Interview Times 
Dr. Monika Sethi Sharma brings over three decades of experience to academia and institutional leadership. A seasoned academic leader and now Vice Chancellor, she is known for strengthening institutions through quality reforms, research culture, and industry-connected learning. Her journey across premier institutes has made her a firm advocate of education that transforms people, systems, and society—work that continues to define her leadership today. The Interview Times had a conversation with her, below are her responses to the questions of The Interview Times.
Q.1. What motivated you to pursue a professional career in academic leadership?
Teaching was never an accident for me; it was a conscious choice of heart. It gave me a deep sense of satisfaction and a purposeful life. Anyone can earn money, but when you choose to be a good teacher, a committed mentor, and a genuine human being, you impact countless lives- that feeling has always meant more to me than any title or position. That ability to shape individuals and transform their journeys became my true purpose.
Over the last 28 years, I have worked in every layer of academia—teaching HR & OB, guiding young faculty, helping departments find direction, rebuilding systems that had lost their way and preparing for grading , inspection, and various benchmarks. These were not just administrative tasks for me; they were experiences that shaped me. Through all these moments, I slowly understood that my passion did not end at the classroom door. I wanted to build spaces where teachers feel supported, students feel seen, and institutions grow with purpose and heart.
Stepping into academic leadership was a natural extension of that desire. Every leadership role I accepted—from HOD to Dean, Director, and now Vice Chancellor—was driven by purpose. It gave me the platform to bring people together, to build from zero to one and to create an environment where everyone—faculty, staff and students—could rise. Being the youngest Vice Chancellor in Chhattisgarh, the responsibility is even more meaningful. It allows me to shape a university that prepares students not just for jobs, but for life—through academic rigor, experiential learning, and character building.
Q.2. What initiatives are taken under your leadership to enhance academic performance in your university?
Initiatives are strengthened international partnerships, bringing global learning, and meaningful faculty–student exchange to the university.
We designed our curriculum to be more innovative, experiential and industry-integrated, ensuring our students graduate with relevant skills and future-ready mindsets. Through the Co-operative Education model we have expanded industry tie-ups, introduced Powered Courses , Co-Op talks, 5-month internships, live projects for each course and placement pipelines across sectors.
Our student-centric systems emphasize structured mentoring, student mapping , student profiling , self-branding, skill development, academic support, mindful and happiness sessions and holistic well-being.
We ensure a continuously enhancing our world-class campus ecosystem with smart classrooms, digital academic processes and a culture that inspires excellence, innovation and growth.
Q.3.What is your long-term vision for the development of the university?
My vision is to make KKMU a model university where excellence meets innovation, and where every student discovers their potential and purpose.
Q.4. How do you engage your students and prepare them with relevant skills, knowledge, and competencies for today’s job market?
At KKMU we make learning real and relevant and connected to the world students will step into. Our curriculum blends industry certified skills, internships, live projects and hands on experiences, so students learn by doing. We bring leaders from corporates, startups and HR for talks dialogues and mentoring. Students receive continuous support through career training technology enabled learning and exposure to global tools. We also nurture curiosity through research groups innovation projects, Think Biz and hackathons. Aim is every KKMU student should graduate future ready confident and industry relevant.
Q.5. What are your prime focus areas for the university’s overall development in the coming days?
Our immediate priorities focus on strengthening the academic growth and overall development of KKMU. We are enhancing quality through NAAC, NBA, NIRF, AISHE, ARIIA, ATAL Ranking and QS I Gauge so our systems stay aligned with national and global standards. Building a strong research culture is another priority with support for projects, publications and collaborations that help our faculty grow as scholars. We are expanding industry partnerships, so our students receive better internships, live projects and placement opportunities. Student experience is equally important so we are improving mentoring, campus life, clubs, events and holistic development. Digital transformation continues across the campus with smart classrooms, automated processes, learning analytics and better use of our LMS. We are also preparing for new schools, programs and skill verticals that match NEP and industry needs.
Q6. Madam, you share an excellent academic leadership, could you please share some of the best memories from your journey.
Best memories are in academic leadership come from the “people”, my student or team, I have walked this journey with.
In every batch there are a few students who tell me that I changed the way they see themselves and they stay in touch through every milestone in their life. Whether it is a job change in their life or buying a home with their hard-earned money or celebrating blessings at their wedding or welcoming their babies they always reach out to me with so much love and gratitude. They try to stay close to my heart in their own beautiful ways and they support me in every possible manner and they pamper me with so much affection that at times it feels even deeper than what you receive from your own child.
Then, watching young faculty members grow into confident leaders and heads of departments has been one of the most fulfilling parts of my career. I cherish the days when my team and I built departments from scratch, set processes in place and saw them rise to become the pride of the University.
The trust my students place in me and the respect my colleagues show in their words and actions remind me every day why I chose this path. These memories are my true achievements because they reflect lives touched and futures shaped through education and my purpose of transforming lives finds its meaning.
