IIM Jammu strengthens leadership, collaboration, and industry readiness on day 2 of holistic orientation programme 2026

JAMMU: The Indian Institute of Management Jammu continued its Holistic Orientation Programme 2026 with an engaging second day on 14^th July 2026 focused on fostering leadership, collaboration, institutional values, and industry preparedness among the incoming students of the 7th Batch of Ph.D., 11th Batch of MBA, 5th Batch of MBA (Healthcare), and the inaugural Batch of MBA (AI and BA).

The day commenced with the invigorating "Maximize Happiness and Mindfulness" session under the aegis of Anandam, The Centre for Happiness led by renowned Yoga Guru Shri Sahil Mehra, enabling students to begin their day with mindfulness, positivity, and mental resilience.

Addressing the incoming cohorts on "Students' Policy, Rules and Regulations at IIM Jammu," Prof. (Brig.) (Retd.) Dr. Neeraj Soni, Chairperson, Student Affairs, familiarized the incoming batch with the Institute's academic culture, code of conduct, and student-centric policies. Encouraging students to embrace every opportunity for learning and growth, he emphasized that while mistakes are part of the learning process, it is always better to make mistakes of omission than mistakes of commission. He assured them of IIM Jammu's safe and supportive learning environment, underscored the importance of self-discipline, integrity, resilience, and lifelong learning, and encouraged them to dream fearlessly, uphold the highest ethical standards, and evolve into compassionate, value-driven, and globally responsible leaders.

One of the most engaging highlights of the day was the Outbound Learning Programme, conducted by the faculty members of the OB & Human Resource Management and Business Communication areas, namely Dr. Apoorva Shekher, Dr. Mythiri B., and Dr. Soumyadeep Bandyopadhyay. Through a series of experiential learning activities, team-building exercises, communication challenges, and collaborative tasks, students were encouraged to break barriers, build trust, overcome inhibitions, and develop confidence while fostering camaraderie with their peers. The interactive activities created an environment where students shed their initial apprehensions, freely expressed themselves, and laid the foundation for lifelong friendships and collaborative learning.

The afternoon featured an insightful session by Mr. Rajesh Sharma, Deputy General Manager, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), who shared valuable perspectives on leadership, the evolving energy sector, and the global business environment. Drawing from his professional journey, he encouraged students to embrace challenges with resilience, view failures as opportunities for growth, and contribute meaningfully to the institutions they represent. He highlighted the impact of geopolitical developments on the energy industry, introduced students to India's oil and gas ecosystem and BPCL's pivotal role in it, and emphasized that true leadership is rooted in responsibility, continuous learning, and sound decision-making. Concluding with a thought-provoking message, he distinguished between information, knowledge, and wisdom, urging students to transform learning into wise and ethical action.

Addressing the incoming MBA cohort, Mr. Ankit Jhamb, Chief Learning Officer, Grant Thornton Bharat LLP, inspired students to embrace every experience as an opportunity for growth and emphasized that lasting success is built through consistent effort, continuous learning, and the compounding impact of small, meaningful actions. Drawing from his personal and professional journey, he encouraged students to remain resilient, build on their strengths, adapt to challenges, and pursue their aspirations with discipline, reminding them that true success is the cumulative outcome of perseverance, purpose, and lifelong learning.

Later in the day, Addressing the incoming cohort, Prof. (Brig.) (Retd.) Dr. Neeraj Soni, Chairperson, Student Affairs, introduced IIM Jammu's distinctive 4-Tier Mentor-Mentee Programme, which connects students with senior peers, faculty, alumni, and industry mentors to support their academic, personal, and professional development. Highlighting the role of the Cohort In-Charge as a constant source of guidance, he drew inspiration from the Bhagavad Gita to emphasize self-discipline, continuous learning, and dedicated action. Encouraging students to actively engage with the Institute's mentoring ecosystem, he urged them to seize every opportunity for learning and evolve into ethical, compassionate, and future-ready leaders.

The Alumni Panel Discussion at IIM Jammu featured distinguished alumni, Mr. Sriram Gowtham Rengarajan, Customer Success Manager, Salesforce; Mr. Smrutiranjan Das, Management Consulting Analyst, Accenture; Ms. Meenakshi Srivastava, Lead Analyst, Information Services Group; Mr. Aakash Agarwal, Manager, Deloitte; and Mr. Bhavnish Sharma, Commercial Consultant, FedExwho inspired the incoming cohort by sharing insights from their professional journeys. Encouraging students to look beyond placements, they emphasized continuous learning, adaptability, networking, and the importance of making the most of opportunities such as student clubs, committees, and the Summer Internship Programme (SIP). Present during the session were Prof. Nitin Upadhyay, Dean Academics, IIM Jammu, and Prof. Sanjay Gupta, Chairperson, AlumniIIM Jammu, who felicitated the alumni panelists. The session concluded with a powerful  message that an MBA journey is shaped not only by placements but by experiences, relationships, and learning that build future-ready leaders.

The evening culminated with another captivating edition of Rang Tarang 2026 under the guidance of Padma Shri Balwant Thakur, where students showcased their artistic talents through vibrant cultural performances, reinforcing the Institute's emphasis on holistic development, creativity, inclusivity, and community spirit.

The second day of the Holistic Orientation Programme reaffirmed IIM Jammu's commitment to creating an enriching ecosystem that seamlessly integrates academic excellence, experiential learning, leadership development, industry exposure, and holistic student growth, preparing future managers to excel in an increasingly interconnected and dynamic world