About Dr. Bala Ramadurai
Dr. Bala Ramadurai is a multi-faceted professional—entrepreneur, professor, author, innovation coach, and podcaster—who blends academic depth with hands-on industry experience. As the CEO and Co-founder of Spirelia, he leads the development of AI-powered tools that simplify and accelerate innovation, helping companies bridge the gap between ideas, IP, and implementation.
With over 15 years of global experience, Dr. Ramadurai has worked with top-tier organizations such as GE, Mercedes-Benz, Samsung, and Mindtree, bringing transformative approaches to innovation and intrapreneurship. He holds a PhD from Arizona State University and a B.Tech from IIT Madras, and has taught over 100,000 students through institutions like IIT Madras, NPTEL, Universidad Panamericana (Mexico), and SIBM Pune.
Dr. Ramadurai is the author of Karmic Design Thinking, co-author of a handbook on technology forecasting, and holds multiple patents from his time at GE. He’s also a co-host of four podcasts. Outside work, he is a birder, traveler, and amateur astronomer.
Detailed Bio
Dr. Bala Ramadurai is a versatile professional, serving as an entrepreneur, professor, author, coach, and podcaster. He is the CEO and Co-founder of Spirelia, a startup dedicated to helping companies innovate with confidence. With over 15 years of experience, he brings a rich background in research, innovation facilitation, coaching, and writing.
His expertise spans:
- Design Thinking
- Creative Problem Solving
- Systematic Innovation
- Technology Forecasting
- Intrapreneurship
Education
- PhD, Arizona State University, USA
- B.Tech in Metallurgical Engineering, IIT Madras, India
- Diploma in Multi-user Programming, Computer Point, Madras
- Former Marie Curie Research Fellow at Politecnico di Milano (EU FORMAT project)
Industrial Experience
- FORMAT Project, Milan – researcher, handbook designer
- General Electric Global Research – Research Scientist
- MindTree Ltd – Senior Manager, Innovation (5*50 intrapreneurship program, KM Reality Award 2011)
- Infosys – Open Systems Engineer
Teaching Experience
Courses taught at:
- Universidad Panamericana (Mexico) – International Professor
- IIT Madras – Guest Professor, NPTEL
- SIBM Pune – Adjunct Professor, Board of Studies
- Universiti Teknologi Mara (Malaysia)
- Others: IIT Gandhinagar, IIT Hyderabad, IISc Bangalore, DY Patil University, etc.
Over 100,000+ students in Design Thinking, 3,000+ in Technology Forecasting. Mentored CMU-facilitated entrepreneurship course.
Clients
Worked with:
- Mercedes Benz
- Daimler Trucks
- Maruti Suzuki
- Mahindra & Mahindra
- Raychem RPG
- Samsung Mobile
- Flipkart
- GE (multiple divisions)
- Applied Materials
- Faurecia / Forvia
- Mindtree
- Tata Tele
- Salesforce
- Pidilite
- Hero Motocorp
- L&T Power Systems
- Hilti Manufacturing India
Clients appreciate his practical, engaging facilitation style and conceptual clarity.
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Authorship and Publications
- Karmic Design Thinking – Buddhism-inspired innovation method
- FORecasting and Roadmapping of MAnufacturing Technologies – co-author
- Children's books: Creating Original Earthy eXciting and Inspiring STories, Blue Island
- 10+ international journal publications
Patents
- US Patent 7,670,679: Core-shell ceramic particulate
- US Patent App. 12/409,581: Damage inspection method
- US Patent App. 11/695,207: Material property anomaly detection
Podcasts
- Books and Stuff Podcast with Krishna
- Podcast Enterprise with Parvathi Ramkumar – Star Trek: TOS analysis
Interests and Activities
- Novelist and screenwriter
- Blogger and Indian classical composer (keyboard, flute)
- Birder and amateur astronomer