Dr. T. V. Rao : The Father of Indian HRD and a Pioneer of People-Centric Leadership

Compiled using ChatGPT by Dr. Vishal Verma

Profile Snapshot

Dr. T. V. Rao is globally respected as the architect of India’s HRD movement. As co-founder of the HRD function at L&T and founder of TVRLS, he brought structure, science, and strategy into HR. He is a mentor to thousands of HR professionals and a leading authority on leadership development.

Contribution

He institutionalized HRD in India, created the HRD Audit, developed the 360-Degree Feedback model for Indian organizations, and authored seminal books shaping HR’s strategic role. His partnership with Dr. Udai Pareek established HRD as a professional discipline grounded in behavioural science and leadership excellence.

What We Learn From Him & Why We Should Follow Him

Dr. T. V. Rao shows us that HR becomes transformative when it is rooted in purpose, capability building, and ethical leadership. His frameworks encourage HR professionals to design systems that develop people, not just manage them. He emphasises evidence-based HR, continuous learning, and the power of structured feedback in shaping leaders. Following his teachings helps HR practitioners move beyond administrative tasks and become strategic architects of culture and competence. His work inspires a mindset of accountability, measurable growth, and human-centered decision-making, reminding us that organizations thrive when people are empowered, trusted, and developed with intention.