Professor Ramesh Mehta served as Professor at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) from July 1991 to November 1997, a period marked by significant transformation in Indian management education following economic liberalisation. Associated with the General Management Area and as the founding architect of the Corporate Strategy and Policy Area, Prof. Mehta played a pivotal role in institutionalising strategy as a core academic and practice-oriented domain at IIMB.

His contributions to the Post Graduate Programme (PGP) included designing and delivering a fully case-based Corporate Strategy course, strengthening industry relevance, and participating in the PGP Curriculum Review Committee, which sought to align management education with emerging market realities. Prof. Mehta’s influence extended substantially into Executive Education (Management Development Programmes), where he pioneered long-duration programmes for organisations such as ITI, Bharat Electronics, Siemens, Reliance Industries, and HMT, focusing on transforming engineers into strategic managers.

As Chairperson, Executive Education Programmes, he led initiatives that enhanced programme quality, senior-level participation, and corporate engagement, contributing directly to the conceptualisation and establishment of the Management Development Centre (MDC). He also played a central role in the internationalisation of executive education through the International Master’s Programme in Practising Management (IMPM), collaborating with global institutions including INSEAD, Lancaster University, McGill University, Hitotsubashi University, and MIT Sloan.

The interview further highlights Prof. Mehta’s consultancy work, mentorship of faculty and students, commitment to strategic thinking and change management, and his reflections on unfinished institutional agendas, particularly the need to cultivate deeper capabilities in strategic leadership.