On Monday, September 30, 2024, the Director and faculty members participated in a Faculty Development Program titled "Unlocking Consulting Opportunities: Empowering Faculty for Professional Growth." The program took place in the Tutorial Room (IIIrd Floor-35) and was hosted by the Institute. Mr. Advait Kurlekar, CEO of Upohan Management Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and Independent Director at Sakthi Finance Limited and Pradeep Metals Limited, conducted the session. Known for his expertise in executive coaching, business consulting, HR consulting, management consulting, human resources, and leadership development, Mr. Kurlekar provided valuable insights.

The program began with a welcome address by Dr. Nanwani and an introduction by Dr. Ashish R. Jaswal. Key points covered included the concept of consultancy, the differences between coaching, mentoring, and advisory, and the importance of consultancy deliverables centered around monetization, time, and knowledge. An interactive exercise helped identify the institute's strengths in terms of avenues for taking up consultancy and mapping individual faculty strengths to leverage these opportunities/avenues. The session also focused on identifying consultancy deliverables in various domains such as accreditations, presentations, performance management systems, website creation, app development, and CSR/ESG initiatives.

Effective consultancy practices were discussed, emphasizing client pain points, market gaps, and consultancy fee structures. Dr. Niji and Dr. Ashish held a feedback session at the program's conclusion to discuss the insightful observations made. Overall, the program was highly engaging and provided practical knowledge and skills, empowering the faculty for professional growth and unlocking new consulting opportunities.