2024 Best 40-Under-40 MBA Professors: Malika, Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore

Malika
Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore

“Malika helps her students understand the essence of concepts and acquire skills to apply these concepts in managerial settings. To achieve this, she employs a combination of lectures/discussions, experiential learning, and video cases. For instance, in her Global Marketing course, the diffusion of innovation in foreign markets is explored through a live class experiment demonstrating the power of cultural conditioning and word-of-mouth.

“Her exceptional teaching earned her the Teaching Excellence Award this year at her school—a notable achievement for a faculty member teaching for the first time. She was nominated by her school for the prestigious Harvard Global Colloquium, awarded to accomplished professors, becoming the youngest faculty member to participate in last year’s colloquium.” – Durairaj Maheswaran

Malika, 36, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Marketing at Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore.

Prior to joining, she was an Assistant Professor and Faculty Fellow in Marketing at New York University’s Stern School of Business. She was the first Indian Ph.D. recipient of NYU’s Provost Fellowship and is the youngest and the only consumer behavior faculty in India to have authored four articles in leading journals, including the Journal of Marketing and the Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science.

Her research investigates how cross-cultural differences affect consumer behavior, with a particular focus on the impact of resource scarcity. Her work was highlighted in a Forbes article, “Beyond the Exotic: Branding India,” which examines India’s national brand equity.

This year, she won IIM’s Teaching Excellence Award, a recognition seldom given to first-time faculty members. She was also chosen for the esteemed Harvard Global Colloquium, joining a group of distinguished professors from across the globe as the youngest faculty member in the 2023-24 cohort.

BACKGROUND

At current institution since what year? 2022
Education: BA (Hons) & MA Psychology (Panjab University); MPhil Psychology (University of Cambridge); PhD Management (Indian School of Business)
List of MBA courses you currently teach: Global Marketing

TELL US ABOUT LIFE AS A BUSINESS SCHOOL PROFESSOR

I knew I wanted to be a business school professor when… I realized that I enjoyed applying my training in psychology to meaningfully contribute to research in consumer behavior.

What are you currently researching and what is the most significant discovery you’ve made from it? I am currently researching cultural differences. My research has found that under financial constraints, consumers prioritize based on their cultural orientations. For example, under scarcity, interdependent consumers prefer to buy social purchases (e.g., portable speakers) while independent consumers prefer solitary purchases (e.g., headphones). However, when there is no scarcity, consumers exhibit similar purchase preferences across cultures.

If I weren’t a business school professor… I would likely pursue a career in the investment sector.

What do you think makes you stand out as a professor? It may be my empathy. I focus on what the students would relate to and how best they will engage in the class, thus creating an environment where students feel understood and motivated.

One word that describes my first-time teaching: Exciting.

Here’s what I wish someone would’ve told me about being a business school professor: Teaching would be a lot of fun.

Professor I most admire and why: Many professors have shaped my life. I am grateful for all my mentors.

TEACHING MBA STUDENTS

What do you enjoy most about teaching business students? I enjoy the dynamic nature of the field, which ensures lifelong learning. I also enjoy interacting with students from various education backgrounds.

What is most challenging? Balancing theoretical knowledge with practical applications can be challenging. Students often benefit the most when they can see how concepts apply in real-world settings, and creating those connections requires thoughtful planning.

In one word, describe your favorite type of student: Engaged

When it comes to grading, I think students would describe me as… Fair

LIFE OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM

What are your hobbies? Watercolor painting, gardening

How will you spend your summer? Working on research and spending time with family

Favorite place(s) to vacation: New York city; a city where you can enjoy authentic cuisines from around the world.

Favorite book(s): The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid

What is currently your favorite movie and/or show and what is it about the film or program that you enjoy so much? I enjoy movies and TV series from around the world. Currently, I am enjoying a US TV series: Monk.

What is your favorite type of music or artist(s) and why? I love different kinds of music based on the time of the day- different for workout (probably Punjabi) vs. when working on research (most likely Cercle). Frank Sinatra is my favorite artist.

THOUGHTS AND REFLECTIONS

If I had my way, the business school of the future would have much more of this… there would be a significant emphasis on interdisciplinary research, particularly integrating foundational fields such as psychology into management research and teaching. Additionally, there would be an increased focus on experiential learning to enhance practical understanding and application of business concepts.

In my opinion, companies and organizations today need to do a better job at… allow employees the opportunity to align their professional responsibilities with their personal values.

I’m grateful for… my health, mentors, family and friends, and opportunities.

 

DON’T MISS: THE ENTIRE 2024 ROSTER OF THE WORLD’S BEST 40-UNDER-40 MBA PROFESSORS

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