EPGP 09 @ IIM K

So finally I took that decision of taking an executive MBA. I cannot afford in going for a full time executive MBA from a good institute. First of all, the course itself is too costly and secondly, my 1 or 2 year of salary also will not be coming in. So it's a really huge investment and I cannot afford. So, I was looking for multiple other options and was discussing with some of my friends as well. IIM K (Kozhikode) announced their 9th batch program in September 2016. Based on my research, I realized that, they introduced this program in the premier business institute sector and this is the 9th batch in offering. More than that, IIM K is the 5th IIM in India, started way back in 1996. Going for this kind of a course in an IIM is having its own merits in terms of a brand value and the availability of eminent professors. The cost involved is around 8 lacs and the time frame is roughly 2 years. Tried to get some more information from the internet and the only source other than the IIM K website was Vinay Bhutani's blog, which was an older EPGP program a few years ago. Though I didn't get much information, I still decided to pursue with the admission process.

My main agenda or purpose was 1) Making a network of some experienced professionals, 2) Learning the industry proven managerial methods, 3) Overcoming my own negatives/inhibitions, 4) Getting a good brand, 5) Learn something new and bring in some change rather than doing the same stuff at office and 6) Try applying  the learned stuff in my personal and professional life.

I paid the registration fee of Rs.2500 and sent all the required documents to IIM K. There was a test which is called EMAT which is conducted by IIM K and followed by an interview. I just looked at some of the old question papers available in the IIM K website and prepared around that. I realized that, though we used to do these analytical questions quite fast during the engineering final year times, now it's taking a lot of time. I was mainly focusing on finding the right answer or omitting the wrong answer, depending on the question/situation.

The Test/Interview was on a Saturday in December 2016 at a hotel in Bangalore. I went with a formal dress code to the hotel a bit early and there was one gentle man who was sitting in the room wearing a blazer. Initially I thought, he would be the one who is taking the interviews and later realized, he is also a candidate.  After some time, others also reached. I believe, there was some 40 - 45 people at the venue. Some were in formal dress, some were in too much formal, almost like business attire, some others were less/semi formal and a few were very casual.Slowly, the test started and it was 40 multiple choice questions which includes quantitative aptitude, logical reasoning, verbal etc. Except the questions which are related to English language, it was quite easy for me. I finished with some 7-8 minutes to spare. Synonyms/Antonyms section was difficult. Forget the question, even the four choices in the answers were alien to me. I was sure that, if there is a section cut off for English, I will not clear this test, else I will clear without any issues.

Soon after the test, I was called inside for the interview. There were 2 gentlemen in the panel, both of them are IIM K professors. .After the normal introduction related questions, most of the remaining session was related to checking the fact, if I know what my company's business is, what is the revenue, potential growth etc. That side went well, except for one question. They started with marketing and sales and finally came to a question "why is petrol not getting marketed?" My answers were not convincing for myself. The interview was very short, may be under 10 minutes.

I was having the hope that, if there is no section cut off for English, this is done. Within a week, I went to Nagaworld Casino, Cambodia for some business discussions. On the way back, I got the message/email that, I got selected for the EPGP 09 at IIM K.

I paid the initial fee of 98000 in the first week of January and there is an in-campus module from 16 - 21 of January. I traveled to Kozhikode in car on a Sunday morning through Kudalur, Kalpetta etc. I had my booking confirmed at Hotel Maharani, near Palayam.


First half of the stay at Kozhikode
Loved the hotel. Its in the city, it's an old hotel with very nice employees, decently priced and nice food. On the third day of the stay, I saw Director Ranjith at Maharani. Heard from a friend that, Maharani was one of the oldest BIG hotels in Kozhikode and all the celebrities used to stay here.
Loved the city, its so well developed, all the people are having a helping mentality, less pollution, beautiful. I decided that I should come with Radhika and Dakshith for vacation. There are beaches, art events, good food options. Today me, Suraj and Abhilash went to the Kozhikode beach and then to 'Dhe Puttu'. Yesterday, it was more fun with a small party with 6 people including Saikat and Avinash as well. At the college also, met a lot of nice and similar minded friends.

The IIM K Experience
First of all, its a beautiful campus of around 100 acres and is around 10 kms away from Kozhikode town at a place called Kunnamangalam, which is a hilly area. After the test/interview they offered the admission to 220 students and 180 turned up. Average experience is around 9.5 years and it includes people from various industries. But the major population is from Engineering. Bangalore/Mumbai are leading with maximum number of participants. Most of the experience group is from 5 to 15. And there are 6 people who are more than 20 years experienced.

Till now, a total of 6-7 professors came to our class and taught various subjects. Each and every professor, exceeded my expectations by miles. They are very passionate, very down to earth, huge experience level, gigantic energy level, and very much approachable. The confidence, they gave in the initial days is beyond most of our imaginations. Some of the subjects which are dry and was expecting a dull class, turned out to be one of the best we attended in our whole life. Most of the classes till now were better than some of the best classes/presentations I attended in my life. We started understanding the reason, why is this called an IIM and why these professors are into teaching.

One thing I noted, but not sure if this is True - Most of the professors are having a very pleasant face, their body language is telling that they are approachable, their voice modulation changes suddenly, they are using a lot of extra actions, they are showing and passing a lot of passion. May be they all attended some kind of a common training program regarding teaching methodology.

As of now, after completing 3 in campus module days, I am very happy, excited and realizing that this was one of the best decisions that I took. Also, based on my analysis, 8-10 years of experience is the ideal time for taking up this course. I am loving it......