In an era marked by rapid technological acceleration, ethical uncertainty, and growing social fragmentation, Prof. Padmakumar Nair represents a form of leadership grounded not in authority or acclaim, but in clarity of purpose and human understanding. Currently serving as Vice Chancellor of Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology (TIET), Patiala, his leadership is guided by a simple yet demanding conviction: empathy is not a soft virtue, but a foundational human capability—the mother of excellence.
Prof. Nair views leadership as a moral and intellectual responsibility to create conditions in which individuals and institutions can perform their best work in the service of society. For him, higher education is not merely a mechanism for producing degrees or enhancing employability; it is a civilizational institution meant to cultivate judgment, character, and a sense of long-term responsibility toward humanity.
Scholar, Practitioner, and Institution Builder
With over 38 years of experience across academia, advanced research, industry, and consulting, Prof. Nair’s career spans multiple continents and disciplines. His academic formation reflects a deliberately integrative approach: a Ph.D. from the University of Twente in the Netherlands, a Doctor of Engineering from the University of Tokyo in Japan, an MBA from Heriot-Watt University in the United Kingdom, and an M.Tech in Metallurgical Engineering from IIT Kharagpur in India.
This diverse intellectual grounding has shaped his ability to work across engineering, management, and human behaviour—an intersection that defines both his scholarship and his approach to institutional leadership. He has consistently sought to bridge technical rigor with philosophical reflection, and organizational performance with ethical clarity.
A Philosophy of Education and Leadership
For Prof. Nair, education is fundamentally a process of philosophical orientation. He consistently cautions against reducing success to survival-driven metrics such as money, power, position, or popularity. Instead, he encourages students and leaders to cultivate a personal philosophy grounded in values, empathy, and long-term societal impact.
Drawing inspiration from Stoic philosophers, Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus, as well as Buddhist teachings, he emphasizes reflection, restraint, and intellectual humility. He argues that the future will be cognitively demanding and ethically complex, requiring not only technical competence but emotional regulation, moral clarity, and the ability to act wisely under uncertainty.
Professional Journey
Prior to joining TIET, Prof. Nair served as Clinical Professor of Organization, Strategy, and International Management, and as the founding Academic Director of the Leadership Centre at the University of Texas at Dallas. He has also held affiliate appointments in materials science and engineering, maintaining a strong connection to core technological disciplines while working at the interface of leadership and organizational behaviour.
His industry and consulting engagements include organizations such as Shell (Amsterdam), PwC (Japan and the United States), and global corporations including Ericsson, Hitachi, NEC, Pfizer, Citibank, and Texas Capital Bank. These experiences provided him with a grounded understanding of leadership challenges, innovation processes, and organizational cultures across diverse national and institutional contexts.
As a researcher and thought leader, Prof. Nair has authored more than 55 peer-reviewed publications in internationally reputed journals, with over 2,900 citations and a Google Scholar h-index of 29. His scholarly work spans nanostructured materials, sustainability and innovation, leadership development, higher education reform, and evolutionary perspectives on human behaviour. Across these domains, his central concern remains consistent: how systems shape human decision-making, responsibility, and long-term outcomes.
Leadership at Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology
As Vice Chancellor of TIET, an institution established in 1956 and widely respected for its contributions to engineering education, Prof. Nair is guiding a phase of purposeful and values-driven transformation.
His leadership emphasizes:
◦ Excellence-seeking rather than competitive comparison
◦ Empathy and compassion as institutional norms
◦ Impact and responsibility over short-term metrics
These principles inform curricular reform, pedagogical innovation, global partnerships, research prioritization, and sustainability initiatives. Prof. Nair views the university as a living institution, one that must continuously align knowledge creation with societal needs and ethical responsibility.
At TIET, this philosophy translates into a commitment to nurturing graduates who are not only competent professionals but reflective individuals capable of contributing thoughtfully and constructively to a complex world.
A Vision Beyond Institutions
Prof. Nair’s aspirations extend beyond any single role or university. He sees higher education as a critical lever for social coherence, one that can bridge technology and ethics, innovation and inclusion, ambition and compassion.
As a mentor, scholar, and institution builder, he consistently challenges conventional definitions of success and leadership. His message remains steady and deliberate: The future belongs to those who can think deeply, act ethically, and lead with empathy.
“Let us seek excellence together—every day, and for the greater good.”
