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A governance-focused executive and Independent Director with over 23 years of strategic…
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Leadership Lessons from the Ahmedabad Marathon
Leadership Lessons from the Ahmedabad Marathon
Last Sunday, I ran the Adani Ahmedabad Marathon and finished in 3:49:52, despite lower-than-ideal training. The…
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Gaurav Pant shared thisKashmir Marathon 2026 - Some runs challenge your endurance, while others leave you with memories for a lifetime. Today’s Kashmir Marathon was one such experience running alongside the beautiful Dal Lake, through the vibrant streets of Lal Chowk, and across the serene university campus, with the breathtaking beauty of Srinagar all around. Every kilometre was a reminder of how running brings together nature, culture, people, and the sheer joy of being out there. Another marathon in the books, another story to cherish, and another reminder of why I keep running. 🏃♂️ Kashmir, you were beautiful. Until next time! #kashmirmarathon #srinagar #dallake #leadership #runnerlife #marathontraining #coach #travel
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Gaurav Pant shared thisOne GMAC Day 2026 - More Than a Day of Giving! This year’s One GMAC Day theme was Innovation & Positive Engagement! Some days stay with you longer than others. September 17 was one of them. We set up the HOPE Study Lab with computers to support digital learning and repainted the school, creating a brighter, more welcoming space for the children. But honestly, what's stayed with me isn't the new computers or the freshly painted walls. It's the kids, their curiosity, the excitement on their faces, the sheer energy in the room. Happy to have ideated this CSR initiative for GMAC India with my colleagues who showed up and gave their time and heart to make it happen. Thank you to GMAC for continuing to create opportunities like One GMAC Day and HOPE foundation for the incredible work they do every day. Sometimes making a difference is really just about showing up. Gaurav Srivastava Anant Rastogi Robin Singh Apoorva Malhotra, PMP Swati Singh Pardeep Sharma Deepti Sehar Khanna Jitender Aggarwal #GMACINDIA #CSR #HOPEFOUNDATION #GIVINGBACK #ONEGMACDAY #GMAT #EDUCATION #DIGITALLEARNING
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Gaurav Pant reposted thisGaurav Pant reposted thisAs a new academic year begins, take advantage of the latest GMAC resources that help you discover and evaluate candidates at every step of their journeys to GME. Over the next two weeks, we're rolling out key resources for business school professionals, from connecting you with candidates at every stage of their GME journey to helping you grow in your own role. To kick things off, watch the video to hear from GMAC's CEO, Joy Jones, as she shares how GMAC has helped serve school professionals and candidates throughout 2026. Check out our website for more resources: https://lnkd.in/g_yWsT64 #GMAC #GME #GMAC2026 #HigherEducation #BusinessSchool #BackToSchool #GMACBackToSchoolA message from Joy Jones as a new academic year beginsA message from Joy Jones as a new academic year begins
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Gaurav Pant shared thisBack from an incredible few days at the GMAC Annual Conference 2026. It was a privilege to spend three days learning from leaders, business school professionals, colleagues, and partners from across the world who are shaping the future of graduate management education. The conversations around leadership, innovation, candidate expectations, technology, and the evolving role of business schools were insightful, relevant, and energising. What made the experience even more meaningful was the opportunity to connect in person with so many passionate professional, strengthening existing relationships, building new ones, and exchanging ideas with others who are equally committed to advancing our industry. I have returned with fresh perspectives, valuable learnings, and an even deeper appreciation for the impact GMAC and its member schools continue to make globally. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making #GMACAnnual2026 such a memorable experience. Looking forward to applying these insights and continuing the conversations in the months ahead! #GMACAnnual2026 #GMAC #HigherEducation #FIFA #GraduateManagementEducation #Leadership #Learning #Networking #Philadelphia #GME GMAC
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Gaurav Pant shared thisSnippet to my personal & running journey, unfiltered, honest, and still evolving 🏃♂️ https://lnkd.in/g35SxCKz #couragetalks #unfiltered #honest #running #fitness #leadership #growth #mindsetGaurav Pant shared this🎙️ 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟬 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝟱 𝗶𝘀 𝗡𝗢𝗪 𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘! From leading high-stakes operations at one of the world’s most respected education organisations to conquering some of India’s toughest ultras, this episode is pure proof that leadership and endurance are the same game. 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 Gaurav Pant Senior Director – India Operations, Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) | Ex-Citibank & Fullerton India | Certified Marathon Coach (REVO₂LUTION / ISSA) In 2014, inspired by Mumbai’s running culture and the Tata Mumbai Marathon, Gaurav started running as a simple “ME TIME”. What began as fitness quietly became his greatest teacher. 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲𝘀: • 100+ Half Marathons (PB 1:42) • 15+ Full Marathons (PB 3:41:52 – New Delhi Marathon 2025) • 30 consecutive days of 21.1 km (for safer Gurugram) • 215 km Gurugram–Jaipur Pink Purple Run (cancer awareness) • Khardung La Challenge – 72 km at 17,810 ft + Full Marathon in Ladakh • Border 100 Miles | 24-hour stadium run (167 km) | 100 km Fort Ultra 2026 🔥 As a coach, he guides runners with a holistic approach — structured plans, strength conditioning, yoga, mental discipline & mindful nutrition. But the deepest conversation is about what the trials taught him about the boardroom: “Life, leadership, and running are all endurance sports. True courage is not in dramatic moments, it’s in showing up every single day, doing the work, and trusting the process when quitting feels easier.” If you’re a leader, a runner, a parent, or anyone balancing ambition with well-being — this episode will recharge and rewire you. 🎧 Watch / Listen here → Link IN Comments (YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts) Drop a 🔥 if this resonates, and tag a leader or runner who needs to hear this today 👇 #CourageTalks #UltraRunning #LeadershipLessons #EnduranceMindset #MarathonCoach #KhardungLa #Border100 #StayInTheGame #IndianRunners
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Gaurav Pant shared thisLast Sunday, I completed the 100 km Fort Ultra in Udaipur, running from City Palace to Kankarwa Fort under relentless sun and steady elevation. My goal was 12 hours but the weather and terrain had other plans, finished in 13:19:44. For nearly 75% of the race, the heat was unforgiving. The terrain demanded respect. But ultras are rarely about speed they are about discipline, patience, and controlled execution. At this distance, impulsive decisions are costly. You learn to pace with intent, manage resources carefully, stay composed when conditions worsen, and keep moving forward when progress feels slow. Leadership is not very different, It requires: 1. Discipline when no one is watching 2. Patience when outcomes are delayed 3. Perseverance when conditions are tough 4. Calm decision-making under sustained pressure. A 100 km run is not won in moments of intensity, it is completed through consistent, measured effort over time. Grateful for the experience, the community, and the reminder that endurance in sport and in leadership is built one steady step at a time. #ultramarathon #thefortultra #patience #leadership #persiverance #discipline #consistency #nevergiveup #keepmoving
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Gaurav Pant reposted thisGaurav Pant reposted thisGMAT still leads MBA admissions in 2026 📊 New survey data from MBA Crystal Ball shows MBA applicants prefer the GMAT by 2:1. Because it’s purpose-built for business school and widely accepted by top programs and recruiters, the GMAT remains the test of choice for aspiring MBAs. Read the full comparison: https://ow.ly/IkUP50XWk1t #GMAT #MBAAdmissions #BusinessSchool #TestPrep #BusinessEducationGMAT vs GRE: Which is better for MBA in 2026? - MBA Crystal BallGMAT vs GRE: Which is better for MBA in 2026? - MBA Crystal Ball
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Gaurav Pant shared thisSome of the most practical leadership skills I rely on at work are reinforced outside of it! My running and strength training in 2025 wasn’t about races, it was about building habits that directly show up in my day to day work. What it reinforced for me: 1. Discipline over motivation → execution even when energy or conditions aren’t ideal. 2. Consistency over intensity → steady progress in complex, long-cycle work. 3. Preparation over panic → decisions under pressure come easier when the base is strong. 4. Respect for recovery → sustainable performance, not burnout. 5. Team mindset → progress is faster and stronger with the right support around you Balancing training with work, deadlines, and responsibilities forced better prioritisation, sharper focus, and calm execution, skills that translate directly into leadership and delivery. As I move into 2026, the intent is clear, stay consistent, build durable systems (in fitness and work), and lead in a way that’s sustainable for the long run. Because both leadership and performance are marathons, not sprints. #Leadership #Execution #Discipline #Consistency #HighPerformance #Teamwork #Running #Fitness #Marathon #Healthyhabits #Coaching #Ultrarunning
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Gaurav Pant liked thisGaurav Pant liked thisCongratulations, Puneet Datta, Canon India, on being featured among India’s Top 100 Consumer Tech Marketing Trailblazers: Edition 2026. This recognition celebrates your leadership and contribution towards shaping consumer technology marketing through strategic brand thinking, impactful communication, and a deep understanding of evolving consumer needs. Your work reflects the ability to strengthen brand relevance in a competitive landscape, where innovation, trust, and consumer-centric approaches play a vital role in shaping enduring brands. Through your leadership, you continue to contribute towards creating meaningful brand experiences and driving excellence in India’s consumer technology ecosystem. Here’s to your vision, impact, and continued contribution towards shaping the future of consumer technology marketing in India. Read the full feature here: https://lnkd.in/g8FgJk-7 #Top100Leaders #ConsumerTech #MarketingLeadership #BrandLeadership #ConsumerTechnology #IndianStartupTimes MiQ Varun Mohan Namrata Aswani Setty R Chandra Muskan dengra
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Gaurav Pant liked thisThrilled to be back in Singapore delivering the 2026 GMAC Asia Conference with business school leaders from across Australia, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. 35 schools, 13 countries - so far - amazing presentations, discussions and engagement. Thank you National University of Singapore - your hospitality is so welcoming and warm. We started with an Admissions Institute Masterclass on AI and then moved to learn the art of storytelling- thank you Ashok Miranda - you are a master storyteller! Discussions moved to Asia - its strengths, its uniqueness and the potential to be the global hub of graduate management education and industry/ business. GMAC Andrew Walker Dr. Varun Sharma Dr. Rahul K Shukla Ben Neumann Jake Pratley Ruchi Garud Dr. Manish Kothari Themin Suwardy Arnold Longboy Aser Solomon Boakye-Boamah Roanne Law Eugene Leong
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Gaurav Pant liked thisThank you Press Alchemy for the mention.Gaurav Pant liked thisWOI India has appointed Pankaj Madaan as Head – Marketing & Partnerships, strengthening its focus on brand development, strategic collaborations, and market expansion. He will lead marketing initiatives, enhance brand visibility, and build partnerships to support the organisation's business growth. Pankaj brings experience across marketing strategy, brand management, and business development. Before joining WOI India, he held roles at TECNO Mobile India, Transsion, and DataWind Inc. His background in mobile technology, consumer electronics, and marketing communications provides a strong foundation for his new responsibilities. Powered by: IRPR.AGENCY Submit Announcements: https://lnkd.in/dDSTUkeN #PankajMadaan #WOIIndia #LeadershipAppointment #MarketingLeadership #StrategicPartnerships #BrandStrategy #BusinessGrowth #PressAlchemy
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Gaurav Pant liked thisGaurav Pant liked thisThe best residential school in India? My answer always surprises people. Working with high schoolers, I'm often asked: which is the best residential school in the country? I've visited some of the most expensive and most prestigious residential schools in India. And every time the question comes up, a quiet, almost zen-like smile crosses my face. I know of a school with just about 2% selection rate, and you can't buy your way in. I spent the most formative eight years of my life at a 100-year-old school, tucked away in a small city, quietly imparting the kind of education most students, parents and educators only wish existed. Let me show you what a single day looked like, every day, for eight years: 🕔 5:00 AM: Leaving bed, no exceptions. 🧘 Mind & Body: Bhajans, followed immediately by exercise and drill before breakfast. 🌱 Ownership: "Duties for Neatness" and gardening, we actively maintained and ran our own space. 📚 Deep Work: Strict blocks for private study in the early morning and late at night. ⚖️ Balance: Mandatory outdoor play every single evening, followed by Aratrikam and meditation. 🌙 10:30 PM: Sleep. Just a rhythm that built the body, the mind, and something deeper. And the academic results? The marks took care of themselves, because we were being trained for the harder things: → Mental strength → Physical tenacity → Discipline → Resilience And so the numbers followed: → Class X toppers consistently cross 98% → The school average holds between 91% and 95%, year after year. I didn't understand what I was being given at the time. Most 12-year-olds don't. I understand it now, every single day. This school sits on 40+ acres, and it's as beautiful as the education it quietly delivers. Can you guess the institution? Drop your guesses in the comments, and follow me, I'm revealing the name and sharing some stunning pictures of the campus in my next post.
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Gaurav Pant liked thisGaurav Pant liked thisA transformation roadmap can be full of milestones and still leave teams unsure what needs attention this week. The gap is often not another plan. It is an operating cadence: a dependable sequence for surfacing decisions, clarifying ownership, reviewing dependencies, and escalating issues while there is still time to act. For education organizations coordinating change across teams, this is a practical sequence to put around the roadmap: Step 1 — Turn milestones into decision points For each major milestone, identify the decisions that must be made before work can progress. Put those decisions on the review agenda—not just the target date. This makes the conversation about readiness and action, rather than reporting status after the fact. Step 2 — Name one accountable owner Every decision or deliverable needs a clearly accountable owner, even when several teams contribute. Make the owner responsible for bringing the issue forward, confirming the next action, and making unresolved choices visible. Step 3 — Review dependencies across teams Ask what each team needs from another, by when, and what happens if it is late. Review those connections together; separate team updates can miss the handoffs that put a shared milestone at risk. Step 4 — Track risks and decisions together A risk without a decision path can linger in a status report. Record the issue, its impact, the decision needed, who can make it, and the date by which it is needed. Step 5 — Set an escalation path Agree in advance when an issue moves beyond the working team, who receives it, and what response is required. Escalation should create timely decisions—not surprise or blame. Step 6 — Close each review with commitments End by confirming the decision, owner, next action, and due date. Carry unresolved items into the next review with their status and escalation route intact. The aim is not more meetings. It is a reliable rhythm that connects milestones to decisions and keeps cross-team work visible. Where does your transformation program most often lose that rhythm: decisions, ownership, dependencies, or escalation? If useful, send me a DM with the challenge you’re working through.
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Gaurav Pant liked thisThank you for the mention.Gaurav Pant liked thisWOI India appoints Pankaj Madaan as Head – Marketing & Partnerships From consumer brands to India’s startup ecosystem, WOI India has appointed Pankaj Madaan as Head – Marketing & Partnerships, bringing over 22 years of experience across Transsion Holdings, DataWind Inc Innovations, HCL Infosystems Ltd. and Spice Retail. His mandate will focus on strengthening brand strategy, expanding strategic partnerships and building deeper engagement across the founder, investor, corporate and institutional ecosystem. Read more: https://lnkd.in/g5Fd9DD7 Amar Dixit For more updates, follow our WhatsApp channel: https://lnkd.in/dQCWAQMR #WOIIndia #PankajMadaan #AmarDixit #MarketingLeadership #BrandStrategy #StrategicPartnerships #StartupEcosystem #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #India
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Gaurav Pant liked thisGaurav Pant liked thisCan the EA Exam predict full-time MBA success? The answer is yes. The EA Exam was designed to measure the skills that matter most for business school success, and the data shows it works. A recent study from GMAC’s Psychometrics team found that EA Exam scores predict academic success in business school more accurately than undergraduate GPA alone, and add even more value when the two are combined. Kyung (Chris) T. Han, Senior Director, Head of Test Development and Psychometrics, at GMAC, shares insights from the full study, including these key findings: 📊 758 students studied across three full-time U.S. programs 🎯 3 of 3 programs found EA total score was the strongest single predictor of graduate GPA 2️⃣ Up to 2x stronger prediction of graduate GPA when the EA total score is added to undergraduate GPA Watch the video to learn more and find the link to the full study in the comments below. 👇 #GMAC #GME #GMAC2026 #HigherEducation #BusinessSchool #EAExam #Research
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Gaurav Pant liked thisGaurav Pant liked thisAt The Education Leaders Forum Singapore, our Founder & CEO, Rohan Pasari, addressed education leaders and capital allocators on why the next chapter of education must go beyond traditional models of teaching, assessment and student recruitment. The challenge is no longer simply about how we educate talent, but how we connect that talent with the economies and industries where it is needed most. With a projected $8.5 trillion global talent gap at stake, the opportunity lies in building the infrastructure that connects education, skills and employment at scale. At Manifest Global, this is the future we are working towards moving beyond fragmented systems to enable a more connected global talent ecosystem. The next frontier of education is not just learning. It is how effectively we turn human potential into global opportunity. #ManifestGlobal #GlobalTalent #FutureOfEducation #HumanCapital #GlobalTalentMobility
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Gaurav Pant liked thisGaurav Pant liked this"Education is a superpower, and if we can work together, there's nothing we can't do." 🎤 That's how Darryl "DMC" McDaniels, founding member of Run DMC, kicked off Day 1 of the 2026 Graduate Business Curriculum Roundtable Symposium & PMBA/OMBA Conference at Fordham University's Gabelli School of Business in New York City. When your conference opens with hip-hop royalty, you know it's going to be a good day! Here's what we packed in, all before lunch: 🎶 A conference welcome from DMC and Buzz Knight, founder of Buzz Knight Media Productions, setting the tone for collaboration and big thinking. 🎓 A lively Deans Panel with Lerzan Aksoy (Dean, Gabelli School of Business), David Bach (President, IMD) and Erika H. James (Dean, The Wharton School), moderated by Brian Mitchell, Ed.D. (Associate Dean, Emory University). Big ideas, candid conversation, and plenty to bring home. 📊 Industry research with benchmarking data on marketing and recruiting, admissions and enrollment trends, program performance, organizational structures, AI implementation, and more of what's shaping MBA program management today. The afternoon breakouts kept the momentum going. It's inspiring to see the innovative practices colleagues are bringing to their campuses and programs. Tomorrow, Jeff Bieganek and I kick off the day with research, including the pulse survey GMAC conducted with the Roundtable on perceived AI skills gaps among MBA graduates. See you there! #MBA #GraduateManagementEducation #HigherEd #AIinEducation #GMAC #FordhamGabelli #BusinessSchool
Experience & Education
Licenses & Certifications
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ESG Certification
Directors' Institute - World Council Of Directors
IssuedCredential ID WDC-2025-DI5450909 -
Independent Director
Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs
Issued ExpiresCredential ID IDDB-DI_202504-072855
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