Welcoming EMBA-FM (in association with NSE) First Batch

The world of Finance is evolving constantly and with myriad range of financial products coming up in the market, there is a lot of skepticism prevailing amongst the Indian investors. The Financial Institutions in our country have already put in efforts on their part to spread financial literacy in our country. However, it is the need of the hour to develop Financial Market Professionals who can act as guides and advisors to the investors community and help in growing their monetary value as well as wealth of the nation.

Guru Nanak Institute of Management Studies (GNIMS) in association with NSE Academy Limited (NAL) have brought out a solution to this problem by introducing EMBA-FM, a program which combines the power of NSE Academy’s simulated practical learning and the pedagogy of the industry oriented faculties at GNIMS.

Prof. Uday Kale and Chief Guest CA. Paresh Suptankar at the Lamp Lighting Ceremony

This Sunday was a special occasion as the First Batch of EMBA-FM were welcomed to the Institute which would be their sanctuary of wisdom for 18 months to come ahead. The program was hosted by Ms. Monica, a jaunty student from the current batch of regular EMBA program. She introduced the dignitaries for the event while giving a brief profile of them to the audience. Dignitaries were called near the stage for inaugurating the program with lamp lighting ceremony. Prof. Uday Kale (Head of EMBA) felicitated the dignitaries from NSE Academy Ltd. and Jaro Education while Prof. Kapil Bhopatkar (Head of Finance & Admissions) felicitated the Chief Guest CA. Paresh Suptankar with a GNIMS Shield of honor and bamboo plant memento.

Prof. Kapil Bhopatkar began his address by congratulating the students for getting themselves registered to this program and taking a step towards elevating their career. He asked them to give a big round of applause for themselves. Later he explained the need arising for this course. There has been an EMBA program (14th Batch) already in progress at the Institute, but the Industry demanded for people who had expertise in the arena of markets. The Board of Studies (BoS) at GNIMS decided to devise a course focused on Financial Markets by incorporating NSE Academy’s modules dealing with Markets in-depth and evolve this program to fit with the rising needs of the Industry.

Prof. Kapil Bhopatkar felicitating the Chief Guest

He said that our aim was to essentially combine the strengths of NSE Academy in live market trading with our strengths of designing the curriculum. Mocking the students in a humorous way he said that many of them are lured to such programs because of the desires to acquire multiple certificates based on NSE Academy modules. While the focus is on Financial markets, a few essential modules of general management have been included to bring out the leadership qualities and managerial skills in students. Financial markets are lucrative but they can be risky and volatile as seen by the returns generated in last one year. He highlighted the aspect of how our mind oscillates between fear and greed, imbibed by the News Media Experts bombarding us with advises.

While concluding, he presented 2 small social experiments based on Behavioral economics. Both resulted into how irrational we behave at times. One student (Mr. Pushkar) was given a situation where he goes to buy mp3 player for Rs. 5,000 in a shop and when his friend suggests a cheaper option at Rs. 4,500, he goes for it. However, when the same student was given a situation where he was asked to buy goods worth Rs. 5 lakhs and then later he was getting the same for Rs. 500 less, then he denied the same. In both the cases he would have saved Rs.500, but then such same irrational mind goes into the market. Thus, he concluded that,

Market is an extension of Human mind…Because of its complexities the market is uncertain. We need to train our mind to excel in the markets…”

He emphasized on subjects in the curriculum like Behavioral Finance and advised the students to focus on the same.

Chief Guest CA. Paresh Suptankar gave an enlightening presentation on “Future of Financial Services in India.” He took the opportunity to praise the rising number of females in the Financial services profession. When asked about who has made it in market, some replied profit but majority said loss.

(From Left) Ms. Priti from NSE Academy Ltd., Prof. Uday Kale, CA. Paresh Suptankar, Prof. Kapil Sir & Prof. Ram Sir seated with the students

Later, there was an engaging discussion between the crowd and speaker with regards to various case laws ranging from Zee’s Story of bad allocation of capital funds, downfall of Kingfisher and Mallya’s story, Success stories of Infosys and Marico, loss averaging concept in markets and last but not the least the urgent need for Financial Literacy. He continued with Kapil Sir’s view about News Channel Experts and advised the students, “Don’t hear the media noise…Wherever you go find a mentor with whom you can connect on one to one basis.” He emphasized that every student applying for this course needs to be aware of “The Rule of 72” (By dividing 72 by the annual rate of return, investors obtain a rough estimate of how many years it will take for the initial investment to duplicate itself.)

Algorithmic Trading and data analytics is the future, believes Mr. Suptankar. He sees the scope of stock market growing on next 20-30 years. Every investor in India is a rear-view mirror driver who invests based on the good return investments made in past instead of researching in market, said the speaker. Financial advisory will start picking up because people are financially illiterate, which will indeed make you socially relevant. While explaining the opportunities present for the students in this industry, he advised them to keep prime focus on FinTechs (viz., Paytm) and exchanges (BSE, NSE, etc.). He encouraged the students by saying that we are falling short of advisors and entrepreneurs. He concluded his address by sharing some helpful words: –

 Times and Conditions change rapidly so constantly keep your aim focused on the future. Stay updated, stay relevant and understand your social relevance. Don’t overestimate what you can do in short term and underestimate what you can accomplish in long term. Have a great learning and exciting career!

Prof. Uday kale felicitating Ms. Priti Gupta from NSE Academy Ltd.

Ms. Priti Gupta from NSE Academy took the dais as an opportunity to express her gratitude towards GNIMS and Jaro Education for co-ordination and support on behalf of the NSE Academy Ltd.  She highlighted their innovative pedagogy of establishing a trading platform via their Live Trading Strategies software. She advised the students to stay alert with the products and services they use and try to test their quality and then judge the respective company’s value before investing in it.

Prof. Uday Kale (Head of EMBA) being asked about his views of this new course in Financial Markets

Prof. Uday Kale Sir concluded the program by his comprehensive presentation about the course structure and other details. He explained about the significance of attitude while pursuing your goals through an inspirational story of his personal running marathon challenge. He emphasized on the use of as much technology as possible via eLearning concepts during the course. There would be surprise quizzes testing how smart is your smartphone in classroom. All the students were guided through the course highlights and other rules & regulation through the slide show. He beautifully explained the inception of this customized EMBA program by displaying a slide of the environ scopic monument at Bandra of “Child Gives Birth to a Mother” which signifies the birth of this course due to industry demands from students. Also, he expressed his gratitude on behalf of GNIMS to its academic partners Jaro Education & NSE Academy Ltd. by an innovative image of coffee quoting,

Coffee never knew it will taste nice and sweet, before it met sugar and milk. We are good as individuals but become better when we blend with the right people.

Amongst the applaud of audience he asked the Guests and students to proceed for a delicious lunch. During the lunch break the Jaro Education team were interviewing the faculty and asking students for their testimonials. Post lunch there was a Q & A session with Prof. Kapil Sir and Prof. Uday Kale sir. Then what happens when it comes to stock! In the end Prof. Uday Kale Sir took the students of current batch for the Campus tour including Library visit and Computer Lab visit. The batch took a memorable group picture with the head of their program Mr. Uday Kale Sir, before they left for their homes excited to start their course!

EMBA-FM First Batch posing for a group picture with Prof. Uday Kale