With 55 Per Cent Women Graduates, IIM Kozhikode Creates History

With the largest ever percentage of women graduates from any top B-school in India, Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode has made history this year. Having studied in a more equal ratio with 55 per cent being women, the honchos of tomorrow feel they have the edge the industry needs.

"To have so many women in a class meant a lot of learning. To be sensitive. To learn when to talk and when not to and all of this will be to my advantage as I join the corporate world - where gender sensitivity with performance is a key factor," said Harsh Yadav, who joined IIM Kozhikode after his mechanical engineering.

An ecstatic Ankita Pai added, "Today when there are only few women in top positions, we believe tomorrow we all will rise to be the CEO's of various companies."

To achieve this feat, IIM Kozhikode says they focussed on an inclusive admission criteria, looking beyond what they call "engineer friendly" CAT exams and included other variables.

"When you look at elements beyond CAT, group discussions and interviews - like consistency of academic performance from SSC level, performance beyond academics or experience - that's where you start seeing diversity appear," said Dean for Academics Keyoor Purani.

Gita Piramal, a Business Historian and Independent Director at Bajaj Auto, said she believes, "We are having a little mini army which is getting ready and going out and the timing is also perfect because the job market is much better, the economy is beginning to look up. 20 years from now I see major things happening on the corporate landscape."

The students say they don't only represent women power, but a competitive, yet humane corporate culture as they join the workforce.