I will strengthen links between India & Johnson: Soumitra Dutta

Interview with Designate Dean of Cornell University`s management school

Soumitra Dutta, 48, an IIT-Delhi alumnus, will become the 11th dean of the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell on July 1. In an emailed interview to Kalpana Pathak, the first Indian-origin head in the institution’s 66-year old history says there are several areas of interest that could help differentiate the university from the rest in India. Edited excerpts.

How does it feel to be the Dean of Cornell University's management school?
I am honoured and humbled by the confidence expressed in my leadership by the Cornell community and the Johnson business school. I am also proud to be the first Indian to assume this prestigious position.

Indian-origin academicians are increasingly being named at the helm of prestigious universities in the US. Why do you think this is happening?
There are several reasons for this: (a) There are many more academics now in US schools (so the supply is higher). (b) Indians are communicative and speak English well in general – good communication abilities are important for leaders. (c) Indians are used to diversity and are able to handle multi-culturalism well – an important trait for leading organisations with diverse groups of people. (d) Indians have good work ethic and are disciplined hard workers. (e) Many of the Indian professors come from top Indian institutions like the IITs which provide world class education.

Over a dozen international universities and their B-schools have firmed up their India plans except for Cornell. Would that change after your appointment?
India is a very important market for the Johnson school – many of Johnson’s students and faculty come from India. I will certainly look at plan for further strengthening links between India and Johnson in the future.

What areas would your management school would look at? Other international universities are imparting executive education in India.
There are several areas of interest that could also help differentiate Johnson: (a) Bringing Cornell’s universities’ many strengths in areas like agricultural sciences, physical sciences and health care to bear upon solutions for India’s challenges in critical areas like energy, agriculture, health care, etc. (b) Leveraging Cornell’s plans to open a new technology campus in New York city to build links with India’s vibrant technology entrepreneurs. (c) Leveraging centres at Johnson such as the Emerging Markets Institute and the Sustainable Enterprise institute to impart relevant executive education to Indian business leaders.

Academicians are terming your appointment as a unique one and one that would be benefitting Cornell at this juncture. How?
This is the first time that a major American university has gone outside the national boundaries to hire a Dean. This is unique and reflects the changing nature of the world. America realises that it needs to reach out to the world and integrate global perspectives. My appointment is a reflection of this change.

Recession made American and European B-schools look at India. Do you think this could change as these economies begin to recover?
American and European B-schools are looking at India for several reasons: (a) India is a great source of talent – both students and faculty. (b) India is a vibrant market for programmes and services offered by these schools. (c) India is a vibrant research platform where innovation is thriving and new business models are emerging. These reasons are really not linked to the recession and I think that the interest in India will continue to grow over the next years.