Prof Srivardhini K Jha honoured with the National Teachers Award 2025 has been recognised for her pioneering work in entrepreneurship education at IIM B and her efforts in shaping future ready leaders
By Debasmita Dasgupta
timesofindia dot com
Combining her blend of experience in the corporate world with academic rigour Prof Srivardhini K Jha from Karnataka transformed classroom teaching with immersive indigenous methods and scaled up NS Raghavan Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning NSRCEL From mentoring women entrepreneurs to shaping national policies her journey reflects a vision of entrepreneurship as a mindset that can empower individuals communities and the nations future Prof Jha tells Education Times how developing an entrepreneurial mindset was difficult when she introduced it in academia
With long standing experience at Microsoft Sun Microsystems and Infosys and coupled with knowledge gathered at Stanford University and IIM Bangalore IIM B Prof Jha introduced an innovative perspective to the entrepreneurship curriculum across MBA PhD and online BBA programmes Reflecting on her shift she says
I felt I could make a bigger impact through teaching and research by reaching out to young talented minds and shaping them for an inspiring future
When Prof Jha first introduced entrepreneurship as a course at IIM B she was met with scepticism Many questioned whether entrepreneurship could really be taught insisting it was something one had to be born with Rather than dismissing these doubts she chose to reframe the conversation
Entrepreneurship is a mindset Whether you start a venture or work in a corporation it equips you to respond to a rapidly changing world she says
That shift in perspective proved powerful although battling scepticism was not easy but today it has emerged as the prominent job creating sector
Students live through the decisions and journey of being an entrepreneur while studying to become one she says highlighting her focus on case studies rooted in Indian companies live projects simulations and role play exercises played a crucial role
Taking charge as chairperson of NSRCEL in 2022 Prof Jha has scaled up the incubators impact Today NSRCEL supports more than 1000 startups annually across 25 states
Under her leadership the incubator has expanded its focus into sectors including climate action fintech and social innovation She has also championed womens entrepreneurship with over 3000 aspiring women founders completing the Foundations of Entrepreneurship programme Most recently she launched iCube Incubating Incubators Initiative which shares NSRCELs 25 years of expertise with incubators in tier II and tier III cities
We are trying to be a multiplier building capacity in local incubators so they can support entrepreneurs in their regions more effectively she says
POSTED BY : EDUCATION TIMES
DATE : 08/09/2025
