In an insightful discussion ahead of the 25th edition of Business Today's Best B-School rankings, experts explored the current placement challenges facing business management graduates in India. Moderated by Siddharth Zarabi, Managing Editor of Business Today TV, the panel featured industry leaders like Prabir Jha (Founder & CEO, Prabir Jha People Advisory), Jaideep Kewalramani (Head of Employability Business & COO, TeamLease Edtech), Bhavishya Sharma (Managing Director, Athena Executive Search), and Aviral Bhatnagar (Managing Partner, AJVC & Alumnus, IIM Ahmedabad).Prabir Jha attributed the slowdown to both macroeconomic factors, such as the global recession, and the narrow focus of B-Schools on a few top corporations, urging graduates to consider a wider array of companies. Jaideep Kewalramani emphasized employability as a key challenge, noting that while compensation remains a focal point, opportunities in entrepreneurship and alternative compensation structures are often overlooked. Aviral Bhatnagar highlighted the rise of smaller, more agile companies in the AI era, signaling a shift away from traditional large corporations. Bhavishya Sharma added that B-Schools need to diversify the industries represented on campuses, as heavy reliance on sectors like tech and consulting has exposed them to vulnerabilities. Overall, the panel called for a recalibration of graduate expectations and campus strategies to better align with changing industry trends.