Rendezvous with the Youngest Dean in India

Mr. Joyanto Mukherjee, the brand new Dean at Thadomal Sahani Centre for Management, Mumbai (TSCFM) is also the youngest Dean ever (just 30 years old), in India. He has been felicitated as one of the Top 10 academicians in Asia by a Germany based think tank named ITE. He was also the only academician on the Advisory Board of Direct Marketing Association of India.

Prior to joining TSCFM, Joyanto became the country's youngest academic head at the age of 25 heading HMFIJ, which was recently recognised as one of the Top 10 Innovative Media Schools in Asia.

HTcampus grabbed a rare opportunity to speak to this dynamic business leader on his aspirations, dreams and education sector as a whole.

Take us through your professional journey.

My first professional stint was as a freelance journalist at the age of 17. An educational role happened all of a sudden. I got my first break at HMFIJ, where I started out with 18 students and 1 chair as my cabin. Today when I look back at more than 200 students enrolled in the institute, I feel delighted at how far I have come. 

What did you aspire to be when you started out? Is your career graph as per how you imagined it?

I dreamt of an Army life or of becoming an ace footballer. But somehow, I ended up in education! (laughs)

From being the Director at HMFIJ to Dean at Centre for Management, how do you think your role will change?

It is a giant leap from an M- School to B-School. It is like moving from Porto FC to Chelsea FC for Jose Mourinho. Although technically, my favorite team is Manchester United…this example suited better. The challenge, up-front, looks big but I think the courses which are to be offered by Thadomal Shahani Centre For Management are unique. Also, since TSCFM has launched their Centre for Media Studies, Centre for Technical Research, Centre for Entrepreneurship and Centre For Liberal Arts, it looks like I’m going to enjoy my tenure here.

Any takeaways from your stint at HMFIJ? 

Listen to students more than anything else. Make them your strong point and nothing is impossible.

What are you looking forward to most at TSCFM?

The very fact that this can become the top and most different B school of our times is the biggest pull. TSCFM has a lot of values and ethics in place. It also has a brilliant MBA programme to offer and that is what is needed to be made known to the masses. The potential of TSCFM becoming the biggest educational triumph of the decade is really fascinating. The uniqueness of the MBA being offered here and the freedom I am getting it to make it more student-oriented is the biggest challenge for me. It is a daunting task, but I’m very excited about it.

Can you think of a marketing class being held at Crawford Market and not in a classroom? Well, we are doing it here. We are taking the students into the real world and converting public places into classrooms. We are making the MBA more student-oriented and aiming at helping them grow 360 degrees. This will be the Asian Harvard, but with the proper tadka of youth and 'dhamaal'.

With digitalization of media, would you agree that Mass Communication as a subject has come a long way? What kind of changes have you perceived in the last 5 years?

What is the way ahead for Journalism and Mass Communication students?

What, according to you should be the focus in specialization for Journalism & Mass Comm. students?

Management is a whole new field. Which fields of management do you think are most popular and why?

How do you foresee the shift in education in the coming years?

Any advice to students to become successful leaders/ entrepreneurs?

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the interviewee. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of click4college and click4college does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.