences and research forums, empirical studies, care-share/Karma Yoga activities, contests, etc. are the hallmarks of the PGDM program. A wide variety of co-curricular activities also ensures that the students have a perfect balance of academic and allied activities thereby providing them multiple opportunities to grow and develop their personalities as a whole. In order to provide the best ambience for maximizing the value of the time that you spend with us, the Great Lakes campus has been conceived as a ‘Gurukulam’. The pristine surroundings that are green and eco-friendly with state-of-the art facilities offer the perfect setting in which to learn and transform. In fact, in the recent Outlook survey of the best b-schools in the country, we have been ranked #6 (and the five above us are some of the oldest schools in the country)!

The point that I am trying to make therefore is simply this. We strongly believe in making a difference not only to the students who study at Great Lakes, but also to the community at large. The reason for this is that life today is nowhere similar to what we knew it to be even a few years back. Compare it with your life as a child – with your earliest memories; the gadgets and appliances that you had at home; the way you spent your free time; the way you met and socialized with your friends and relatives; the way you played games; the way you took photos or listened to music or even read a book. I don’t need to point out the obvious – the way we live has changed in so many ways. What is more important is that while these changes have been happening at the micro level, these are but consequences of a macro-level change – of a change that has taken place due to the advances in science, technology, change in geo-political equations, trade cycles and economic upheavals.

So, where does that leave you? The need to adapt, be flexible, to respond, react and mutate to changes in surroundings is the very basic principle of evolution. The only way to do that is to keep the learning constant. Your experiences (both personal and professional), your education, the skillsets that you have acquired are all part and parcel of your learning and Great Lakes is the avenue for keeping yourself up to speed. Thus, if you want to make a difference to your life then choose Great Lakes. Experience the difference and be the change that you want to see in this world!