From Joint Family Values to Global Business Insights with Professor Rama Ramakrishnan

On this episode, I am joined by Professor Rama Ramakrishnan, a seasoned academic and advisor with a history in the corporate and academic worlds. He shares his unique journey and insights. Currently serving as a Professor of Practice at the Sloan School of Management, MIT, Rama also has experience from his tenure at Salesforce and various startups.Key Takeaways:(02:09) The influence of Rama’s early life in Tamil Nadu, family background and upbringing.(04:07) The pivotal role of education in his family. (07:22) The importance reading played in shaping his intellectual curiosity.(12:51) Shifting from the traditional joint family setup to urban education in Chennai.(16:47) The decision-making process behind pursuing engineering. (18:06) His journey to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras.(19:43) Exploring the realms of operations research. (21:26) The realization of his passion for mathematical thinking and communication.(29:45) Transitioning from academia to the business world. (33:21) His tenure at McKinsey and the drive toward entrepreneurship.(40:00) Reflections on professional growth and the value of diverse experiences. (45:46) Finding satisfaction in pursuing new avenues of learning. (51:29) The role luck plays in success. (57:47) Finding inspiration in the experiences of other professionals. Resources Mentioned:Professor Rama Ramakrishnan - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramar/Sloan School of Management, MIT - https://mitsloan.mit.edu/Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras - https://www.iitm.ac.in/McKinsey & Company - https://www.mckinsey.com/Thanks for listening to the Indianness podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, hit the subscribe button and never miss another insightful conversation with leaders of Indian origin. And be sure to leave a review to help get the word out about the show. #Indian #IndiaBusiness #India #Indianness