JAGSoM's PGDM Finance For Future-Ready Finance Professionals – An Exclusive Interview with Dr. Srijith Mohanan

In an exclusive interview with Shiksha.com, Dr Srijith Mohanan (Program Chair – PGDM Finance) talks about JAGSOM's PGDM Finance programme which is designed to shape future-ready finance professionals equipped. The programme offers a deep dive into both traditional finance functions and emerging fields like fintech, AI, and sustainability. With world-class faculty, industry-integrated learning, and a strategic location in Bangalore’s fintech hub, JAGSoM ensures its graduates are trained for success. 

Q1. What is your vision for JAGSoM PGDM in Finance course? 

The vision for the PGDM Finance program at JAGSoM is to nurture future-ready finance professionals who are equipped to thrive in a rapidly evolving global financial ecosystem.  

We aim to integrate robust academic rigor with hands-on experiential learning. Our focus is both on emerging domains like fintech, sustainability and quantitative finance, as well as traditional functions like banking, capital markets, corporate finance and wealth management. Our goal is to develop leaders who not only understand traditional financial principles but are also adept at navigating technological disruptions and driving innovation in financial services.  

 Q2. What are the key differentiators of the PGDM Finance program compared to similar programs offered by other business schools? 

There are three primary areas where we set ourselves apart. 

1. World-Class Faculty: Our faculty group is an eclectic mix of learned academics and seasoned industry professionals. On one hand, we have PhDs from top global and Indian schools like Stanford University, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta and SP Jain. At the same time, we also have industry veterans who have either led their own financial services venture / consultancy practice or worked with leading financial services firms like SBI, Deutsche Bank, Credit Suisse etc. Many of our faculty also have professional certifications like CA, CFA, FRM, CMA and CQF. Together, we ensure that our students’ learning is practical, relevant and future-ready. 

• Best in Class Program: The program is designed to equip the students with both depth and breadth. The program offers an in-depth understanding of foundational concepts such as corporate finance, modern portfolio theory, and risk management while simultaneously providing exposure to cutting-edge fields like fintech, blockchain, and artificial intelligence. It balances the academic rigour of theory with the practical skills needed for the real world. 
• Strong Industry Exposure due to Locational Advantage: Bangalore is the fin-tech capital of the country and the global GCC hub. Our students benefit from this close proximity to this vibrant financial ecosystem by having a deep industry engagement through internships, live projects, guest lectures and mentoring.  

These three aspects come together in ensuring that our students have exceptional career pathways post their PGDM program. We have alumni working in several leading financial services firms like Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, PwC, Deloitte, HSBC, Wells Fargo, Mirae Asset Management, Bandhan Bank, HDFC Bank, Motilal Oswal, Moodys  etc. to name a few.  

 Q3. How does the PGDM in Finance at JAGSoM prepare students for the rapidly changing finance landscape, especially with emerging trends like fintech, blockchain, and AI in finance? 

We have a multi-pronged approach towards preparing students for a financial sector that is being reshaped by technology. Courses on fintech, blockchain applications, and AI in financial decision-making are integral to the curriculum. In addition, we have sought to incorporate generative AI in many of the traditional courses so that the students are fully equipped to take advantage of the latest in technology. Students also gain hands-on experience through projects involving algorithmic simulations and AI-driven analytics. Finally, workshops and guest sessions by fintech leaders and industry experts ensure that students are exposed to cutting-edge developments in these areas. 

 Q4. You talked about the industry experience of the JAGSoM faculty as a key differentiating factor. Could you elaborate a bit on that. What is the average industry experience of the faculty? 

Our faculty group has industry experts across various domains of finance. To highlight a few names – we have Prof. Prashant Goyal, a veteran of the private equity space; Dr. Rajendra Kumar Sinha who has decades of experience in banking; Dr. Tuhin Chattopadhyay, a globally renowned expert in the FinTech domain; Prof. Jitender Kumar who heads his own asset management venture; Prof. Amit Puniyani, with considerable experience in capital markets and risk management at top investment banking firms, among others. 

Taken together, we have decades of experience that spans banking, capital markets, fin-tech, venture capital, investment banking, risk-management, accounting, financial control and quantitative finance.  

The average industry experience of our finance faculty group would be north of 10 years. 

 Q5. You talked about achieving a balance between foundational finance concepts and real-world skills. How does the PGDM Finance program do that? 

The foundational finance concepts are covered in the first two terms with courses in financial accounting, microeconomics, corporate finance, financial markets etc. The following terms would focus on applied courses that allow students to develop specializations of their interest. These courses fully integrate theory and practice with students getting extensive exposure to using AI, modelling, simulations and other analytic techniques to solve the real time problems faced by the financial services industry. The program also presents considerable opportunity for hands-on learning in collaboration with the industry. Students also hone their skills by taking part in various finance competitions organized by leading business schools of the country. They are also on the lookout to polish specific skill sets through the acquisitions of relevant certifications from leading industry bodies and global universities. 

 Q6. Can you elaborate on the hands-on learning opportunities provided in the PGDM Finance program, such as internships, live projects, or industry collaborations? 

There are multiple avenues that students leverage to ensure that their learning is both relevant and practical.  

• Internships:  Students get the opportunity to work at top-tier firms across the financial services sector. Our internship commences at the end of the sixth term, allowing students to choose an internship opportunity that is in line with their career aspirations. The duration of these internships, typically, range from two months to four months. Many of our students convert these internships into full-time opportunities, thereby setting the foundations of a successful career in finance.  
• Live Projects: Our students get to work on live projects in collaboration with industry mentors wherein they tackle a real-life problem that the organization is dealing with and come up with solutions for that problem. For example, recently a group of our students implemented a patented technology that enhances the predictability of credit rating changes for a group of NIFTY-500 firms. Another group collaborated with mentors from the fin-tech space in developing innovative solutions for their credit card product. 
• SMIF: Our students engage in the operation of an investment fund which gives them practical experience on asset management. Called the Student Managed Investment Fund, or SMIF in short, it allows them to apply the skills they have acquired in their portfolio management and investment courses in practice. 

 Q7. Could you talk a bit more about the Student Managed Investment Fund at JAGSoM?  

SMIF is an investment fund which was initially set up with a corpus of ₹20 lakhs, that is managed by a 24-member team of students. There are two funds operational at present. The first is a blue-chip growth fund that was set up in 2022 with a corpus of ₹500,000 and has earned a return of 95% as of Nov 2024. The second is a hybrid growth fund which was set up in 2023 with a corpus of ₹525,000 and has delivered a return of 50% as of Nov 2024. The remaining corpus of close to ₹10 lakhs is yet to be deployed, and various investment strategies are being evaluated towards that aim. 

Students are selected for a role in the SMIF through a rigorous interview process. One student is chosen as the head or coordinator of the fund. The others work across seven teams that focus on different aspects of fund management including conducting fundamental research on specific sectors, benchmarking and reporting, social media communication etc. The overall process gives students great exposure to the world of investments, conducting in-depth research and evaluating risk-return trade-offs in real time. The experience also gives them great confidence when engaging with recruiters, as firms highly value this practical application of finance. 

 Q8. Talking about recruiters, how does JAGSoM cater to the needs of finance students in terms of preparing them for roles in high-demand finance sectors? 

We place a significant emphasis on getting our students industry-ready both in terms of their knowledge and ability as well as their interpersonal skills. While the former is built through the various pedagogical engagements that I spoke about earlier, the latter is equally important in ensuring a good placement outcome.  

Work on the interpersonal component starts shortly after they join, as students participate in an outbound leadership lab (OLL) to initiate a process of self-discovery. The OLL helps students understand themselves better, their strengths and areas of improvement, and potential career pathways that might be best suited to their abilities. Practice courses designed to engender holistic personality development account for close to 30% of the credit structure of the program.  

Coming to interview preparation, students participate in a corporate mentorship program where they are guided by industry mentors. The mentors first guide the students in developing a high-quality resume that showcases themselves and their achievements in the best possible manner. Subsequently, the students work closely with these mentors through a series of mock interviews and group discussions to prepare themselves for technical and behavioural interviews.  

Finally, we facilitate students to broaden their perspective by connecting with various industry experts - both through participation in external industry events / conclaves as well as on-campus engagements with industry professionals who visit to evaluate competitions / panel discussions etc. that we organize from time to time. Recently, many of our students participated in the RBIH Fintech Day organized in Bangalore, where they interacted with leading industry practitioners across various fintech firms in the country. 

 Q9. How does JAGSoM’s finance program help students develop a global perspective, particularly in terms of financial regulation, cross-border investments, or global financial markets? 

At JAGSoM, developing a global outlook is deeply embedded in all our programs. It’s not just a supplementary aspect—it’s integral to how we approach teaching and learning. For instance, in every course, we ensure that problems are analyzed from both local and global perspectives. Take our banking courses—they don’t just stop at Indian regulations; they also cover global frameworks like the Basel norms in banking. Similarly, our capital markets courses explore Indian and international markets, giving students a comparative view. When you look at advanced courses in corporate finance and investment banking, there’s a strong focus on understanding cross-border M&As and global capital-raising strategies. This ensures that our students are well-prepared to operate in multi-jurisdictional and complex financial environments. 

Another unique feature is the interaction with international students, especially those visiting from Europe and the US. These engagements are invaluable as they bring in diverse perspectives and cultural nuances, helping our students understand the business world in a global context. Additionally, our students get the opportunity to learn from global visitors and alumni who have extensive international experience. These sessions aren’t just theoretical—they provide real-world insights into global financial practices, regulations, and career pathways. 

We also encourage students to expand their horizons by taking courses from leading universities worldwide through platforms like Coursera, edX etc. This allows them to gain exposure to international financial systems, regulatory practices, and investment frameworks, enriching their understanding beyond the Indian context. 

In essence, the program is designed to ensure that our graduates are equipped with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to thrive in an interconnected and globalized financial world. We truly believe in walking the talk when we constantly say – “Making you global ready, is our business.”