TheMakingofa Dissertation
CHALLENGES OF A MID-CAREER PHD
SATURDAY 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Synopsis
This book is an autobiographical account of the author's 6-to 7year long efforts while working to obtain the doctoral degree. It is meant as an experience guide to aspiring scholars, especially of business management and social sciences. Interspersed with numerous anecdotes and more than 200 learning points, it is as much a practical handout as a learning guide to the step-by-step process, a companion in trying times as well as enjoyable ones. Instead of just populating the pages with a plethora of lessons, the book presents them in various evolving contexts
It is as much about the people, the processes and the support groups as it is about learning, application, dedication and about being alert and smart. Narrated as an easily readable text, and covering many aspects, the book makes a hard subject and its learning easy to digest.
Getting a PhD need not be the ultimate achievement, one may want to choose other worthy goals. But there is an increasing demand for this highest degree among professionals and a curiosity to know what obtaining a PhD is all about, how it benefits one ' s career, self-actualisation, and such superordinate goals.
Whether you are just embarking on this thrilling journey or in the thick of it and staggered by its immensity, this book can be your robust companion.
Programme
5:15 PM
Registration & Hi-Tea
6:00 PM
Welcome Address
Mr K Mahalingam President, MMA & Partner/Director, TSM Group of Companies
Launch of the book
“The Making of a Dissertation – Challenges of a Mid-Career PhD”
Authored by Dr A N Ravichandran
By the Chief Guest
Mr Bhaskar Bhat Ex-Director, Tata Sons & Former Managing Director, Titan Company Ltd.
Present the first copy to the Guest of Honour
Mr B Santhanam
CEO - Asia Pacific and India & Chairman, Saint-Gobain India
Address by Mr Bhaskar Bhat, Mr B Santhanam
Dr Arun Kumar G Professor and Former Head, DoMS, IIT Madras &
Dr A N Ravichandran Former Director & President, JK Fenner
followed by a discussion on the book
Moderator
Gp Capt R Vijayakumar (Retd), VSM Executive Director, MMA
7:25 PM Vote of Thanks 7:30 PM
End of the program
Profile
Mr Bhaskar Bhat Ex-Director, Tata Sons & Former Managing Director, Titan Company Ltd.
Starting his career in 1978 as a Management Trainee in Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Company, Mr Bhaskar Bhat’s meteoric rise in the business world to be on the Board of Tata Sons is legendary.
After spending five years with Godrej, he joined Tata Watch Project After that, he was associated with Titan Company Limited. He retired on 30th September 2019, after serving as Managing Director of the Company from April 2002 to September 2019 Titan Company Limited, under Bhaskar’s leadership, enlarged its portfolio and extended its market to Eyewear, Accessories, Fragrances and Sarees The market cap of Titan Company grew to 13 Billion USD in 2019 and is now the second largest in the Tata Group.
Bhaskar graduated in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Madras and completed his PGDBM from IIM Ahmedabad. He has been conferred the Distinguished Alumnus Award at IIT Madras and IIM Ahmedabad.
Bhaskar is the Chairman of the Board of Kansai Nerolac Paints Ltd. He is also the Independent Director in Lucas-TVS Limited, Orange County Resorts & Hotels Ltd, and Metro Brands Limited He is also the Director of IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation, a not-for-profit Section 8 Company.
Profile
Mr B Santhanam CEO - Asia Pacific and India & Chairman, Saint-Gobain India
Mr. B. Santhanam, Chairman of Saint-Gobain India and CEO of the Asia Pacific and India Region, is an Alumnus of IIT Madras and IIM Ahmedabad He is widely recognized for his remarkable ability to blend analytical rigor with empathetic leadership and strategic insight.
He started his career in Grindwell Norton in 1980, and quickly became the youngest member of the Management Board. When in 1996, Saint-Gobain decided to acquire the ownership of Grindwell Norton, Santhanam was chosen to develop a strategic blueprint to set up glass manufacturing in India. He became the Founder Managing Director of Saint-Gobain Glass India. In a short span of six years, he led the transformation of a green field site into a world class integrated glass manufacturing complex, surpassing many records in quality, cost, efficiency and profitability. His company has been rated by Hewitt Associates amongst the “Best in India” in terms of HR practices, Leadership, and Value to Society. He helped set up a transversal Global Research Center in IIT – Madras Research Park, the first of its kind in the Saint-Gobain Group.
He has been an elected member of the National Council of CII from 2006 to 2019 and was Chairman of the CII Southern Region (2013-14). As Chairman of the CII National Committee on HR (2006 to 2010), he helped shape the National Skills agenda for manufacturing and construction He had also championed newly created “Indian Women Network” (IWN) as part of the diversity agenda of CII.
He is currently on the boards of Titan Company Limited and Kasturi & Sons Limited. Also he is the Director of IIT Madras Research Park.
On the personal front, Santhanam is supported by his wife, Rajani, and son Navaneethan. Both run start-ups that are focused on solving large-scale problems in society
Profile
esident, JK Fenner
Dr AN Ravichandran retired as the CEO on the Board of JK Fenner and has since been a consultant for business transformation and corporate strategy. A B Tech from the IIT Madras, and a graduate of the IIM Ahmedabad, he obtained his PhD from the Aligarh Muslim University, post-retirement. In addition, he did a program on Mergers & Acquisitions at the Wharton School, Pennsylvania
During his various tenures, he held the position of Vice-chairman of industry bodies such as the IFMA and IDEMA, both of the CII, and was an active member of the SIAM. The significant positions he held in industry were General Manager - Marketing of Bajaj Auto Ltd, Executive Director of Simpson & Company, SBU Head of Consumer Businesses at Crompton Greaves, Mumbai, and President & Director of JK Fenner. Some of his awards and recognitions include the CII-Frost & Sullivan IMEA Award (India Manufacturing Excellence Award) at the Platinum level for large organizations, the CII-EXIM Award for Business Excellence - Strong Commitment to Excel, TPM Award from Japan Institute of Plant Maintenance and HR Excellence Award from Smt. Sheila Dikshit.
He won the best case-study award, with submissions from 300 business schools in the Asia-Pacific region. He has taught marketing management courses at the Shailesh School, IIT Mumbai, the British Council, C-Dot and at LIBA, Chennai, to name a few. He held the position of Associate Professor at the AIMA-CME, during which time he wrote a book on Strategic Marketing Management, with Professor Rakesh Khurana as the co-author, published by Global Business Press, New Delhi. He was invited to become the TTK Chair Professor of Marketing Management by the IIT Madras, in the year 2001.
Profile
Dr Arun Kumar G
Professor and Former Head, DoMS, IIT Madras
Dr. Arun is a Professor of Finance at IIT Madras with a research interest in Corporate Governance issues. For almost a decade, he has been actively involved in evidence-based impact assessment of development initiatives He has worked on a wide range of field-based impact assessment assignments, including the development of micro-enterprises, microfinance, migration and remittances, digital literacy, skill development, women empowerment, and women-led micro-enterprises across the country for various organizations. Most of these assignments have been conducted in peri-urban or rural settings across the length and breadth of India
In addition, he has also been involved in conducting systematic reviews covering the entire South Asian region, from Afghanistan to Bangladesh, for multilateral development organizations.
He is an IICA-MCA qualified Independent Director
He completed his Ph.D. in Management from the Indian Institute of Science, and his publications include work in the area of Management Accounting
Profile
Mr K Mahalingam
President MMA & Partner/Director, TSM Group of Companies
Education
1984 - Graduated from NIT Trichy in Chemical.
Engineering -Distinguished Alumnus 2016.
1987 - Completed PGDM from IIM Calcutta.
Key Achievements
Exceptional leader, transformation specialist, and impactful investor with over 35 years of experience.
Driving force behind T S Mahalingam & Sons, turning it into one of South India's well-respected automobile after-market brands.
Diversified TSM’s interests into financial services, real estate, and angel investing.
Transformer
Transformed TS Mahalingam & Sons into a prominent brand, retailing 5000 cars annually in South India.
Accelerated TSM’s growth from a single-business, single-location operations into a multi-business, multi-location organisation.
Pioneer
Pioneered the distribution of third-party loan products in partnership with Citibank, revolutionizing financial services
Co- developed brands like Autoline, Propshop, and Shelters along with Citibank
Entered the real estate space in 2003, is today a prominent player in residential, commercial, and leisure properties with 100+ projects delivered.
Impactor
President of the REC alumni (RECAL), leading impactful projects and massive fundraising in collaboration with NIT.
President of the IIM Calcutta Alumni Chennai, enhancing the IIM Calcutta brand Launching unique initiatives focused on imparting practical knowledge to management students in TN & beyond
President of the Madras Management Association (MMA), India’s top management association Member of the Chennai Angels' Executive Committee, guiding operations and ensuring compliance & corporate governance.
Investor
Active angel investor, mentoring budding entrepreneurs and fostering entrepreneurship by growing the ecosystem.
Recognized as a go-to person for aspiring entrepreneurs seeking guidance, support & funding
