'Gunning' for corporate glory: Armed personnel graduate from IIM-L

Seeking transition from ‘Battlefield to Boardroom’, 27 defence officers today completed their General Management Programme from Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow (IIM-L).

The special programme is aimed at helping defence personnel look beyond traditional post-retirement career options (security and administration) and preparing them to move into corporate world.

While, the fee is borne by the candidates, the Army negotiates for a lower fee structure with the institute. IIM-L was the first institute to launch this course in 2004 and now other institutes, including IIMs, have followed suit.

The graduating officers, including four women personnel, underwent a comprehensive 24-week programme spanning 31 courses across domains. Lt Cdr Alok Rai and Lt Col Vinita Dhaka stood 1st and 2nd respectively in the 9th batch of the programme and were awarded merit certificates.

Addressing the valedictory ceremony, IIM-L Director Dr Devi Singh highlighted that the values and integrity imbibed in the armed forces would help them in creating a clean corporate environment.

“Indian armed forces officers form a rich hub of leadership skills, combat experience and managerial ability. Preparing both retired and retiring officers for a second career is a major function of the Directorate General of Resettlement,” Brigadier A K Siwach, Director Resettlement Zone (Central), said.

He said in this technology era, only knowledge-based employment would thrive and specialists would have better job avenues. Brig Siwach presented a Strength, Weakness, Opportunities, Threat (SWOT) analysis for the officers.