Sudhakar Shenoy (BTech EE70 / H3)

by Ram Kelkar (BTech EE 80 / H2) _______________________________________________________________

Sudhakar Shenoy is the Founder and President of Information Management Consultants, Inc., of McLean, Virginia, a computer systems consulting firm. He graduated from IIT Bombay in 1970, with a B. Tech. degree in Electrical Engineering, and from the University of Connecticut with a MSEE in 1971, and an MBA in 1973.  He started his company, IMC, in 1981 and it now employs over 350 people in Virginia, and another 35 in India. Prior to that, he taught at UConn for a short while and held various positions including that of CFO with Windsor Manufacturing, and was also with American Management Systems in the Washington DC area. Sudhakar was recently featured in an article in "Business Solutions". Sudhakar has helped set up an interesting program together with GMU to attract IITians to the Washington DC area.

Q: What are the most vivid memories you have of your days at IIT Bombay ?

A: The friendships that were formed are still strong, 25 years later, when I go and meet my friends in New Delhi or in the US. The campus life, the quietness ... visiting the temple just before the exams.  MS Kamath ! Life was tough then, and compared to what we went through, school was a lot easier  in the US.  Crossing the pipeline behind Hostel 3 to go to the lake, which was rumored to have crocodiles ! Gulab jamuns from the Bhaiyya at Y-P ...

Q: What do you value most from your IIT experience ?

Q: Where did you earn your first paycheck and how did you celebrate ?

A: In my 4th Year, I was lucky enough to get a Summer internship with the Battery Products division at Union Carbide for Rs. 200 a month. It seemed like I was really rich ...

A: The struggle to settle in the US ... starting my business in 1981 with my last $2000. My wife went to work for the first time in her life since I was just setting the business up, though fortunately, within 6 months, I was settled enough that she could quit ... I have been fortunate in many ways, and life has been good.

A: The bonds formed with IIT and IITians are very close. Every Christmas, I make it a point to call over 100 friends all around the world, whether from my hostel, department, or batch. I recently met Hemant Kanakia (of Torrent Networking), and within minutes, we were talking like the old times as IITians.   On a trip to India, I met a classmate after over 27-28 years, with whom I used to run a "roulette" game at IIT.  When I called him out of the blue, all I had to say was - "Yaar, aaj raat ko roulette ka game hai" and the recognition was instant.

A: It is imperative that IIT maintains its very high standards. The name has become a ticket to success, and has a universal stamp of approval.  Maintaining the excellence is key ...

A: Alumni need to take part in preserving and enhancing what we have.  A hundred years from now, IIT should continue to have the same kind of reputation. Once again, they should give money, time, advice ... whatever ... for example, IITians should make it a habit to give 1 - 2 - 3 % of their income - whatever amount they wish, but on a regular basis.

A: My father, K.V. Shenoy, who was the General Manager of UCOBank and Corporation Bank, my uncle, K.A. Shenoy, who was a pioneer in the education field ... and another uncle, K.G. Shenoy, who was the first in the family to come to the US. I got my business aptitude from my grandfather. From IIT,  I remember Professors Bedford and Isaac.

A: My daughters have graduated from college, one from Colorado and the other from George Mason, and are working locally.  We live in a tremendously exciting time ...  I am involved with 3 e-commerce startups, and I am completely absorbed in them.