Building IMIS-2035: Prof. Preetiraj Pattnaik is Reimagining Management Education for India’s Next Decade

Recognised among India’s 40 Under 40 Emerging Leaders, Prof. Preetiraj Pattnaik is shaping the future of management education at a time when Indian B-schools are being challenged to evolve beyond traditional classroom-centric models. As a key leader at the Institute of Management and Information Science (IMIS), Bhubaneswar, he is driving a comprehensive institutional transformation designed to prepare students for a rapidly digital, data-driven, and globally connected business environment.

Established in 1995, IMIS has long been respected in Eastern India for its disciplined academic culture and strong industry linkages. Under Prof. Pattnaik’s stewardship, the institute is undergoing a strategic reinvention anchored in his long-term vision, IMIS-2035. This roadmap repositions IMIS as a future-ready management institution that integrates technology, strategic thinking, and real-world business application into every layer of learning.

“At IMIS, we believe management education must move beyond classrooms and create industry-ready leaders who think in systems, understand technology deeply, and can solve real business problems,” he says.

An Associate Professor in General Management and a doctoral researcher in Disruption and Digital Transformation in Healthcare, Prof. Pattnaik brings a rare blend of academic rigour and practical relevance. Under his leadership, IMIS has introduced AI-enabled learning frameworks, simulation-based pedagogy, industry co-created courses in analytics and consulting, and a digital mindset curriculum aligned with emerging professional roles. These initiatives reflect his belief that tomorrow’s managers must operate confidently at the intersection of technology, strategy, and human leadership.

A defining contribution of Prof. Pattnaik’s work is positioning IMIS as a potential GCC (Global Capability Center) Talent Hub for Eastern India. With Bhubaneswar emerging as a fast-growing education and technology corridor, he is actively engaging corporate partners to build structured talent pathways across analytics, consulting, financial services, and digital operations. Strategic collaborations with KPMG India and exploratory partnerships with UK universities, initiated during the India–UK Business School Dialogue held in New Delhi in September 2025, underscore IMIS’s expanding global outlook.

Equally central to his leadership is a strong commitment to values-based education. IMIS has always been rooted in the principles of Discipline, Leadership, and Commitment laid by the founding members and the IMIS team have strengthened these ethos through redesigned orientation programs, leadership immersion initiatives, and structured corporate exposure, ensuring students develop both professional competence and character. 

Looking ahead, his IMIS-2035 roadmap includes the establishment of a dedicated incubation and innovation centre, stronger alumni integration, a pan-India admissions strategy targeting high-calibre learners, joint-degree programs with leading UK universities, and the expansion of AI-driven executive education. With clarity, ambition, and purpose, Prof. Preetiraj Pattnaik stands at the forefront of IMIS’s transformation journey, shaping a new generation of leaders equipped to drive India’s next decade of digital and economic growth.