Shankar Vanavarayar is the President of Kumaraguru Institutions. The institutions impart high-quality education and impact society by empowering the youth. He is also the President of Suddha Sanmarga Nilayam Institutions, dedicated to enhancing the lives of thousands from very humble backgrounds.
Shankar is involved in various businesses of the Sakthi Group and is the Executive Director of ABT Industries Ltd. He is the current chairman of CII – Tamil Nadu State and was also the Past Chairman of Family Business Network – Next GEN Committee India and Chair of CII India@75 SR Task Force.
Shankar works with the youth of India with a vision to empower them towards building a greater nation. As a National Chairman of CII’s Young Indians in 2011-2012, Shankar played a key role in various national projects and was involved in the creation of the Commonwealth Asia Alliance of Young Entrepreneurs (CAAYE).
He founded the Coimbatore Innovation and Business Incubator and the Forge Accelerator, with an aspiration to encourage and support innovations and start-ups. He is a fellow of The Aspen Global Leadership Network, and the Kamalnayan Bajaj Fellowship and looks at personal transformation as an integral ingredient to impact change in the larger world. Born in an ancient legacy, Shankar established The Vanavarayar Foundation with a vision to protect, preserve, portray its heritage, and works for the wellbeing of the agrarian community.