Dr. Nachiketas Nandakumar

Dr. Nachiketas Nandakumar brings to the table a rich blend of academic rigor and industry acumen, shaped over 17 years of experience—12 in academia and 5 in the corporate sector. Currently serving as Assistant Professor and Chairperson of the Postgraduate Diploma in Data Science & Business Analytics (PGDDSBA) at Thiagarajar School of Management. Dr. Nandakumar is on a mission to infuse innovation, creativity, and strategic understanding into future business leaders. His strong pedagogical ratings are a testimony to his teaching prowess, which is closely aligned with his research and teaching interests—Marketing Research, Marketing Management, and Consumer Psychology. At the core of Dr. Nandakumar’s teaching philosophy is a focus on application-based learning that mirrors real-world challenges.

Dr. Nandakumar’s PhD from Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Viswa Mahavidyalaya University delved into the marketing communications aspect of cataract-related eye care issues in rural India, a study that earned its rightful place in the journal Marketing Intelligence and Planning (ABDC – A category). He also holds an MBA from ICFAI Business School, Dehradun, and a Bachelor of Commerce from T.S. Narayanaswami College of Arts and Science, Madras University, Chennai.

His multidisciplinary approach to research has resulted in peer-reviewed publications in reputable journals. A few notable publications include “Public Service Announcements: A Systematic Literature Review and Way Forward”, (ABDC – A category) and “Threat, Efficacy and Message Framing in Consumer Healthcare” (ABDC – A category).

Dr. Nandakumar’s corporate stint as a Client Solutions Consultant at Marketing Science, GfK (Nielsen IQ), Gurugram, provided him with hands-on experience in market research consultation and project delivery, servicing notable clients like ING Bank, SBC Bank, and Hitachi. These experiences underpin his applied approach to teaching, research, and consulting.

Familiarity with statistical packages like R Statistics, Sawtooth Software, SPSS, AMOS, SmartPLS, and JASP ensures that his academic and industry research are both empirically sound and methodologically robust. This know-how extends to his classroom where he guides students through empirical research.

As the International Programs Coordinator at Thiagarajar School of Management, he’s been playing an integral role in signing MoUs with leading international universities like the University of Michigan, Dearborn, and the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, under the guidance of TSM Leadership. Additionally, as the Accreditation Coordinator, he plays an institution building role for the AACSB accreditation processes. Dr. Nandakumar also lends his expertise to the development programs for managers at Southern Petrochemicals Industries Corporation (SPIC), Hi-tech Arai, Accenture and Aurolab among other projects.

Among his accolades are a certificate for “Outstanding Contribution in Reviewing” from the Journal of Business Research. He has been a panelist in conferences, conducted workshops, and is a regular reviewer for academic journals such as JBR, JCM, MIP – all top journals.