With over 25 years of experience across both industry and academia, Dr. Manisha Karandikar brings a rich blend of practical expertise and academic depth to the vision behind B-Acads. A PhD in Marketing from Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, she has held senior academic roles as a Professor of Marketing, and has taught a wide range of subjects in MBA programs spanning brand management, strategic marketing, and consumer insights.

Before entering academia, she gained extensive experience in brand management and strategic marketing, then worked with a market research firm. This unique combination of marketing expertise, analytical skills, and operational exposure gives her a distinct advantage in understanding both industry needs and academic rigor.

During her academic journey, she noticed a recurring challenge: industry professionals were eager to collaborate with academic institutions, but often lacked a clear way to connect. Meanwhile, faculty members were expected to network with industry, but the process remained undefined and mostly relied on personal contacts or alumni networks. She saw the need for a structured, scalable platform to bridge this gap — a way to bring academia and industry together in a meaningful way. This insight became the foundation for B-Acads, a platform that envisions faculty as strategic knowledge partners, providing industry with access to research-driven insights, subject matter expertise, and fresh academic perspectives that can drive innovation, solve problems, and build long-term capabilities.

Through B-Acads, she now facilitates collaborative engagement models that increase faculty visibility, support curriculum development, foster research-industry collaborations, and ultimately create more future-ready academic ecosystems aligned with industry realities and evolving market needs.

Outside of her professional journey, she is known for her no-nonsense approach, sharp sense of humor, and unwavering belief in clarity over jargon. A passionate reader, a risk-taker by nature, and an entrepreneur at heart, she combines strategic thinking, curiosity, and practical execution in everything she does. Whether building bridges between industry and academia or brainstorming over coffee, she thrives on ideas that challenge the status quo and create real impact.

Mr. Manish Karandikar is the visionary tech mind behind B-Acads. An engineering graduate in Electronics, he brings over 25 years of rich, hands-on experience in Information Technology, having held senior leadership roles such as AVP-IT at Motilal Oswal Securities Ltd. and AVP-IT Services at Lazard India Ltd. As the Founder Director of Nextworld Solutions, Manish has spearheaded multiple digital transformation initiatives, helping organizations streamline their operations, build efficient IT systems, and scale sustainably. He has delivered high-impact solutions that bridge business needs with technology-driven outcomes and has worked with clients across geographies including the US, UK, Australia, and Singapore offering global exposure and insight into diverse tech ecosystems.

He is certified in Six Sigma Green Belt techniques for implementing process and workflows of daily operations , Certified ISO 9001:2000 Internal Auditor for ISO certification, Certified ITIL Foundation (version 3) – September 2007(75%), Certified in NSE Derivatives Market (Dealers) Module, Certified in NSE Cash Market (Dealers) Module.

Curious by nature and driven by solutions, Manish thrives in dynamic environments where innovation and collaboration go hand in hand. Whether he's leading a team, building partnerships, or crafting strategies, he operates with integrity, insight, and a quiet determination to make a meaningful impact. Manish specializes in managing people, processes, and strategy and is known for his solution-focused mindset and deep commitment to delivering excellence everytime. He has a track record of building systems that are not only functional and robust but also elegant and user-friendly, qualities that are at the heart of B-Acads.

Beyond the world of tech, Manish is a passionate home chef who finds joy and creativity in experimenting in the kitchen.

With an MBA in Human Resources and over 25 years of diverse experience across HR, higher education, training, and personal growth facilitation, Manisha Kushte brings a unique blend of academic depth and industry insight to her role as an Advisory Consultant with B-Acads. Her academic foundation is complemented by a rich blend of certifications and experiences that further enhance her ability to facilitate impactful learning experiences. Her broader consulting and training experience spans HR interventions, and experiential programs focused on emotional well-being, leadership , team dynamics, and workplace transformation.

In addition to her role as faculty, she has spent over a decade deeply engaged with MBA students and management institutions contributing to curriculum design and student employability initiatives including leadership grooming, interpersonal effectiveness and workplace readiness. In her advisory role with B-Acads, she collaborates with academic institutions, faculty members, and industry leaders to co-create frameworks that enhance industry-academia engagement and positioning faculty as strategic contributors for learning and innovation. She plays a key role in client engagements by bringing depth, clarity, and helping clients see the value of integrated industry-academic collaboration models.

Manisha is deeply committed to life-long learning, building strong partnerships and supporting growth.