PROFILE By Lou Sorendo
PRABAKAR KOTHANDARAMAN Equipped with extensive sales background, new dean of SUNY Oswego School of Business ready to embrace new leadership role
W
hile “born leader” is a time worn cliché, it certainly holds true for Prabakar Kothanda-
raman. For the new dean of SUNY Oswego’s School of Business, leadership is a natural choice. While Kothandaraman was pondering stepping up to the top post, he touched base with other deans that he knew. “One mentioned to me that the dean’s position is not a job; it’s a calling,” he said. Kothandaraman sees himself as the chief service officer for the business school. “My role is to assist everyone to succeed — and consequently, my leadership style stems from my ability to rejoice the success of others,” he said. Kothandaraman said he tries to focus on issues and not personalities. “I have no allusions that it’s about me. It’s all about people here who are trying to make a difference,” he said. “I constantly challenge people to compete with themselves so that they can develop professionally.” Kothandaraman most recently served as professor in the department of professional sales in the Cotsakos College of Business at William Paterson University, New Jersey. In addition to this classroom post, he served as chairman of the department of professional sales since 2014, and executive director of the Russ Berrie Institute for Professional Sales since 2010. In his previous role, he encouraged his staff to enroll in graduate and doctoral studies and, when qualified, teach courses. “In general, I try to find the best people for the job and assist them to excel in what they do,” he said. “You will more often than not see me popping in and out of offices just to see how things are going.
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“I prefer the opportunity to meet face-to-face as opposed to a phone call or email. That helps me on many occasions put out fires before they even start.” He intends on leading the school in an atmosphere of transparency, trust and shared governance, he said. The dean also plans to engage with the Oswego business community and other regional business stake-
OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
holders to ensure SUNY Oswego plays a role in communities’ economic development. He said in the wake of communities facing financial challenges, SUNY Oswego has created a new entrepreneurship minor. “We have the intellectual horsepower, the freshness of ideas from the fresh minds of students, and we have a nurturing environment to be able to provide support,” he said. “The key to success is constantly strategizing, constantly making plans on how to execute those strategies, constantly motivating people and constantly listening,” he said. “You can’t take yourself too seriously. Being that it is 24-7, you have to laugh,” he added. “And don’t take things personally.” In terms of his new environment, he said there is quite a contrast when
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019