Stalwarts
GRG Brand Ambassador
These are amazing people whose achievement has secured them a position in society. They have imbibed the trait of Krishnammal in them and they disseminate the values which Krishnammal stands for.
Ms. R.Vimala
(BSc Chemistry, 1995-98)
Ms. R. Vimala, a member of the Class of 1998 (BSc Chemistry) from KCW, is currently the
District Collector and District Magistrate of Kalimpong District, West Bengal. Prior to this, she
served as the State Project Director of Paschim Banga Samagra Siksha Mission and Paschim
Banga Sarva Siksha Mission. In 2007, she began taking UPSC examinations and eventually
earned a position in the IAS in 2010, being allotted the West Bengal cadre. As the head of
district administration, Vimala has implemented a number of positive changes for the
community. She is particularly fond of her alma mater, KCW, and credits it with shaping her into
the person she is today.
Ms. Geetha Ram
(BSc Physics, 1988-91)
Ms. Geetha Ram, a member of the Class of 1991 (BSc Physics) from KCW, completed her
postgraduate degree in Physics at Government Arts College, Coimbatore, and secured an M.Phil.
degree from Bharathiar University. She started her career as an IT Consultant at AT&T, New
Jersey in 1996, following which she served as an IT developer in Transcendent Technologies,
New Jersey for two years. She then served as a senior consultant at Morgan Stanley, New York,
from 2000 to 2006 and is currently a Vice President. Geetha enjoys exploring various subjects
such as arts, astronomy, culture, spirituality, and textiles. She also works on staying healthy with
yoga, walking, and jogging. She runs marathons, indulges in color pencil and pastel sketching,
and researches various textile weaves. Furthermore, she leads hiking trips for women, such as the
Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and the Rim-to-Rim across the Grand Canyon. She is part of a group
that developed medication for a rare genetic disorder.
Ms. Akhila Rajeshwar
(BSc Maths, 1985-88)
Ms. Akhila Rajeshwar, a member of the Class of 1988 (BSc Maths) from KCW, is currently the
Executive Director at TiE Chennai. She is also a certified coach of Marshall Goldsmith
Stakeholder Centered Coaching, a knowledge philanthropist, and a startup mentor. Akhila was a
Business Consultant for about four years during 2010-13 and the Chief Operating Officer at
eZecare, a US-based healthcare BPO, for about four years during 2006-09. She is now a leading
mentor and trainer in Tamil Nadu's entrepreneurial ecosystem. At TiE Chennai, she has initiated
and led multiple projects, including Personal Boards (platforms for facilitated peer sharing) and
Catalyst (personal development for entrepreneurs). Akhila has received the 'Best Executive
Director' award from TiE Global three times, and under her leadership, TiE Chennai has been
adjudged the best chapter twice. Her work is deeply influenced by her experience spanning
consulting, BPO, and healthcare industries. This, coupled with her passion for impact-driven
work, characterizes her work.
Ms. Jyothi M. Rao
B.Sc. (Botany), 1967-70.
She is a highly experienced and regarded Clinical Microbiologist and Mycologist in the USA. She has been with William Beaumont Hospital, Michigan, USA since 1988, after a decade-long tenure as a Medical Laboratory Technologist at Lansing Clinical Laboratory at Lansing, Michigan and at the Baptist Hospital at Louisville, Kentucky. She works with infection-control professionals with the aim to prevent the spread of infections and helps in the management of the laboratory. She also teaches Medical Technology students. Ms. Jyothi Rao was the class topper of the first batch of students of the Botany department.
Ms. Sashi Chandran
B.A. (English), 1969-72.
She is the Chief Executive Officer of Nitya Gurukula and a member of the International Transactional Analysis Association (ITAA) and serves on its various committees. She has also been teaching in educational institutions and industry. She has enabled the indigenization of Transactional Analysis in organizations. Ms. Sashi Chandran has conducted empowerment workshops for women for more than thirty years. She also conducts Excellence workshops for students and professionals. She continues her links with her alma mater by sharing her expertise with the student community.
Dr. Radhika Meenakshi Shankar
B.Com., 1972-75.
She is actively involved with the industry and academic campuses promoting entrepreneurship and incubation, mentoring, and providing consultancy for start-up ventures and existing MSMEs through her Management Services firm for MSMEs at Hyderabad – Wise Owl Consulting Services - since 2011. Her enterprise focuses on training entrepreneurs / Trainers / Faculty / Students. She is an accredited and trained mentor of BYST-CII & Guild of Skills, UK. She is also an accredited trained mentor with London Business School, Goldman Sachs, and NEN. She has trained more than 10,000 domestic and international entrepreneurs. She now contributes to the entrepreneurial development efforts at PSGRKCW based on her rich experience in the area. Dr. Radhika Meenakshi Shankar is the recipient of the Champion Entrepreneurship Educator 2015 Award from the Ministry of Skills & Entrepreneurship, Govt. of India.
Ms. Shanthini Choudhry
B.Com., 1981-84.
She is a professional hotelier and founder of the Grand Regent Hotel, 20 years ago. She introduced the concept of service apartments for the first time in Coimbatore. A connoisseur of arts, she is an acclaimed classical dancer and is passionate about crafts. Having attended many craft fairs worldwide, she started the only Crafts Club in Coimbatore and runs craft stores by the name of Vama whose proceeds go towards the upliftment of the differently-abled. Ms. Shanthini Choudhry has won recognition from organizations such as The Inner Wheel, Round Table, and Ladies Circle for her philanthropic endeavors.
Ms. Meera Ramakrishnan
MBA, 1993-95.
She began her career in advertising before she joined Infosys as marketing manager for engineering services. Later she served as Head, Global Marketing & Strategy at Infosys and Head of Marketing & Strategy at GE Healthcare, South Asia, before she moved to industrial automation with Honeywell. Recently, Ms. Meera Ramakrishnan established the start-up, Zishta with a vision to preserve and share ancient wisdom for posterity by encouraging indigenous products by rural artisans. She continues to cherish her bonds with her alma mater and shares her experiences to inspire future businesswomen.
Ms. Vanitha Mohan
B.Com., 1970-73.
She is currently chairperson of Pricol Limited, Coimbatore which has over 25% of its workforce comprising women. She is the Managing Trustee of Siruthuli, an NGO which works towards a clean and green environment with a special focus on the restoration and protection of water bodies of Coimbatore. As a visionary, she has undertaken proactive strides towards afforestation, tribal welfare and healthcare for the community. She has the distinction of having been the first lady president of the 89-year old Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Coimbatore (ICCI) during 2016 -18. She is also the Convener of Kongu Global Forum. She is the recipient of many awards in recognition of her contribution to industry and society, including “Abdul Kalam Seva Ratna Award” from the Dalai Lama for her contribution in the sphere of water conservation; and “Nanneri Chemmal Award” from Nanneri Kazhagam, Coimbatore.
Dr. Poonam Malakondaiah
B.Sc. (Botany), 1982-85.
Dr.Poonam Malakondaiah, IAS currently serves as Special Chief Secretary (Health, Medical & Family Welfare), Government of India. She passed her IAS in 1988. Beginning her career as Sub Collector of Bhadrachalam, she became Collector of Vizianagaram and West Godavari, was Commissioner of Agriculture, Transport, School Education, Civil Supplies, Panchayat Raj & Rural Development. She was Secretary, Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission and Principal Secretary of School Education, Agriculture, Medical, Health & Family Welfare. She is the recipient of Prime Minister’s Award for Women Literacy Programme in West Godavari. An author of two books, Dr.Poonam is a courageous bureaucrat who has fought her way through nepotism. She has successfully introduced administrative reforms in agriculture, education and civil supplies.
Ms. E.S. Uma
B.Sc. (Botany), 1985-88.
She belongs to the 1999 batch of Tamil Nadu Police Service and was subsequently inducted into the IPS. She began her career as the Deputy Superintendent of Police at Trichy in the Prohibition and Enforcement unit. She served in various sub-divisions as DSP and was later promoted as Additional Superintendent of Police and with her untiring perseverance, went on to become the Superintendent of Police, extending her service to Coimbatore, Pudukottai, Trichy and Chennai where she was also the Principal of Police Training College. After serving as the Superintendent of Police at Tiruppur, she is currently Deputy Commissioner of Police, Law, and Order, Crime and Traffic, Tiruppur City.
Ms. Lavanya Sankar
B.Com., 1995-98.
“Narthana Shironmani”, “Nadanamamani”, “Natya perumagal”, “Natya Mayuri” are a few of the titles bestowed upon Ms.Lavanya Sankar. Her arangetram at the age of seven paved the way for a thousand performances at leading Sabhas and Festivals all over India and abroad establishing her as a famed danseuse. The multi-faceted Ms. Lavanya Sankar also ventured into dance ballets and dance productions and has conceived, choreographed, and presented several ballets like the “Dasya Bhakti” at the international Dance Alliance, Bengaluru. She has shared her expertise at lectures and presentations to school and college students and foreign delegates.
Ms. D. Alarmelmangai
B.Com., 1997-2000.
Ms. Alarmelmangai IAS is currently the Special Secretary (Technical Education, Employment & Training, Skill Development) with the additional charge of Director, Geology & Mining and Managing Director, CMDC in Chhattisgarh. She has been the District Collector and District Magistrate in three districts from 2010 to 2017. She has worked for Girls Education, Empowerment of Women and has done commendable work in health sector. She is the proud recipient of several awards, including the President’s Award in 2014 in her capacity as District Election Officer; the National award for her contributions in increasing the child sex ratio in Raigarh in 2016; and the Mineral Auctions Award in 2018.