Harvard Prof. Ranjay Gulati was conferred with IILM Distinguished Global Thinker Award,2025

New Delhi, (April 24, 2025) — In a thought-provoking and inspiring ceremony, IILM conferred its prestigious Distinguished Global Thinker Award ,2025 on Professor Ranjay Gulati, a leading academic and Professor at Harvard Business School, for his pioneering contributions to purpose-driven management and leadership.

The award ceremony, held at IILM’s Lodhi Road campus, was attended by an esteemed gathering of legal luminaries, academicians, industry leaders, diplomats, and students. The event was graced by Justice Hima Kohli, Former Judge of the Supreme Court of India, as the Chief Guest. The highlight of the event was Prof. Gulati’s keynote address, where he shared insights from his seminal book, ‘Deep Purpose’ : The Heart and Soul of High-Performance Companies.

In his welcome address, Dr. Harivansh Chaturvedi, Director General of IILM, Lodhi Road , emphasized the significance of thought leadership in today’s education and business landscapes. He highlighted IILM’s expansive presence across India, with two universities (Gurugram and Greater Noida), five business schools, and ten public schools. “At IILM, we believe that the true purpose of education lies beyond tools and techniques; it lies in transformative ideas that can change the world,” Dr. Chaturvedi said.

Professor Gulati called it a privilege to speak at the event and reflected the message of his book. He discussed how leaders can align organizational strategy with a deeper sense of purpose to drive not only business growth but also societal impact. Drawing on years of research and real-world case studies, he outlined how companies can navigate both good and challenging times by anchoring themselves in purpose.

Quoting former Blockbuster CEO Jim Keyes, Gulati said, “I have been frankly confused by this fascination that everybody has with Netflix. Netflix does not really have or do anything that we can’t or don’t already do ourselves.” He used this example to emphasize the purpose.

Prof. Gulati addressed critical questions such as “Why did Sears fail?”, “What lies beneath bad judgment?”, and explored the foundational principles of flourishing organizations. He elaborated on what he identified as the three core pillars of such organizations, centered around meaningful purpose, consistent strategy, and execution excellence.

He also shared the central questions that drove his research: What is purpose? Why does it matter? And how can organizations enact their purpose? He noted that purpose is not just a statement but a way of operating, and that organizations must continually revisit their mission to stay relevant and impactful.

Justice Hima Kohli expressed her admiration for Professor Gulati’s talk, calling it “a very interesting discourse” and shared that it felt like a nostalgic return to college days. “This award has been presented for the past 14 years, and I feel privileged to be here today,” she added. She applauded Deep Purpose as a groundbreaking work that not only redefines organizational strategy but also emphasizes the importance of contributing positively to society.

She noted that purpose-driven strategies, as presented in Gulati’s research, lead to not only exceptional business results but also foster inclusive and ethical growth. “In a world grappling with rapid change and complex challenges, this work is both timely and essential,” she concluded.

The event ended on a high note with engaging conversations and a renewed emphasis on the need for values-based leadership in shaping the future of business and society.