Prof. U T Rao

Associate Professor

Academic Area: Finance and BFSI

U T Rao has over 25 years of experience across top academic institutions and in leadership roles in multinational organisations. He is an award-winning film producer (Mara Papa Superhero, 2022 and Whispers of a Storm, 2024 ), co-founder of Shrey Multispecialty Hospital, Clion Care and Openfuel.

U T has a PhD from GLS University, an MBA from Berhampur University and a PGC in Corporate Strategy from IIT, Bombay

U T is an early-stage investor, startup enabler with extensive board experience in the Governing Board of Indian STEP and Business Incubator Association (ISBA) from 2016 to 2018; Governing Council, TiE, Ahmedabad from 2016to 2019;  Member of the Advisory Board at Innovify, UK from 2016 to 2017; Spinta Global Accelerator, USA from 2017 onwards, besides at  Shrey Multifacilities Pvt Ltd.

U T has taught Finance and Entrepreneurship related courses, delivered workshops and sessions on startups and entrepreneurship at Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley, University of Waikato, Indian Institute of Management, Rohtak, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) , Gandhinagar, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad, Dhirubhai Ambani Institute University

U T’s research Interests include startup ecosystem, immersive experience in metaverse and 100x stories

2. Area of Teaching
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Accounting & Finance
3. Awards & Honours
  • Motwani Jadeja Global Leaders Fellow at the World Economic Forum, Davos, Switzerland 2025
  • Start-up Gujarat – Stand Up Gujarat award for his contribution to Start-up Gujarat 2015
  • Start-up Pioneer Award by eChai Start-up community 2015
  • Education Excellence in Entrepreneurship 2019 by WIEF
  • His Gujarati feature film “Mara Papa Superhero” has been recognized in several prestigious international film festivals like San Diego International Kids Film Festival, Kids First Film Festival, USA, 34th International Film Festival for Children and Youth, Iran, London Indian Film Festival, DYTIATKO International Children’s Media Festival, Ukraine, Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, Bollywood Film Festival of Norway
  • His movie ‘’Whispers of a Storm’’ premiered at the UK Asian Film Festival and was showcased at the Egyptian Film Festival

Infrastructure details like: fire and safety certificate, barrier free build for disabled and elderly

Sr.No.DetailsView Information
1Fire-Safety-Certificate-MICA
The validity period of 2 years and the expiry date is 31/08/2028
View picture_as_pdf
2Barrier-free-Build-by-Architect
The validity period of 3 years and The expiry date is 31/08/2028 
View picture_as_pdf

Affirmative Action/SC/ST Committee (STATUTORY)

Sr. No. Member
1CTSO (Lead) – Nirja Sharma
2Faculty/Anchor for Environment & Creativity AI Centre (Co-Lead) - Harmony Singanporia
3Faculty – Deepika Meena
4Staff representatives – Bhikabhai Chauhan
5Staff representatives – Manu Parmar
6Staff representatives – Jaydeep Vaghela
7Secretary: Kruttika

IQAC & Assurance of Learning

Sr. No. Member
1Registrar (Lead) - Professor Panda
2Dean & Principal (Designate) – (Co Lead) – PK Sinha (Prof. Sinha will continue to play this role post his becoming Dean & Principal)
3Controller of Examinations (Lead Assurance of Learning) – Niyati Bhanja
4Dean & Principal – Githa Heggde (Prof. Heggde will continue once she transitions to her new role)
5Director & CEO – Jaya Deshmukh
6Associate Dean Knowledge – Suresh Malodia
7Head of FRC – Rasananda Panda
8Head of CLIP – Pooja Thomas
9Faculty – Harmony Siganporia
10External Review Member – Amrita Randhawa (MICA Alumni)
11External Review Member – Arun – Accenture Song (MICA Alumni)
12External Review Member – Maya Indira Ganesh (TBC)
13Secretary: Sethu Iyer

Institution Industry Cell / Placements (Including Summer Internship)

Sr. No. Member
1Head of External Relations & Growth (Lead) – Indranil Banerji
2Executive Advisor – Strategic Initiatives (Co-Lead) – Githa Heggde (Githa will play this role even when she is Dean & Principal)
3Dean & Principal (Designate) – PK Sinha (Sinha Sir will continue to play this role when he becomes Dean & Principal)
4Associate Dean – Academics – Santosh Patra
5Faculty - Bikram Bindra
6Faculty – Govindrajan
7Director & CEO – Jaya Deshmukh
8CMO – Ruchi Tewari
9Management Trainee – CEO’s Office – Strategic Initiatives – Kuldeep Raj
10MICA 2026 leaving placecomm member – Akhilesh
11MICA 2027 SPC sitting member – TBC
12MICA Committee List 2026-27 5
13Student MLS Lead 2026 - TBC
14MAA Board Placement Enabler – Navneeth L V
15Secretary: Harjeet

Institution’s Innovation Council – IIC (Entrepreneurial Initiatives)

Sr. No. Member
1 Faculty & IIC Lead: Adwait Mardikar
2 Faculty (Co-Lead): U T Rao
3 Faculty/ Anchor Technology in AI Centre – Viral Nagori
4 Faculty – Ashutosh Yadav
5 Faculty – Saurabh Pandya
6 Faculty – Sukaran Thakur
7 Director & CEO – Jaya Deshmukh
8 Dean & Principal (Designate) – PK Sinha
9 Secretary: Pooja Sharma