About Me

 

I am Dr. Lekshmi R Kumar, an educator, researcher, and industry professional with over two decades of experience spanning corporate leadership, management education, applied research, and executive training. My professional journey reflects a commitment to bridging academic knowledge with industry practice, enabling students and organizations to apply management concepts to real-world challenges.

Academic Journey

My academic journey reflects the convergence of management and environmental sciences. While my early education provided a strong foundation in agriculture and environmental sciences, my management education and doctoral research brought these disciplines together through the study of Business Sustainability. This interdisciplinary perspective continues to shape my teaching, research, and consulting by integrating business strategy with environmental and societal responsibility.

• PhD in Business Sustainability – Indian Institute of Management Lucknow
• PGPX (General Management) – Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad
• M.Sc. Environmental Sciences – Tamil Nadu Agricultural University
• B.Sc. Agriculture – Kerala Agricultural University

Industry Experience

Before entering academia, I spent nearly a decade in the corporate sector, primarily with Spencer's Retail Ltd., where I held progressively senior leadership positions, culminating in the role of Deputy General Manager – Corporate Space Planning & Floor Design. My responsibilities included retail operations, supply chain management, category planning, store design, and strategic business improvement initiatives across India. These experiences continue to enrich my teaching by bringing real business perspectives into the classroom.

Academic Experience

Since transitioning to academia, I have been teaching MBA students in management disciplines while actively engaging in research, curriculum development, executive education, and industry collaboration.

Courses Taught

• Operations Management
• Management Science
• Supply Chain & Logistics Management
• Service Operations Management
• Business Sustainability
• Environmental Management & Sustainable Development
• Business Statistics
• Quantitative Techniques
• Services Marketing

Current Academic Responsibilities

In addition to teaching, I contribute to institutional development through several leadership roles.

• Chairperson – Corporate Relations & Placements
• Faculty Coordinator – Internships
• Chairperson – Internal Complaints Committee (ICC)
• Chairperson – Women Cell

These responsibilities provide opportunities to work closely with students, industry leaders, faculty colleagues, and external stakeholders, supporting both academic excellence and professional development.