Dear Members, My greetings to all of you! It has been my privilege to lead the Madras Management Association ﴾MMA﴿ as its 53rd President over the past year ﴾2020‐21﴿. The year 2020 was a roller coaster ride for each one of us. Let me say that, personally, I had to unlearn planning ahead of time and to embrace the fact that certain aspects are out of control. The world is not the same nor do we want it to be after everything that we had endured and learnt—and indeed re‐learnt—about what really mattered to us. The outlook changed as serving people’s interest became more important than serving one’s own. Muddling through the crisis induced by Covid 19, the year has been a journey that started with despair but ended with hope for all of us. This has undoubtedly been one of the cruellest pandemics the world has ever seen; but, as they say, every crisis comes with an opportunity—If only one has the eye to look beyond the apparent! Amidst the lockdown and severe restrictions on congregations imposed, it initially
Mr Ravichandran Purushothaman
appeared to be a set back to MMA. But very quickly we realised the need to transform the organisation using all the digital tools available at our disposal so that members of MMA are not
deprived of the value they derive out of our programmes. It is with immense pride that I would like
and e‐magazines, archives of all MMA programs, articles, audio book and MMA state‐of‐the‐art
to share that over 2.5 Lakh viewers have benefitted from the online and hybrid events organised by
digital edition of MMA Business Mandate with a number of unique features, including embedded
MMA in the last one year.
videos, etc.
A milestone achievement
Programmes for MSMEs
Over the past 65 years, MMA has evolved and grown under the able guidance of Past
The past year’s economic upheaval exposed huge disparities in the capacity to absorb the loss
Presidents, Managing Committee Members and MMA Secretariat. Today, the Association has
in income, disproportionately affecting the poorest. MMA contributed significantly in organizing a
carved a place for itself and reached out to thousands of management professionals and
number of programmes highlighting the current state of India’s economy and the way forward for
management students, particularly in these trying circumstances. MMA bagging the prestigious
the industry. While the Government announced a number of stimulus measures to sustain and
“Best Management Association in India” for the year 2019‐20 yet again for 11th time in a row
revive the MSMEs sector, there is a clear consensus among policy makers, industry leaders and
demonstrates our resolve in serving our members. It is your support and patronage that makes
other stakeholders that MSMEs must be given the appropriate long‐term support and be provided
achieving such milestones possible.
with an enabling environment if the country has to progress sustainably and equitably. In this
MMA has adapted to a number of Digital Transformation initiatives, which include enhanced digital communication, MMA App, a‐state‐of‐the‐art website with engaging content, intensive social activities of both pre‐ and post‐events, a digital library where members could access e‐books
regard, MMA had organised online programmes for the benefit of the MSME sector, particularly focussing on Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry through MMA Chapters.
Focus on new age entrepreneurs India’s new mapping policy can be a game changer, facilitating domestic companies to steal a
Awards, which we envisage to be organized at the national level soon. McKinsey Global Institution report said that India would gain $770 billion in output by 2025 if
march over global giants and multiplying businesses now valued at over Rs.30,000 crores. The
women had the same opportunities to work as men. Although the government is considering
policy will unlock huge geospatial potentials, and it’s the right time for Indian start‐ups to grab the
raising the minimum legal age of marriage for women from 18 to 21, this move is not just de jure
opportunity and move forward. On its part, MMA has initiated a series of monthly talks inviting new
but de facto, requiring India to evolve economically and culturally. Economic growth will empower
age entrepreneurs who have been successful in strengthening the start‐up ecosystem. We are
our womenfolk. In this context, MMA has taken the initiative to form a Women Business Council to
grateful to Mr V Shankar, Founder CAMS & Director, ACSYS Investments Pvt for driving this
ensure that women emerge as job creators, not job seekers. The objective is to inspire women to
initiative passionately.
reach their potential in their career. Bridging the industry-academia gap
Emphasis on innovation & women entrepreneurs In its latest edition of World Economic Outlook, IMF said that it expects India's GDP to grow at
The National Education Policy ﴾NEP﴿ 2020 is an important step forward in India’s transition from deprivation to development. The proposed reforms look impressive, but an education policy alone
12.5 per cent in FY22, the highest among emerging and advanced economies. GDP growth for FY23
cannot guarantee a revolutionary change in education. It would take a few years for the suggested
is pegged at 6.9 per cent, which is indeed encouraging. We are now in the Top 50 league in the
reforms to be implemented and to observe the developments. However, MMA has been at the
Global Innovation Index. We are indeed privileged to play a small role in catalysing people
forefront in bridging the industry‐academia gap among the various B Schools providing
responsible for stunning innovations through the MMA‐CavinKare Chinnikrishnan Innovation
management education. I am indeed delighted that as part of its social responsibility, MMA has
also initiated a unique model of engaging with the students and parents at two government‐aided
theme “__________________” on ______________ with the participation of
schools in Chennai for their overall development. This initiative is supported by ACSYS Investments
______________corporate delegates and management professionals.
Pvt Ltd. This is only a small step in our effort to transform our children to be great citizens and
•
leaders in the society.
MMA Women Managers Convention MMA’s flagship event – MMA Woman Managers Convention was also a grand success with over __________ women delegates participating, though the entire event was organized online.
The vaccination drive
•
The second wave of the Covid pandemic has been severe than the first. Indian vaccines Covaxin
online, including the calling for nominations, virtual jury meet and a grand gala Award
and Covishield have been distributed to over 70 countries, at least 37 of whom have got the vaccines free, in a humanitarian effort which is now being hailed as vaccine diplomacy. However, at
This year, the entire MMA – Cavinkare Chinnikrishnan Innovation Awards was organized
Function which was telecast on national television. •
Despite all the limitations, MMA organised the ______ Management Students Convention
home, more needs to be done with the combined effort of public and private enterprises to
which was conceived, organised and conducted exploiting the available digital platforms
vaccinate at least 60% of the Indian population by July‐Aug 2022. Industrial activity needs to pick
to the hilt. All the competitions were organised online and the Convention was webcast
up pace to deliver at its peak capacity.
live for the benefit of over _______ students who participated actively online.
KEY UPDATES DURING THE YEAR 2020-21 •
MMA Annual Convention 2021, the flagship event of MMA, was organized online the
I believe that MMA will continue to play a vibrant role in building management capability in this part of the country, particularly in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry.
I was guided by the collective wisdom of the Past Presidents of MMA and its Managing Committee Members. I thank Gp Capt. R Vijayakumar ﴾Retd.﴿, VSM, the Executive Director, and MMA Secretariat for helping me carry out my presidential duties and in keeping MMA current and relevant. I thank our members for their continued support, the past Presidents of MMA for their wisdom, the Managing Committee Members for their contribution, the Local Chapters of MMA for their continued support and the MMA Secretariat who pour their heart into MMA. I am pleased to share with the members the many achievements recorded, the initiatives launched and the series of activities conducted during the current year without losing the momentum set by the earlier years towards achieving the objective of MMA. I am optimistic that MMA will continue to play a leading role in shaping management education and practices in this part of the country and helping India Inc. Leading MMA through the past year has been a privilege for me, which I will cherish forever.
I wish the Association and all its members the very best!
Ravichandran Purushothaman President