Mr. Rajesh Radhakrishnan is a consultant and advisor to senior management of companies from the engineered products, manufacturing and education sectors. He was trained cross-functionally across customer-facing and back-end functions. His international, cross-cultural training includes on-the-ground experience managing businesses in North America, India, France/ Western Europe, Brazil, Indonesia and China. He is currently the Director at Eaton, a $22B electrical and industrial products manufacturer, with responsibility for Strategy, Mergers-Acquisitions, Business Development. Prior to this, he had Vice President responsibilities in three functional areas – Marketing, Strategy- BD Business Development -M&A Mergers & Acquisitions, and P&L Profit & Loss management of International Operations – at Tecumseh Products in Michigan ($2B), Pentair in Minnesota ($3.5B), Larsen & Toubro ($12B) in India, and Elgi Equipment ($200M) in India.
Mr. Radhakrishnan has a B.Tech. in Metallurgy from IIT Bombay and an MBA from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, with specialization in Strategy, Marketing & Finance. Sharing his memories of IIT Bombay he says, “I still remember coming to IIT Bombay as a scared kid from a small town in Kerala, and then going on to build my confidence on a variety of things ranging from debating in the Hostel GBM seniors feared by all for their verbal skills, being on the quiz team, editing the campus magazine, being Social Secretary who had to go talk to young ladies from South Bombay colleges to arrange socials, … and earning a Lit Scroll and a Best Sportsman in the final years. Earning a cohort group with whom we have strange languages & rituals, but at the end of the day we have the loyalty and love of brothers & sisters. After the 25-year reunion, it feels that I can pick up the phone and call about 100 people in 50 different cities around the world at 8pm and say, “arrey boss, I am in town – can we meet?” OR “boss – I need some help with.”
He adds further, “I will never forget the patience and gentleness of Professors PK Rao and NB Ballal, my dept head and BTP guide, who were gentle with me but did not hesitate to give me tough love so that I would focus more on academics (while acknowledging my enthusiasm for Department and campus activities) … and helped me to get back to basics in my 3rd and 4th years.”
He is passionate about Asian Americans as a constructive and engaged voice at the table in the future of Michigan, and creating meaningful coalitions among Asian Americans of widely different national backgrounds building on common shared values of family & community, the immigrant experience & drive for excellence, and social justice. He serves on the Board of Directors of Asian Pacific Islander APIA Vote Michigan and as a Parent VP of Diversity & Inclusion at the Roeper School. Mr. Radhakrishnan served during 2000-2012 in leadership and on the boards of several non-profit organizations in the US and India – organizations like the Cleveland Education Fund, Southeastern Youth and Family Services in Milwaukee, Compatible Technology International in Minneapolis, and IIT Bombay Heritage Foundation. Rajesh volunteers with his kids at the Humane Animal Society (India), Michigan Humane Society, and Puddingstone Farms, a woman-owned farm in Southeastern Michigan.
Mr. Rajesh Radhakrishnan has been actively associated with the Institute. He was a founding member of the PanIIT alumni organization in Chicago in 2002 and as its first President, grew the Chicago-Midwest chapter to a robust membership of ~ 3000 alumni to financial independence and enduring organizational purpose and strength. During 2002-05 Rajesh also anchored the Midwest chapter of IIT Bombay Heritage Foundation. During 2011-12, while living in Powai, Rajesh was a regular visitor to the Dean’s offices in IITB and assisted the Dean of Student Affairs & Finance in outreach to the corporate community, including corporations like Larsen & Toubro. Since 2012, upon return to Michigan, USA, Rajesh has been instrumental in revitalizing the Detroit-Michigan chapter of IITB and PanIIT, organizing approximately 10 events during the year that bring families and IITans together for professional and social events. Rajesh also served on the Executive Committee of the IITB Heritage Foundation in 2003-05 and again since 2013.