The Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Shillong today held its 16th convocation at its campus at Umsawli here as all graduates and invitees draped ‘Ryndia’ eri silk—recently awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag— to honour the resilience and cultural richness of the Northeast region.
This year, 475 students have graduated from the institute. Degrees were conferred upon 381 Post Graduate Programme students, 54 from the Post Graduate Programme for Executives and 35 from the Post Graduate Programme for Working Executives (PGPWE). In addition, five scholars were awarded the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and Honeywell India President Ashish Modi attended the ceremony as guests.
Delivering the convocation address, Sangma exhorted the graduates to embrace adaptability and entrepreneurship. “You are stepping into a world of rapid transitions, but within these transitions lie the greatest opportunities. The greatest minds are not just those who work hard and are intelligent—it is those who embrace challenges and create opportunities,” he said.
He referred to India as the “country of the decade” and encouraged the graduates to leverage their education for national progress. “You are in one of the most promising phases of India’s development. With determination and skill, you can create a lasting positive impact,” he remarked.
Modi congratulated the graduates and shared five important life lessons. First, he encouraged the students to stay hungry and work hard, assuring them that success will follow. Second, he emphasised the importance of speaking up and advised students not to be passengers in their own lives. Third, he urged them to strive to be the best at whatever they choose to do. Fourth, he highlighted the critical role of effective communication in professional and personal growth. Finally, he underscored the significance of health—both physical and mental—as a foundation for a fulfilling life and career.
IIM Shillong Director D.P. Goyal presented the annual report. He spoke of the strides made during the academic year 2024–25, emphasising the Institute’s growing international engagements and local impact. He noted the signing of 31 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with leading global management institutions and the upcoming launch of the Integrated Programme in Management (IPM). He further underlined IIM Shillong’s unique positioning as an institution that harmonizes global best practices with the rich cultural ethos of India.
At the convocation, the Chairman’s Gold Medal and Rathindranath Datta Gold Medal was presented to Shefali for securing the highest CGPA.
The Director’s Gold Medal and Prof. Ashoke K Dutta Gold Medal for best all rounder went to Hritik Laddha.
The Institute Silver Medal was given to Bhanu Suri for the second highest in CGPA and the Institute Gold Medal to Saurabh Matta for his positive contribution to campus life.
From the Post Graduate Programme for Executives (PGPEx) batch 2024–25, the Chairman’s Gold Medal went to Joslin George, Director’s Gold Medal to Nabarun Adhikari while Manu Saraogi was presented with the Chairman’s Gold Medal from the Post Graduate Programme for Working Executives (PGPWE) 2023–25.
The IIM Shillong also highlighted that final placements for the PGP 2023–25 batch witnessed participation from over 130 esteemed recruiters spanning diverse sectors such as Consulting & Strategy, Finance, Sales & Marketing, General Management, IT & Analytics, and Human Resources & Operations.
Renowned recruiters included Accenture Strategy, Bain & Company, Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Tata Steel, ICICI Bank, Infosys Consulting, Deloitte USI, and others. The season also welcomed several new recruiters such as Alvarez & Marsal, FedEx, Flipkart, Swiggy, Zomato, and V-Guard.
