Campus News | SDMIMD

GHRDC B-Schools Survey Results - 2025

SDM Institute for Management Development (SDMIMD) has once again been recognized among India’s leading management institutions. SDMIMD is ranked 8th overall among 69 private B-schools, 3rd among 7 distinguished B-schools, and 9th among 15 government and private B-schools in the category of Faculty, Publication, Research, Consultancy, MDP & Other Programmes. Additionally, SDMIMD secured 9th position in Placement, USP, Social Responsibility, Networking & Industry Interface, and holds 1st position among the top 15 government and private B-schools in Karnataka.

First Prize Glory for SDMIMD, Mysuru’s Garden

SDMIMD Mysuru has won the First Prize in the Dasara Flower Competition 2025 under the Educational Institution Category, organized by the Department of Horticulture, Government of Karnataka. The institute has been consistently recognized in this competition since 2005, reflecting its deep commitment to nature and aesthetics. Appreciation to Mr. Nanjaiah, Horticulture Officer, and the Garden Team for maintaining the campus as a vibrant and inspiring green space.

When Software Meets Sales: UltraTech’s Stanley Jacob Shares Industry Wisdom

At SDMIMD, students of the Sales and Distribution Management program recently had the opportunity to gain firsthand industry insights from Mr. Stanley Jacob, Vice President – Marketing at UltraTech Cement (Aditya Birla Group). His presentation—titled “Software Meets Sales: Transforming Data Insights into Sales Mastery”—captivated the audience with the story of his own career transformation. Beginning as a software programmer, Mr. Jacob later moved into sales and marketing with Forbes Gokak (a TATA Group company) before advancing through leadership roles at L&T Cement and eventually UltraTech Cement. In sharing his journey, he emphasized how adaptability, learning, and vision serve as the pillars of growth.

During the interactive session, Mr. Jacob walked students through the inner workings of the cement industry and key managerial practices. He shed light on the entire supply chain, from production to delivery, and illustrated how distribution networks link the production hub to end customers. He discussed modern sales strategies driven by data and explained how building a distinctive brand requires consistency, trust, and differentiation. Perhaps most importantly, he stressed the importance of customer-centricity—understanding customer needs, creating real value, and sustaining long-term relationships.

SDMIMD, in partnership with Intel’s Unnati Program, inaugurates advanced AI-lab

Shri D. Surendra Kumar, Vice President of SDM Trust, formally inaugurated a new high-end laboratory at SDM Institute for Management Development (SDMIMD), Mysuru, marking a significant step in the institution’s pursuit of technological excellence.

The facility is the result of a strategic partnership between SDMIMD and Intel, under Intel’s Unnati Program. The lab is built on Intel’s Intelligent Desktop Virtualization (IDV) platform, combining high-performance desktop virtualization with a robust server backbone engineered to support data-intensive artificial intelligence workloads.

According to SDMIMD, the new infrastructure ensures that students can leverage advanced compute resources for research and projects, particularly in AI and related emerging domains. In addition to the hardware, SDMIMD gains access to Intel’s educational materials and live training sessions conducted by Intel executives, offering students direct exposure to industry perspectives and evolving technologies.

Speaking at the inauguration, Shri Kumar lauded the collaboration, stating that the lab would “equip students with cutting-edge infrastructure and exposure” in preparation for future challenges. Institution leaders characterized the launch as a milestone in SDMIMD’s mission to stay at the forefront of technology and pedagogy.

The event drew attendees from SDMIMD faculty and administration and related stakeholders, celebrating what the institute calls a new era in academic infrastructure and industry alignment.

Hands-on Session on NSE SMART Trading Simulator Enhances Students’ Market Learning

SDMIMD, Mysuru, continues to bridge classroom learning with practical exposure through initiatives that enhance professional competence. A hands-on session on the NSE SMART Trading Simulator (NSMART) was recently conducted by Mr. Vijaya Raghavan from the National Stock Exchange (NSE).

The NSMART platform offers a virtual trading experience, enabling students to practice market strategies and understand real-time trading dynamics without financial risk. This session helped students deepen their knowledge of capital markets and develop vital practical skills for their future careers.

Third International Leadership Conference

SDMIMD, Mysuru, successfully hosted the 3rd International Leadership Conference on the theme “Leading in a Disrupted World: Reimagining Leadership for Complexity, Sustainability, and Human-Centric Innovation.” This prestigious event was organized in collaboration with the Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC) – SDMIMD Centre for Management Excellence.

The conference was inaugurated with a keynote address by Ms. Susheema V, Co-Founder & JMD, SYConE CPMC Pvt. Ltd., who spoke on “From Leadership to Exponential Futures.” In her insightful talk, she emphasized the impact of the changing geopolitical landscape, the disruptions shaping today’s business environment, and the need to redefine business strategies in an increasingly competitive world. She highlighted the importance of adopting an exponential mindset for leaders in the dynamic global context.

While reimagining leadership, Ms. Susheema underlined the necessity for leaders to design innovative projects and build futuristic development models. She also stressed that true leadership lies in inspiring and motivating people through impactful initiatives.

Dr. (Lt Col) Prasad S. N., Director, SDMIMD, Mysuru, delivered the inaugural address, focusing on the essence of great leadership. He stated that effective leadership is about taking responsibility and driving meaningful change within organizations and society.

Dr. L. Gandhi, Conference Chair and Associate Professor – OB & HRM, SDMIMD, provided a detailed conference briefing and outlined its objectives.

A highlight of the event was a thought-provoking panel discussion on “Human-Centered Leadership in the Age of Technology.” Distinguished industry leaders shared valuable perspectives on balancing technological advancement with human-centric values in leadership.

The conference also brought together leading experts, academicians, and industry professionals who presented their research, innovative ideas, and perspectives, making the event a rich platform for knowledge exchange and collaborative learning.

Mega Blood Donation Drive at SDMIMD

Akhil Bharath Terapanth Yuvak Parishad, in collaboration with SDMIMD, Mysuru, Rotary Club Mysuru, and JCI Mysuru Royal City, organized Raktadan Amrit Mahotsava 2.0—a mega blood donation camp—at the SDMIMD campus on September 17, 2025.

Mr. Mahesh Shenoy, Managing Director of Kamakshi Hospital and Horizon Estate & Developers, was the Chief Guest for the event. In his address, he said, “Blood donation camps foster empathy towards society and bring people together. Management students play a crucial role in such initiatives, and it is commendable that SDMIMD has a strong team of volunteers managing this entire event.”

Dr. (Lt. Col.) Prasad S. N., Director of SDMIMD, Mysuru, was the Guest of Honour. He remarked, “SDM has always believed in inculcating values and ethics among students. SDMIMD actively participates in all blood donation drives and consistently contributes a significant volume of blood.” He further emphasized the importance of ensuring that the collected blood is preserved and utilized effectively.

The event witnessed the participation of officials from all the organizing institutions, along with enthusiastic student volunteers from SDMIMD.

Guest Session on Industrial Relations and Collective Bargaining

The ESG Committee organized a guest session on Industrial Relations and Collective Bargaining on 17th September 2025, delivered by Mr. Kiran Kumar Shetty, HR Manager at ITC.

Mr. Shetty explained the core concepts of industrial relations and collective bargaining in an engaging manner, drawing parallels with stories from the Mahabharata to illustrate negotiation, conflict resolution, and consensus-building. He emphasized the role of trade unions in safeguarding employee interests and promoting healthy employer–employee relations.

He also shared insights into ITC’s growth journey (2002–2023) and its manufacturing presence across India, underscoring the strong link between industrial harmony and organizational success.

The session proved to be highly insightful, as it bridged theoretical knowledge with practical applications and enriched the students’ understanding of workplace relations and collective bargaining.

A session on Cyber Security

SDMIMD hosted a special guest lecture on Cybersecurity at its campus. The session was delivered by Dr. Ravichandra Kulkarni, Dean of Research and Development and Head of the Department of Cybersecurity at MIT Mysuru.

The lecture primarily focused on cybersecurity issues in business processes. Dr. Kulkarni highlighted the various types of cybersecurity threats and explained the precautionary measures organizations must adopt to safeguard themselves.

“Awareness of cybersecurity is the first step in preventing cyber scams. Understanding different types of threats and following best security practices can significantly reduce the risk of cybercrimes,” he emphasized.

He also presented statistics on cyber threats, scams, and victims, pointing out that these crimes are driven by multiple motives. Addressing the challenges of the digital era, Dr. Kulkarni noted that evolving technologies and the growing remote work culture have intensified risks, making the role of cyber law enforcement even more critical.

However, he suggested that proper policy development, robust risk management, and effective incident response planning can help organizations build stronger and more secure systems.

SDMIMD Evaluates and Reports the Impact of JK Tyre’s CSR Projects

As part of a recent corporate engagement, SDM Institute for Management Development (SDMIMD), Mysuru, undertook a comprehensive evaluation of several community-oriented projects initiated by JK Tyre’s Mysuru units. The evaluation culminated in a detailed report, which has been submitted to the senior management of JK Tyre.

The assessment focused on JK Tyre’s CSR interventions across key verticals—livelihood enhancement, school education, and water & lake conservation. The projects were found to generate multi-dimensional outcomes in the short term, with significant long-term impacts on the communities involved. The initiatives were observed to contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic and environmental well-being of grassroots populations.

The report meticulously analyzed the relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability of these initiatives. The findings indicate that JK Tyre’s CSR projects not only align with benchmark standards but also deliver high social returns on investments made by the company. The report also presents action plans for future initiatives and offers a strategic roadmap for continued and enhanced impact.

The evaluation and report preparation was led by Dr. B. Venkatraja, Associate Professor of Economics at SDMIMD, as the Principal Investigator, in collaboration with Dr. M. Indira, Professor of Economics (Retired), University of Mysore. Mr. Venkatesh Goudar and Mr. Lohit R Patil of SDMIMD supported the team as Research Associates.

The report was handed over by Dr. B Venkatraja, the project lead to Mr. Eshawar Rao, Vice President, JK Tyres in the presence of senior functionaries of JK Tyre in an event held recently at JK Tyre & Industries Ltd, Mysore unit.