Indore, September 2026: The School of Business Management, SVKM’s NMIMS Indore, organised an engaging guest lecture on “Leadership, Strategy and Dharma: Management Lessons from India’s Epics”, featuring Ms. Ami Ganatra, bestselling author, business strategist, Indic knowledge speaker and IIMA alumna.
Organised by Mantrana: The Research, Strategy and Consulting Learning Centre, NMIMS Indore, the session explored how insights from India’s rich intellectual and cultural heritage can be connected with contemporary perspectives on leadership, strategy, ethics and management.
Drawing from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, Ms. Ganatra offered students a contemporary perspective on leadership, examining choices, dilemmas, consequences and the judgement required to navigate complex situations. The session encouraged students to look beyond conventional management frameworks and consider leadership through the lens of Indian knowledge traditions.
The session also featured an engaging interaction between the speaker and students. The discussion covered themes including teamwork, trust, accountability, credibility and the importance of asking the right questions and remaining open to honest feedback.
The interactive format encouraged students to participate actively and reflect on how leadership principles can be applied to contemporary organisational and professional contexts. The dialogue also provided an opportunity for students to explore leadership challenges through different perspectives.
A key takeaway from the session was the importance of self-leadership as a foundation for leading others. The discussion highlighted the idea that effective leadership begins with understanding and managing oneself before taking responsibility for others.
The session concluded with a felicitation of Ms. Ami Ganatra, followed by a group interaction with students and faculty members.
The guest lecture reflects NMIMS Indore’s emphasis on experiential learning, interdisciplinary thinking and the integration of diverse knowledge perspectives into management education. By connecting Indic wisdom with contemporary management questions, the session provided students with an opportunity to broaden their understanding of leadership and decision-making.
