IIM Sambalpur 10th Convocation: Governor Urges Graduates to Become Job Creators
Odisha Governor inspires 416 IIM Sambalpur graduates to embrace startup revolution, highlighting state’s industrial growth and leadership with empathy.
Celebrating a Decade of Academic Excellence
The Indian Institute of Management Sambalpur (IIM-S) marked a significant milestone on Saturday with its 10th convocation ceremony, celebrating a decade of growth amid rising national rankings and global recognition. Against the picturesque backdrop of Odisha’s emerging educational landscape, 416 graduates across five diverse academic programmes received their degrees, representing the institute’s expanding footprint in management education. The ceremony highlighted IIM Sambalpur’s transformation from a young IIM established in 2015 to a NIRF-ranked institution gaining international attention for its innovative AI-enabled learning ecosystem.
Governor’s Call: From Job Seekers to Job Creators
Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati delivered the chief guest address, issuing a compelling challenge to the graduating class. Rather than following traditional paths as job seekers, he urged students to become visionary job creators driving India’s entrepreneurial revolution. “India’s startup ecosystem has matured through flagship initiatives like Digital India, Make in India, and Skill India,” the Governor emphasized. “You have the opportunity to leverage these platforms for national development and wealth creation.” His message resonated particularly strongly in Odisha, which he positioned as a burgeoning industrial hub ripe for management talent.
Diverse Graduating Cohort Across Five Programmes
The 2026 graduating class showcased remarkable diversity across IIM Sambalpur’s comprehensive academic offerings. The flagship MBA programme (2024-26 batch) contributed 314 students, forming the largest cohort and representing the institute’s core two-year residential programme. Executive MBA programmes added significant professional representation, with 39 students from the 2023-25 batch, 36 from the 2024-26 batch, and 17 working professionals pursuing specialized management education. Completing the cohort were 10 PhD scholars, including five focused specifically on research for working executives, demonstrating IIM-S’s commitment to doctoral-level contributions across career stages.
Recognizing Academic Excellence
The convocation ceremony formally acknowledged academic excellence through prestigious awards. Four meritorious students each received the Chairman’s Gold Medal and Director’s Gold Medal, recognizing outstanding performance across programmes. These honours underscore IIM Sambalpur’s rigorous academic standards and merit-based culture, positioning recipients for leadership roles in industry and academia. The awards ceremony highlighted the institute’s balanced emphasis on scholastic achievement alongside practical management capabilities.
Odisha as Emerging Industrial Powerhouse
Governor Kambhampati specifically spotlighted Odisha’s transformation into an industrial powerhouse, encouraging graduates to contribute to the state’s economic ascent. He highlighted robust growth prospects across manufacturing, mining, textiles, and renewable energy sectors, alongside a burgeoning IT industry. “Odisha offers fertile ground for your management expertise,” he stated, noting the state’s strategic advantages including mineral wealth, coastal connectivity, and progressive industrial policies. Recent investments in steel plants, petrochemical complexes, and green energy corridors have positioned Odisha as eastern India’s manufacturing hub, creating demand for sophisticated management talent.
Leadership Beyond Technical Expertise
Beyond domain knowledge, the Governor emphasized essential “soft” leadership competencies for success in volatile global markets. He stressed adaptability as crucial for navigating economic uncertainty, alongside empathy and emotional intelligence as foundations of sustainable leadership. “Technical expertise opens doors, but emotional intelligence builds lasting organizations,” Kambhampati asserted. This holistic leadership perspective aligns with IIM Sambalpur’s curriculum emphasizing human-centered management alongside analytical rigor.
IIM Sambalpur’s Meteoric NIRF Rise
Director Prof. Mahadeo Prasad Jaiswal highlighted the institute’s remarkable trajectory, announcing a 16-position climb in NIRF rankings. From modest beginnings, IIM Sambalpur has established itself among India’s elite second-generation IIMs through innovative pedagogy and industry partnerships. Prof. Jaiswal particularly emphasized the institute’s AI-enabled learning ecosystem, which has attracted international attention and drawn comparisons to Harvard Business School’s digital transformation initiatives. This technological integration positions IIM-S at the forefront of management education evolution.
Strengthening Startup Ecosystem Imperative
Concluding his address, Governor Kambhampati urged IIM Sambalpur to further strengthen its internal startup ecosystem. He envisioned the institute as a bridge between traditional management wisdom and modern technological advancement, serving as Odisha’s entrepreneurial catalyst. The Governor’s call aligns with national priorities promoting Atmanirbhar Bharat through innovation and local leadership development.
Odisha’s Management Education Leadership
IIM Sambalpur’s convocation underscores Odisha’s emergence as a management education hub alongside its industrial ascent. The institute’s expansive campus, international collaborations, and focus on social impact position it to shape eastern India’s business leadership pipeline. As the 416 graduates embark on careers across consulting, manufacturing, public policy, and entrepreneurship, they carry IIM Sambalpur’s reputation for practical, technology-forward management education.
Governor Kambhampati’s challenge resonates beyond the ceremony, positioning IIM Sambalpur graduates as change agents in India’s startup revolution while anchoring Odisha’s industrial transformation with empathetic, adaptable leadership rooted in the state’s cultural ethos.
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