"From Engineering Blueprints to Strategic Academia: My Journey Across Industry and Institution"

 

Greetings 

My name is Senthil Kumar Anantharaman, and I stand before you as a learner, educator, researcher, and professional whose journey has been shaped by a diverse blend of engineering, management, analytics, and real-world problem-solving. Today, I take this opportunity to briefly walk you through the milestones and motivations that have defined my academic and professional life.

Born and raised in India, I began my educational pursuit from 1989 with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering  in 1993 from  Sardar Vallabhai Regional Engg College ( Earlier Under South Gujarat University ), Currently known as SVNIT an institute of National Importance.  I graduated in first-class with distinction. But my curiosity and aspirations took me beyond borders.  From 1994,  I joined masters program in industrial engg at Penn State , university Park, PA, USA and In 1996, I earned my Master’s in Industrial Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University, USA—an experience that fundamentally shaped my analytical approach and introduced me to process development studies.

After completing my master’s, I came back to India and immersed myself in corporate and industrial work for over 15 years—a rich and diverse career across banking, telecommunications, outsourcing, airports, and public infrastructure. From HDFC Bank and TATA Communications to the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, I worked on change management, business excellence, and quality systems implementation, leading Six Sigma projects and pioneering continuous improvement initiatives in Kaizen and Lean.

My industrial tenure taught me that transformation happens not just through innovation but through structured modeling and systemic thinking. This belief led me back to academia.

In 2016, I pursued my doctoral research at IIM Indore, where I earned my Ph.D. in Operations Management and Quantitative Techniques. My dissertation focused on Public-Private Partnerships in Emergency Medical Services, using game theory modeling to bridge theoretical insights with real-world policy design. This work was later published in the ProQuest Dissertation Series, and also featured in multiple national and international conferences like POMS, INFORMS, and Pan IIM WMC.

Since earning my doctorate, I’ve held academic appointments at Jindal Global Business School, Srinivas University, and Bharat Institute of Engineering and Technology, where I’ve taught across undergraduate and postgraduate levels. My teaching repertoire includes Operations Management, MIS, Data Analytics, Disaster Management, AI Tools, and the Constitution of India. I have also developed original course modules and mentored several student-led projects and faculty development programs.

I’ve published across journals indexed in Scopus, including case studies on Six Sigma in Tata Communications, and statistical analyses on life expectancy trends across Indian states. My research continues to revolve around game theory, smart farming, supply chains, healthcare logistics, and revenue management.  I presented a mathematical modeling approach to solving SANKALP challenges at the 9th PAN IIM Conference, and my recent work includes signaling games in smart and natural farming—a timely contribution amidst global calls for sustainable agriculture.

I am humbled to have been conferred the Distinguished Award by the Quality Circle Forum of India (QCFI) in June 2025 Conference at Madurai, recognizing my contributions to continuous improvement frameworks in healthcare and education. This award is especially meaningful to me because it affirms my belief that process innovation, when rooted in empathy and data, leads to transformation.

Whether working in a telecom boardroom or guiding students through analytics, my philosophy remains grounded in process clarity, ethical innovation, and strategic foresight. I believe in the "learn by doing" approach, a method I carry into every lecture, every research model, and every institutional collaboration.

I am a life member of the Quality Circle Forum of India and the Operational Research Society of India, and I find joy in hobbies like cycling, beekeeping, birdwatching, and chess—activities that keep me grounded, curious, and  keep me constantly observant,and reflect my interest for patterns, ecosystems, and reflective thinking

At the heart of my career I believe in the power of integration—bridging industry and academia, blending technical precision with human-centered design, and aligning quality systems with institutional purpose. As a life member of QCFI and the Operational Research Society of India, I continue to engage with communities that believe in continuous learning and structured problem-solving.

To sum up, my journey has been one of integration—industry and academia, theory and practice, precision and empathy and of evolution—from a planning engineer to a professor of practice, from process redesigns to public policy modeling, and from factory floors to smart farming strategies. I would like to remain committed to creating value through teaching, research, and institutional collaboration I look forward to continuing this journey by contributing to impactful research, inspiring young minds, and building institutions that are not just centres of knowledge, but agents of transformation

I thank you for this opportunity to share my story and look forward to contributing meaningfully to the academic and research mission ahead apart from impactful consulting.

Thanks  a lot for listening so far.