Dr. Kalpana Gopalan, Associate Professor & Chairperson - Padmavathi Institute of Public Policy

Education

• Doctorate (Public Policy) Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, India, 2013.
• European Project Management, Post Graduate Program, University of Salerno, Italy, 2011.
• Masters, Public Policy and Management (PGPPM), Indian Institute of Management Bangalore & Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, USA, 2004.
• Master of Arts (History) University of Madras, India, 1990.
• Masters of Arts (English): University of Madras, India, 1985.
• Bachelors of Arts (English) University of Madras, India, 1983.

Fellowships & Courses

• Advanced Women’s Leadership Program: Harris School of Public Policy, Univ of Chicago, USA & ODA (2019).
• E-Governance Strategy: Application and Challenges: LSE, UK, 2017.
• Canadian Studies Doctoral Research Fellowship: Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Indo-Canada Shastri Institute, International Council for Canadian Studies, Canada in McGill University, Canada, 2011.
• Europrojettazione Scholarship, (First Position): Ministry of Economic Development/Union of Italian Chambers of Commerce (Unioncamere), European Union in the University of Salerno, Italian Trade Commission, 2011.
• Graduate Exchange Program Fellowship: Canadian Bureau for International Education, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada in the John Molson School of Business, Concordia University, Montreal, 2008.
• Public Policy Program: Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs, Syracuse University, 2002.
• Chevening Scholarship: Institute of Development Studies, UK, 1997.

Work Experience

• 35 years in the Indian Administrative Service. Superannuated in the Apex scale of Additional Chief Secretary (2022). Cross-sectoral leadership experience. First District Collector of Udupi district (1997); stewarded the NLM-UNESCO award for Karnataka (2000); handled migrant crisis as Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Labour (2021-22).
• Teaching Experience: Indian Institute of Management, Chairperson - Padmavathi Institute of Public Policy & Dean (Academic) RVS College of Arts & Sciences, Coimbatore, India.
• Visiting Faculty/Professor of Practice: Indian Institute of Management Amritsar (2023), Indian Institute of Management Indore (2023), Indian Institute of Management Sirmaur (2023),Indian Institute of Management Bangalore and Kristu Jayanthi College, Bangalore (2022).

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Applying theory to practice.
• Formulating grounded theory from practice.
• Leadership experience in policy-making and implementation in the IAS for over 3 decades.
• Breaking barriers, finding synergies between governments, corporates, academia, and non-profits.
• Using theoretical applications to find workable solutions to practical problems.
• Specialization in infrastructure, public-private partnerships, urban governance, and land management.
• Field experience of over 2 decades in social sector-rural infrastructure, housing, urban governance, and education.
• A unique mix of public service and business school credentials.
• First-hand work experience with academia, politicians, judiciary, bureaucrats, non-profits, and corporates.
• Excellent team-building and coordination skills.
• Insider awareness of government and expertise in negotiating with government agencies.