On 1st March 2025, a panel discussion was organized at the Auditorium, Dr. K. M. Vasudevan Pillai Campus from 10:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for MMS first- and second-year students. The objective of the session was to provide deep insights into career choices of entrepreneurship. It was about — climbing the corporate ladder versus taking the entrepreneurial leap—and their role in driving India’s prosperity through innovation and start-up ecosystems.
The event was conceptualized by Prof. Subramanian Iyer and hosted by Prof. Vijay Karvande and Prof. Santoshi Periyasamy. The distinguished panel comprised three corporate leaders — Mrs. Sujata Ranjan, Mr. Mahendra Patil, and Mr. Sudhir Mishra—alongside two dynamic entrepreneurs — Ms. Bhuvana Kumar and Dr. Rajeev Puri. The discussion was expertly moderated by Executive Director, Dr. R. Chandran, who steered conversations around values, adaptability, innovation, and collaboration between corporates and start-ups.
The panel emphasized that while the corporate path ensures stability, structured growth, mentorship, and resource access, the entrepreneurial journey offers freedom, creativity, and potential for high impact. Both career paths were presented as complementary forces that contribute significantly to India’s innovation-driven growth story.
Students were encouraged to critically evaluate the opportunities and challenges of both trajectories, aligning decisions with their personal goals, risk appetite, and long-term vision. Key themes that emerged included the importance of leadership, innovation, adaptability, and value-based decision-making in shaping successful careers.
The session fostered rich interaction, with 167 MMS students, 7 faculty members including IIC members actively participating in the same. A significant takeaway for students was understanding how to balance structured career growth with entrepreneurial risk-taking, while recognizing the role of collaboration between corporates and start-ups in advancing India’s prosperity.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks and the presentation of mementos to the esteemed panelists, leaving students inspired to envision their future with clarity and confidence.
