Prof. Ashwin Mahalingam

IIT Madras

Prof. Ashwin Mahalingam joined the faculty in the Building Technology and Construction Management division of the Civil engineering department at IIT-Madras in 2006. Ashwin received his B.Tech in Civil engineering from IIT-Madras and then proceeded to Stanford University for a Masters in Construction Engineering and Management. He then helped start up an internet based company in the USA called All Star Fleet, aimed at providing asset management services for construction companies. Following this he returned to Stanford University to pursue a PhD in the area of Infrastructure Project Management. Ashwin's research interests are in the areas of Public Private Partnerships (PPP) in Infrastructure, the management and governance of large engineering projects and the use of digital technologies in construction. Ashwin's current research focuses on institutional strengthening and post-award governance of PPP projects in India. Ashwin is also a co-founder of Okapi Advisory Services Pvt. Ltd and serves as a Director on the Board.

Prof. Bala Ramadurai

Dr. Bala Ramadurai is an entrepreneur, professor, author, innovation coach, and podcaster—who blends academic depth with hands-on industry experience. As the CEO and Co-founder of Spirelia, he leads the development of AI-powered tools that simplify and accelerate innovation, helping companies bridge the gap between ideas, IP, and implementation.

With over 15 years of global experience, Dr. Ramadurai has worked with top-tier organizations such as GE, Mercedes-Benz, Samsung, and Mindtree, bringing transformative approaches to innovation and intrapreneurship. He holds a PhD from Arizona State University and a B.Tech from IIT Madras, and has taught over 100,000 students through institutions like IIT Madras, NPTEL, Universidad Panamericana (Mexico), and SIBM Pune.

Dr. Bala is the author of Karmic Design Thinking, co-author of a handbook on technology forecasting, and holds multiple patents from his time at GE. He’s also a co-host of four podcasts. Outside work, he is a birder, traveller, and amateur astronomer.

NOC: Design Thinking - A Primer, IIT Madras