Alumni Series #10

Vandhana Sundaram arrived at Great Lakes after a master’s in mass communication, acting on her father’s advice to pursue management. The school was then operating from Srinagar Colony campus in Saidapet.

The first meeting with Uncle Bala set expectations for a year that required precision, stamina, and steady collaboration. Classes with resident and visiting faculty, team projects that stretched late into the night, and frequent industry interactions established habits that have endured. That preparation led to a role at Cognizant during a period of rapid expansion

At Cognizant, she moved into marketing, branding, and communications, learning at close range from senior leaders and CXOs. Assignments in Shanghai and Manila broadened her view of stakeholders and operating contexts. Her remit grew further through the industry institute interface group, where she worked with academic leaders across India, China, and Europe.

She helped design career development courses for students and faculty development programmes for university teachers, and she planned the annual interface conference for campus corporate-relations heads with careful attention to detail.

She now leads people management, recruitment, campus relations, and DEI initiatives at LTIMindtree. The working principles remain consistent: think clearly, communicate precisely, and pair effort with method. Beyond work, she volunteers in animal rescue and rehabilitation, reflecting a durable sense of responsibility.