Dr. Biswajeet Pattanayak
Prof. (Dr.) Biswajeet Pattanayak is a distinguished Former Professor of three Indian Institutes of Management – IIMs at Indore, Lucknow, and Mumbai – (a rare record indeed!). He is a renowned thought leader in the field of Human Resource Management (HRM).
Currently he is the Founder and President of ASBM University, a leading institution in management, technology, law and liberal arts education in India. Under his leadership, ASBM has earned international accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP, USA) and quickly emerged as one of the leading universities in the country. He has successfully transformed the university into a world-class institution with a focus on practical, cutting-edge education, and it stands as a testament to his visionary approach.
His industry experience (with the Indian steel behemoth, Steel Authority of India Ltd., and as the Group HR Head of Essar) gave him invaluable insight into the complexities of organisational behaviour, human resource management, and leadership development, while research, teaching, training, and consulting as an academician made him gain original insights and expertise. This unique combination of corporate leadership and academia has positioned him as a leading voice in the arena of management education and he is now globally recognised for his exceptional ability to integrate industry practices with academic delivery that enables him to provide real-world, actionable knowledge to his students, trainees, readers, and the corporate world.
Prof. Pattanayak’s academic credentials include a Ph.D. and a D.Litt. in Organisational Behaviour and a D.Sc. in Management Science. As an alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad, he has been equipped with skills to foster a healthier work environment and improve employee engagement through data-driven stress management initiatives. A Fellow of the All India Management Association (AIMA), he has published 27 books and 106 research papers published in leading national and international journals. He is also the Chief Editor of an international journal – ASBM Journal of Management. Incidentally, he became a professor and Chair of the HR & OB area at IIM Indore at a remarkably young age of 35. Similarly, he donned the position of the Director of a national institute – Indian Institute of Bank Management-Reserve Bank of India institution – at the age 38. He is a certified Evaluator of Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, USA.
His teaching philosophy combines academic rigor with practical insights, ensuring that his students not only grasp theoretical frameworks but also develop the critical thinking and decision-making skills necessary for real-world success. His ability to understand the intricacies of corporate culture and apply HRM theories in the practical context makes his work highly relevant for business leaders, HR professionals, and students alike. His corporate experience spanning leadership development, employee relations, organisational development, and performance management, has shaped his approach to HRM, making his academic contributions highly actionable and grounded in the reality of the corporate world.
As a consultant to numerous multinational corporations and a trusted advisor to organisations across industries, Prof. Pattanayak has helped companies optimise their human resources and leadership structures. He has worked with over 1,000 senior executives worldwide, providing leadership coaching, strategic HR consulting, and conducting highly acclaimed executive training programs. His work has made a significant impact on improving organisational effectiveness, employee engagement, and leadership development across multiple sectors.
One of the defining features of Prof. Pattanayak's career has been his ability to innovate in the classroom. He is widely known for his innovative teaching methods, such as integrating films like Lagaan to teach complex leadership and team-building concepts. This method, which earned him the affectionate sobriquet, ‘The Lagaan Professor’, has resonated deeply with students and peers alike. His Lagaan workshop on team-building and leadership, conducted at the 62nd Annual Convention of the International Council of Psychologists in Jinan, China, was attended by educators from around the globe and received exceptional feedback for its creativity and effectiveness.
Prof. Pattanayak is a pioneer in the quality movement in education. He served as the Chair of the ACBSP (Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, USA) for South Asia, overseeing accreditation efforts for business schools across the region. His role in global academic governance extends to his election as a member of the National Council of AIMA (All India Management Association) and his contribution as a Board Member of the National HRD Network.
Prof. Pattanayak has been nominated by the Hon'ble President of India to serve on the Courts (Governance Boards) of Central University of Rajasthan and Guru Ghasidas Central University. He also served as an advisor to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and has played a key role in shaping national education policy as a member of the NITI Aayog consultative panel.
Prof. Pattanayak's contributions to education and HRM have been widely acknowledged through numerous awards. These include the Education Leadership Award (2023), Lifetime Achievement Award (2022) from the World Education Congress, the Teaching Excellence Award from ACBSP, USA and the Business Excellence Award (2021) apart from prestigious national honours like the Deccan Herald Award for Best Teacher in Management and the Dewang Mehta Award for Best Professor in HRM. ACBSP has recognised him as one of the Top Ten Management Educators of the world.
He had the opportunity to visit Ivy League institutions like Harvard Business School, MIT Sloan School of Management, and Wharton School of Business. He has also visited several countries for professional and academic interest. He is listed in global directories such as Marquis Who's who in the World and Leading Scientists of the World (IBC, Cambridge) further cementing his status as a global leader in HRM education and practice.