Fortune Institute of International Business, New Delhi held a glittering inaugural ceremony for its 14th batch of Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) on July 21, 2008. The students will pursue a 2 year PGDM programme with focus on International Business.

Mr. Arjun Malhotra, CEO & Chairman, Headstrong, USA, was the Chief Guest. Headstrong is recognised as one of the fastest-growing IT-based Financial Services companies. Prior to Headstrong he was Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of TechSpan, which merged with Headstrong in October 2003.  A pioneer of the Indian IT industry, Mr. Malhotra founded TechSpan in 1998.   He is a Member of the Board of Governors, IIT (Kharagpur) Foundation and Member of the Board of Governors of the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad.  Mr. Malhotra is a Charter Member and Member of the Global Board of Trustees of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), a non-profit network with over 10,000 members across 44 chapters in 9 countries.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Malhotra said that the students should focus on skill enhancement during the PGDM programme.  His advice on mantra of success for students was using common sense, making use of gut feel as judgment, taking pride in oneself and adaptability to changing environment for long term success.  Mr. Malhotra said that the talents of Indian managers are globally recognised and acknowledged.  He also said that the new student managers should have a global outlook with a respect for the local culture and uphold the tenets of honesty and integrity at workplace during their career.  . 

On the occasion, Prof. A.K. Puri, Director General of the institute welcomed the new students at beginning of a new phase of their lives.  "Dramatic shifts in the global marketplace have led to physical boundaries and national economies converging into an integrated global economy. The strategic teaching methodology followed by Fortune Institute of International Business facilitates enhances learning that provides the students with an opportunity to understand the global marketplace.   With gleam in eyes, perseverance in action and faith in themselves, Fortune Institute students will eventually emerge as CEO's of Indian Multinational Enterprises.  They owe it to India and fellow countrymen to create wealth for its well being," said Prof. A. K. Puri in his address.

Mrs. Radhika Shrivastav, Vice President, congratulated the new students on having made it to the institute and advised them on three cents, firstly, competing with global managers, secondly, shaping one's leadership style by taking risks and thirdly, becoming responsible citizens by looking beyond class room and enhancing behavioural skill sets. 

On this occasion, the Institute felicitated and awarded students for their academic performance in the first year of their PGDM programme.  The winners were: Chavi Maheshwari, Nalini Saxena and Vidhu Maheshwari.

Nisha Koshal, a student representing the new batch speaking about the chief guest said, "We could not have had a better person than Mr. Arjun Malhotra who initiated us to the learning path as an icon and role model shining bright in his own exemplary achievements at international level as a visionary, entrepreneur, business leader, mentor and active educationist".

Fortune Institute of International Business established in 1995 is conscious of its responsibility to cater to the demand of business to provide necessary skilled executives. 

The institute provides a window to the emerging realities and demands of the new world through its range of activities in teaching, training, research and consultancy.  The institute strives to strengthen upbeat entrepreneurial spirit of Indian business.  It has set an agenda to groom its students acquiring competencies for leadership position in international business through managerial and entrepreneurial initiatives.