Story of ISBF
Having studied both in India and in the UK, I witnessed the significant difference in the style and pedagogy of delivering education between the prominent institutions of the two countries. However, I also understood the factor of affordability that restricts the majority of Indian students to access an excellent education abroad. ISBF was established to bridge that chasm and provide local students with access to state-of-the-art education at a fraction of the cost of going abroad and not compromising with personal constraints that some students might have. Pioneering economics business fashion Pioneering economics business fashion
Managing ISBF & IIAD
At one level, both ISBF and IIAD are academic institutions and academic excellence for either would be an unquestionable priority. The excellence of both academic institutions would have to be measured separately as they represent two different genres altogether. What helps me differentiate and achieve excellence at both institutes is the professional structure of the management.
The team is empowered to make decisions and feel the personal connection towards the institutes’ vision. This makes it considerably easier for me to handle the performance of both institutes.
Favorite books
Shoe Dog by Phil Knight: It is a reminder of how beautifully confounding the path to business can be.
Against the Gods by Peter L Bernstein: Helps understanding the deepest origins of risk.
Three best moments of your life
Association with UoL & LSE and starting of ISBF, Kingston University and starting of IIAD and of course, the birth of my twin daughters
Your inspiration
I admire Ajay Bijli, the chairman of the PVR Cinemas. He inherited the Priya Cinemas in Delhi from his father and turned that small one-screen theatre into what today stands as one of the biggest franchises in the entertainment industry.
Changes you wish for the country
I wish Delhi to have lower levels of pollution. I want the future generation to breathe freely, and that is not going to happen if the air quality continues to degrade at the pace it is.
I also wish the education policies to be more focused on learning outcomes and teaching quality than the quantitative aspects like infrastructure. Following that, I would want the Indian education policies to be more open towards international collaborations.
Your biggest strength and weakness
I would say I am a highly focused person, which allows me to have higher attention to details and go in-depth of any task at hand. In terms of weaknesses, I have to say that I am an introverted individual that at times does not work out very well for me, also resulting in a lack of assertion.
Three important persons in your life
Prof H C Verma, who helped immensely in establishing ISBF, my wife, Rhea Singh, who helps me keep a healthy balance in my personal and professional life and my grandfather, Pratap Singh, who nurtured within and taught me about the values and ethics of life.
Word of Wisdom
It is time that the present generation, and the ones coming, learns to question the fundamental assumptions of the world. It is critical to ask ‘why?’ Understanding the ‘why’ helps gain the real context.
