In a significant move to bridge academia and industry, Whistling Woods International (WWI) and the Indian Institute of Management Mumbai (IIM Mumbai) have jointly established a high-impact advisory board for their collaborative MBA program in Media and Entertainment. This strategic initiative aims to ensure the curriculum remains at the forefront of the rapidly evolving media landscape.
Composition of the Powerhouse Advisory Board
The newly formed board boasts an impressive roster of veteran leaders from across the media and entertainment spectrum. The board is chaired by renowned filmmaker and WWI founder, Subhash Ghai. Other distinguished members include Apurva Purohit, former president of the Jagran Group; Punit Misra, CEO of Zee Entertainment; and Vivek Srivastava, joint managing director of Hindustan Times.
Further strengthening the board's expertise are Anurag Batra, chairman of Businessworld; Avinash Pandey, CEO of ABP Network; and Aparna Bhosle, business head of Zee Café & Zee Zest. The board also includes senior academic leaders: Professor Manoj Tiwari, director of IIM Mumbai, and Professor Ravi K. Gupta, dean of Academics at WWI.
Strategic Vision for the MBA Program
The primary mandate of this elite advisory board is to provide strategic direction and industry insights for the two-year, full-time MBA in Media and Entertainment. This program is a unique partnership between a premier management institute and a leading media school. The board will play a crucial role in reviewing and updating the curriculum to align with current and future industry demands.
Beyond academics, the board will focus on enhancing industry exposure, facilitating mentorship opportunities, and improving placement prospects for students. By leveraging the collective experience of its members, the program aims to create a robust pipeline of leadership talent equipped to handle the complexities of the media business.
Implications for Media Education and Industry
The establishment of this board marks a pivotal step in professionalising media education in India. It ensures that the learning is not theoretical but deeply integrated with practical, real-world challenges and opportunities. The program is designed to develop strategic thinkers and future-ready leaders who can navigate areas like OTT platforms, digital marketing, content strategy, and media analytics.
This collaboration between IIM Mumbai and Whistling Woods International, reinforced by the advisory board, is expected to set a new benchmark for management education in the creative industries. It signals a strong commitment from both institutions to produce graduates who are not just consumers of media trends but shapers of the industry's future.
