The Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIMK) formally welcomed the 18th batch of its Executive Post Graduate Programme – Interactive Learning (EPGP–IL), marking a significant milestone in the Institute’s journey in executive education. With 683 participants, EPGP–18 is the largest Executive MBA batch ever at IIM Kozhikode, and also the most gender-diverse, with women comprising nearly 29% of the cohort—the highest representation to date.
The inaugural programme was graced by Shri Shiv Shivakumar, Operating Partner, Advent International (Formerly CEO Nokia India and PepsiCo India), as the Chief Guest. The function was presided over by Prof. Debashis Chatterjee, Director, Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode, who addressed the incoming cohort of experienced professionals embarking on their leadership journey.
The 683 participants of EPGP–18 are distributed across six academic sections and 67 learning centres spread across India, enabling a truly national classroom experience.
Drawing on insights from a corporate career spanning over four decades, Chief Guest Mr. Shiv Shivakumar urged participants to “develop pilot-like skills” to navigate today’s complex and fast-changing business environment. Using the analogy of a pilot, he emphasised the primacy of skills over degrees, continuous adaptation in an AI-enabled world, situational awareness, clear communication, physical and mental fitness, ethical decision-making, and flawless execution within defined rules. Highlighting the importance of people development, feedback without hierarchy, and the ability to think both strategically and operationally, he encouraged participants to remain alert at the controls of their careers, combining strong conceptual grounding with disciplined execution to lead responsibly and leave a lasting legacy.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Debashis Chatterjee, Director, IIM Kozhikode, said: “The EPGP–18 cohort reflects the changing face of Indian leadership—ambitious, diverse, digitally fluent, and deeply rooted in experience. The record number of participants and the strong presence of women professionals reaffirm our belief that inclusive excellence is the future of management education. At IIM Kozhikode, we are committed to shaping reflective leaders who can navigate complexity with competence, conscience, and courage.”
The EPGP–18 batch is distinctive on multiple counts. Apart from being the largest cohort so far, it also has the highest number of women participants, with 29% women professionals, signalling a positive shift towards greater gender diversity in executive management education.
In terms of age profile, nearly 50% of participants fall within the 30–39 years age group, while 39% are between 24–29 years, and 11.26% are aged 40 years or above. The cohort brings with it a rich spread of professional experience: 41% have 6–9 years of work experience, about 25% have 3–5 years, another 25% possess 10–15 years, and 7.9% have over 16 years of professional experience.
Participants of the EPGP–18 batch represent a wide spectrum of industries and functional domains, spanning both private sector organisations and government/PSU entities, including Central and State Governments. The IT sector accounts for approximately 29.43% (201 participants) of the cohort, followed by consulting at 10.23%. The remaining participants come from diverse sectors such as banking, insurance, investment services, manufacturing, automotive, sales and marketing, advertising, e-commerce, real estate, petroleum and energy, engineering services, electronics and telecommunications, education, aerospace, and more.
Designed to bridge theory and practice, the EPGP–IL programme equips participants with rigorous analytical frameworks, strategic insights, and leadership capabilities required to navigate complex business environments and lead with impact in an increasingly interconnected global economy.
Earlier, EPGP Chairperson Prof. Chitwan Lalji welcomed the latest cohort to the Campus and added that with EPGP–18, IIM Kozhikode has once again reinforces its position as a pioneer in executive education, shaping future-ready leaders while remaining deeply committed to academic excellence, inclusion, and national relevance.
