Ramkumar Bharathan on why he chose Chicago Booth: “When I called the admissions office, they picked up right away,” he says. “That told me everything.” Courtesy photos
Growing up in the southern Indian city of Madurai, Ramkumar Bharathan and his large family waited years to get access to basic technologies like a telephone or TV. When the day finally came, it changed everything.
“I still remember the excitement of watching cartoons like Richie Rich, Tintin, and Asterix and Obelix,” Bharathan says. “To hear A.R. Rahman’s music or see Home Alone or Jurassic Park, I had to wait days — sometimes weeks. But that made it feel magical. That was my introduction to technology.”
That early spark led to a lifelong fascination with innovation — and, eventually, a career in tech audit, a leadership role in AI governance, and an Executive MBA at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Now nearing graduation, Bharathan is preparing for what’s next: a bigger stage, a broader mission, and a deeper impact.
A GLOBAL PATH ROOTED IN HUMILITY
Bharathan comes from what he calls “a very humble background.” He didn’t grow up surrounded by privilege or access, and he vividly remembers borrowing library books and having just one hour of internet access each week at school. But while he had limited resources, he also had courage and an unwavering quest for knowledge.
Recruited by a Big Four firm after his accounting degree, his education was sponsored, launching an international career path. This global exposure broadened his perspective significantly. He emphasizes the profound influence of his mentors, particularly world leaders from California and Texas. “My mentors are my most influential people in my life,” he shares. “That exposure changed how I viewed the world.”
In 2016, one of those mentors encouraged him to move to Silicon Valley. He took the leap.
A LIFE-CHANGING CONVERSATION WITH SUNDAR PICHAI
One of the pivotal moments in Bharathan’s journey came during a client project, when he spoke briefly with Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google.
“It was only 15 minutes,” he says, “but it was life-changing. He didn’t treat me like a junior consultant. There was fairness, human dignity, respect. That gave me the confidence to think — maybe I belong here, too.”
Inspired also by Microsoft CEO and Booth alumnus Satya Nadella, Bharathan set his sights on an MBA. “I always blended tech and finance in everything I did. But I needed the next level — I needed to think bigger.”
“Be bold. It’s an unconventional path. It’s hard. But if your purpose is clear, if you know why you’re doing it, then just go. Be bold in the way you speak. Be bold in how you show up. Be bold in the risks you take.”
WHY BOOTH — AND WHAT HE FOUND THERE
Bharathan applied to only one program: Booth.
“When I called the admissions office, they picked up right away,” he says. “That told me everything.” Once on campus, what he found was not just academic rigor — “Booth puts you through severe, thorough academics,” he says — but a community of teachers and peers who changed his thinking as well.
“Professors like Linda Ginzel, Jean-Pierre Dubé, Robert Wolcott, and Pradeep Chintagunta — they’re brilliant, but also approachable. They made me better. And speaking one-on-one with Raghuram Rajan? That was surreal. We used to wait hours to hear his speeches growing up in India.”
But the real transformation, he says, came through the people.
“Classmates make up 30% of the learning. They’re not just friends — they’re family. When I was going through personal challenges, a few of them became my support system. We coach each other. We push each other. One of them, Vishal Gandhi, has become like a brother to me.”
A DATA-DRIVEN LEADER WITH A PURPOSE
In August, Bharathan started a new role as vice president of internal audit for technology and business operations at a prominent U.S. bank. His focus now is building out frameworks for technology and AI governance and SOX compliance audits — ensuring organizations use artificial intelligence responsibly, ethically, and effectively.
At Booth, he developed what he calls a “data debrief and discuss” mentality, which has transformed how he leads. “If I have 30 seconds with my CEO now, I know how to frame a message, how to read the response. Booth gave me that.”
“You think an MBA is just about your job. But it changes how you speak, how you think, how you make decisions. It’s reprogramming how you lead.”
He also found the courage to step into arenas he never imagined — including pitching AI solutions to VCs in high-stakes competitions. “Twenty months ago, I never would’ve believed I’d be presenting to 21 venture capitalists,” he says. “Now, I can do it with five minutes to prepare.”
“Looking ahead, I am eager to continue innovating and contributing tirelessly, as I have been doing, to the future progress of the United States of America.”
GIVING BACK, PAYING IT FORWARD
Bharathan’s MBA journey isn’t just about career advancement. It’s about impact. He donates a significant percentage of his earnings to NGOs focused on education and food security, and he’s committed to expanding access for future generations.
“In my family, $30 used to be our monthly budget,” he says. “If I can make it here, others can too. But they need opportunity, support, and someone to show them it’s possible.”
He mentors younger students, speaks with aspiring MBAs, and champions a “paid forward” philosophy that he hopes others will embrace. “I’m not asking people to donate money. But make a meaningful impact. Make your journey useful to others.”
ADVICE TO FUTURE STUDENTS: BE BOLD
Bharathan graduates in June. For prospective students — especially those from outside the U.S. — he offers a simple, powerful message:
“Be bold. It’s an unconventional path. It’s hard. But if your purpose is clear, if you know why you’re doing it, then just go. Be bold in the way you speak. Be bold in how you show up. Be bold in the risks you take.”
He quotes Robert Frost’s famous line — with a twist:
“I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference. The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep.”
For Ramkumar Bharathan, that path began in a rural village with one hour of internet access a week — and has now led him to the frontier of responsible AI, technology leadership, and global impact.
“Looking ahead, I am eager to continue innovating and contributing tirelessly, as I have been doing, to the future progress of the United States of America,” he says.
Q&A WITH RAMKUMAR BHARATHAN
Technology was slow to arrive in Ramkumar Bharathan’s hometown in India. But when his family got access to a TV, he fell in love with the technologies that powered his favorite animated cartoons. Today, Bharathan is leveraging his interest in AI and tech as vice president of internal audit for technology and business operations at a prominent publicly traded bank in the United States — and expanding his knowledge of finance as an Executive MBA student at Chicago Booth.
We spoke with Ram recently about his journey to Booth, his inspirations, and his goals for the future. The interview has been edited or length and clarity.
Ramkumar Bharathan
Where are you from?
I’m from a very humble background. I grew up in a huge family in a village called Madurai, in India. We waited years to get access to telephone and TV, and when we did it was a big thing. I still remember the excitement of being able to watch cartoons like Richie Rich, Asterix and Obelix, and Tintin. That experience sparked a lifelong fascination with technology for me. Even to listen to our own A.R. Rahman’s music or to watch favorite movies like Home Alone, Jurassic Park, and Lion King, I would wait eagerly—it made each experience feel truly magical.
What brought you to the United States?
After I graduated from college, I got recruited by a Big Four auditing firm with offices around the world. I started out working in the company’s Dubai office, but in 2016, one of my mentors within the company encouraged me to move to Silicon Valley because he knew how much I love technology.
How did you get interested in an MBA?
I have always focused on blending tech innovation and finance in everything I do, and I thought an MBA was the right elevation step for me to get into corporate. Also, there are two leaders that I have always looked up to: Satya Nadella, a Booth alumnus who has transformed Microsoft as CEO, and Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google. Both of them have had very inspiring journeys, and both of them have MBAs. Meeting Sundar Pichai for 15 minutes was life-changing, giving me the confidence to pursue my MBA, while witnessing Satya Nadella’s transformation of Microsoft inspired me to dream bigger in tech and leadership.
What are you doing now?
In August I started a new role as vice president of internal audit for technology and business operations at a prominent publicly traded bank in the US. In this role, I ensure that audit functions have the policies, procedures, and resources to evaluate and enhance governance, risk management, control, and compliance processes, transforming them through innovative practices and a forward-looking approach to risk and compliance.
How is your Chicago Booth experience helping you in your day-to-day work?
Booth has taught me that everything has to be driven by data, so I’ve developed a “data debrief and discuss” mentality. In both my professional and personal life, that mantra informs everything I do.
The experience has also increased my knowledge and improved my communication skills. For example, if I have 30 seconds with my CEO, now I have a better idea of how to speak to him and what his answers mean. It’s helping me navigate my way into leadership.
How has the Booth community supported you in your EMBA journey?
Booth has opened up my network in a very big way. During my job search, I reached out to six or seven Boothies through LinkedIn, and every one of them responded. I was shocked! But it made sense, because one thing I’ve learned here is that the Booth community cares about people and that relationships here are rooted with care.
I’ve also made some very close friends in my cohort. We coach and support each other, and they’re the first people I call if I need anything. They have truly become my brothers and sisters.
Are there any faculty members who stand out as particularly inspiring?
Yes. Before I came to Booth, I had seen Raghuram Rajan only on television. At home, we used to wait hours to watch his speeches. Then at Booth, he called me into his office, and we had a 20-minute chat. It was amazing. I was like, wow, I’m speaking with a leader who set policies for our country. Also, learning from Professors Linda Ginzel, Pradeep Chintagunta, Jean-Pierre Dubé, and Robert Wolcott has been life-changing; these exceptional professors have become mentors, and I eagerly look forward to deepening my knowledge and collaboration with them.
What’s next for you after graduation?
My goal is to grow into a technology and finance leader, either in a Silicon Valley tech company or a prominent financial institution. At the same time, I also have a huge commitment to giving back to the community by supporting NGOs that provide food and education. I look forward to continuing to harness the power of finance, technology, and innovation to uplift communities in India and beyond.
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