From Countryside Tailor to IIM Mumbai Professor: The Inspiring Journey of Prof. T. Prasad (‘Mandi Sir’)
- Prof Prasad recounts his humble beginnings as a countryside tailor and the series of crucial turning points (“pivotals”) that defined his life.
- He shares missed opportunities—such as turning down ITI admission, teaching posts, and railway jobs—that ultimately kept him on the path to higher education.
Podcast
Overview
In this episode of The Brand Called You, host Ashutosh Garg welcomes Prof T. Prasad, popularly known as “Mandi Sir” of IIM Mumbai. Prof Prasad shares his remarkable journey from being a daily wage countryside tailor to becoming a distinguished academic, founder of innovative education models, and mentor to several successful startups.
Below, we break down the conversation into key questions with timestamp-based detail to guide you through this insightful episode.
00:00:50-What pivotal moments shaped Prof T. Prasad’s journey from tailor to professor?
- Prof Prasad recounts his humble beginnings as a countryside tailor and the series of crucial turning points (“pivotals”) that defined his life.
- He shares missed opportunities—such as turning down ITI admission, teaching posts, and railway jobs—that ultimately kept him on the path to higher education.
- A headmaster paid his school fees, enabling him to move forward academically.
- Reflects on the importance of both embracing and deliberately missing certain opportunities.
00:06:11-How did a year as a tailor influence his approach to teaching and innovation?
- His tailoring experience instilled practical values and adaptable mental models that shaped his pedagogical style.
- Tailoring taught him to “fit” education for different learners, advocating for customized teaching rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
- Stresses dignity and respect in work—a value he believes is missing in today’s education system.
- Draws parallels between craftsmanship (Karma Yoga) and intellectual pursuit (Gyana Yoga), advocating their synthesis in education.
00:10:41-What is the Mandi Model and how does it bring innovation to education?
- Prof Prasad describes the Mandi Model, where students take learning toys to the market, sell, and interact with real customers.
- The exercise immerses students in understanding product, market, and self through experiential sales.
- Learning assignments are connected together (as in a necklace or a “quilt”) to create startups, treating each assignment as a step towards a tangible outcome.
00:14:46-What misconceptions do students and academics have about entrepreneurship?
- Prof Prasad observes that employment is often viewed as the goal of education, even by top institutions.
- Highlights the misconception that there aren’t opportunities for everyone—there are fewer jobs than graduates, underscoring the need for entrepreneurship.
- Encourages students to form their own views rather than blindly following teachers or parents, leveraging resources like AI for advice.
00:17:52-What are the common traits or practices among successful entrepreneurs mentored by Prof Prasad?
- Discusses experiences mentoring startups like Cashify, Polygon, and LAL10.
- Believes that success lies more in the structure (“path”) created by education rather than unique personal attributes.
- Emphasizes the importance of following basic economic principles and rules, as shown by alumni who succeeded by leveraging what they learned.
RESOURCES:
Learn more about Prof T Prasad: Linkedin
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- Prof Prasad recounts his humble beginnings as a countryside tailor and the series of crucial turning points (“pivotals”) that defined his life.
- He shares missed opportunities—such as turning down ITI admission, teaching posts, and railway jobs—that ultimately kept him on the path to higher education.
- A headmaster paid his school fees, enabling him to move forward academically.
- Reflects on the importance of both embracing and deliberately missing certain opportunities.
