DR UMESH NEELAKANTAN

Attributes associated with my professional tenure has evolved through the good understanding of educational backups, opportunities perceived, absorbed and established, perseverance of graceful actions by my late parents and their dedicated investments for my career and a matured age nourished as on date. For any person, the personality cult developed is deeply associated with their personal, social and professionally endeavouring associations. I have also been deeply connected with various status for my evolution.

Confirmed and authenticated profile in my educational and professional endeavours proves my intent to competitively position my interest for this accountable position. My learning has experienced various facets of discipline from basic education in elementary schools till professional education in Management. The stakes of these learning proved my orientation for getting closely associated with operational, strategic and lead roles in different capacities. There have been defining moments in each of my accountable stakes that I held. All along, my improvements in each of these accountable stakes have been nurtured for a better understanding, greater learning, established status and an elevated profile.

My aspirational quest has revolved around higher education, augured well with augmented accountabilities. My experience curve specified in the detailed resume provides thorough brief of my professional endeavours since 1995. My key performance areas were highly challenging. Further, the year 2020 saw the sickening status of Covid at the top of the floor and my challenges were seen as uncertainties for my close family confidents, in India. On February 13th, 2020, I landed in Liberia (country known for its poverty and underdeveloped status) and took up this very important assignment as Rector. In Liberia, my connections were further expanded and were made collaborative. Few examples of accolades “Let’s Make Liberia Great” title received 50 years of IPR Copyright, Chair of IEEE, recognised the member of International Association of Universities (IAU), received an established grant from USAID, launch of international research journal, commencement of E Learning Engagements through online hubs in counties in Liberia. My assignment had a social narrative to empower since expectation from my end was not really as an academic head, but as a strategic lead for the university to visualise with expanded interests. I had to really swim through the waves of uncertainties and tirades of challenges. Portfolio of Costs were straightened and made professional through an empowered system (fixed costs associated were curtailed by 65% with a great structure), Human Resource system was made empowered, attitude of local people were transformed (with a formal work culture), community outreach programs and social empowered programs were integrated with academic system, innovative academic platforms were designed and implemented, research foundation was established and research interests in academicians were created, external collaborations and associations were made explicit, vivid, positioned and branded. The narrative of higher education platform was translated for a socio-economic cause. Very important, with a sound financial system, internal structure became evasive and substantiated.

All along my professional endeavours, situations were different, opportunistic, challenging, crisis driven but had a destiny of completion. My associations with my previous employers have been highly impressive and I keep their references always for all opportunities ahead. 

I am sure that after reading through my text – “My Quest for Contribution”, you will be privileged to confirm that my destiny has evolved for progress amid challenges.

Doctorate in Management studies - Periyar Maniammai University Thanjavur

FDP - Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad

PGDBA (Equ. to MBA) - School of Communication and Management Studies Kochi