Puneet Yadu Dalmia urges IIM Visakhapatnam graduates to embrace small beginnings and adapt quickly – The Times of India

VISAKHAPATNAM: Don’t be afraid to start small; everything begins on a small scale and grows over time. Similarly, don’t be intimidated by large amounts of capital. It is common to think that starting a business with less capital, while others have significantly more, puts you at a disadvantage. However, in reality, big companies will not always outperform the small ones. Speed will often beat size, said Puneet Yadu Dalmia, Managing Director and CEO of Dalmia Bharat Group, and Chairman of the Board of Governors at IIM Raipur.
Dalmia was the chief guest at the 9th convocation ceremony of IIM Visakhapatnam, held on Saturday. In his address to the graduating students, he emphasized that the key to success today is not the size of the company, but its culture and adaptability. “The ability to move quickly and innovate is what differentiates successful businesses. So, don’t let the scale of others discourage you,” he added.
“This is India’s century. The entire ecosystem supporting entrepreneurship is well-developed, and being an entrepreneur today carries far less risk than it did years ago. But please, remain grounded. Many people contribute to your success, and as responsible citizens, we must give back to society. Despite enduring over a millennium of oppression and invasions, India has made remarkable progress in just 75 years. This success is largely due to the deeply ingrained sense of seva (selfless service) and the commitment to giving back to society, which distinguishes this nation. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the spirit of helping others was evident as people ensured no one went hungry. I urge you to preserve this spirit of compassion by contributing to society wherever you are and continue the tradition of viewing the world as one family, united in service to others,” said Dalmia, who also shared his entrepreneurial journey and experiences.
Earlier in the ceremony, IIM Vizag’s Board of Governors Chairperson and Jubilant Bhartia Group Founder Hari S. Bhartia spoke about how he became involved with IIMV through the then HRD Minister Smriti Irani. “When you are part of a government institution, supported and fully funded by the government, you might expect significant interference. However, the board has been granted remarkable autonomy. If something is not going well, I believe we cannot blame others. We have received unwavering support from both the state and Union governments, with strong partnerships over the last 10 years. In the past, initial funding for any business came from families, but today, the entrepreneurial ecosystem is thriving. If you have the right idea, there are people eager to provide seed capital or venture funding,” Bhartia said.
IIM Vizag Director Prof. M. Chandrasekhar highlighted the institute’s progress over the last decade and its role in producing management graduates who are socially responsible. “The institution has become a preferred knowledge hub for education and entrepreneurship, attracting professionals from both the public and private sectors. In 2015, the PGP program had around 50 students, but today that number has grown almost sevenfold. Remarkably, about 40% of the students are women, reflecting the institution’s commitment to diversity and inclusion,” added Prof. Chandrasekhar.
A total of around 370 students received their MBA certificates from the chief guest. The institute also awarded gold medals, awards, and certificates to MBA and PhD students, including Muskan Sharma, Rahul Pradeep, Vrund Shah Bhavinkumar, Nandan Kumar Singh, and Kriti Jangir.