Guest lectures in B-schools bridge academic learning with real-world insights, offering students exposure to industry trends, expert perspectives, and practical knowledge essential for future-ready business leadership. Acknowledging the importance of guest lectures for MBA students, the Accounting and Finance Department of Apeejay School of Management recently organised a guest lecture on “Portfolio Theory and Diversification: Markowitz Model”. The resource person for this lecture was Dr. D.K. Malhotra, Professor of Finance at Thomas Jefferson University, USA, a renowned academician with global contributions to the fields of portfolio management, derivatives, and international finance.
Organised for PGDM Second-Year Finance specialisation students, the lecture was planned and coordinated by Dr. Pooja Chaturvedi Sharma and Prof. Nupur Soti, faculty members of ASM.
Dr. D.K. Malhotra is an expert in portfolio management, international finance, and derivatives. He shared valuable insights into the Markowitz Mean-Variance Optimisation Model, a foundational concept in modern portfolio theory. The session covered key ideas such as risk-return trade-offs, efficient frontier, correlation between assets, and the power of diversification. He skillfully blended theory with practical application, drawing from his extensive research and teaching experience across global institutions. The session also featured a compelling discussion on the 2008 Lehman Brothers collapse and the subprime mortgage crisis, providing students with historical insights into how poor portfolio construction and misjudged risk can lead to systemic failure. This segment resonated strongly with students currently studying Security Analysis and Portfolio Management, linking textbook learning with financial history and policy impact.
Sharing her thoughts, Isha, a PGDM student from batch 2024–26, mentioned, “Dr. Malhotra explained the Markowitz model with such clarity, and the real-world connection to Lehman’s downfall made it unforgettable.”
Another PGDM student Ashutosh Pandey said, “It was one of the most insightful sessions we’ve had—bridging theory with actual financial events. Truly enriching!”
The session was interactive and thought-provoking, with students engaging in meaningful discussions and clarifying real-world implications of the theoretical models discussed.