Akilan Karthikeyan

About Akilan Karthikeyan

You spend years climbing the corporate ladder. The promotions come. The paychecks grow. Yet somewhere between the titles and the accolades, you wake up wondering: ’?I’m — a, with over 25 years of international experience in, across.As a 2.0 (2024) recipient and former HR head with Taj, Marriott, Welcomgroup, Sarovar, and Royal Tulip, I’ve recruited, trained, and mentored thousands of professionals. My journey has taught me one truth: ’ —’.Unlike traditional counsellors, my guidance is built on real-world leadership and workforce transformation. I’ve opened hotels from scratch in Africa, managed 150+ expatriates from 25+ nationalities, and turned around struggling operations through people-first strategy, engagement, and profitability.Today, I combine my industry expertise, academic insight, and mentoring passion through three key roles- & –.Launching in June 2026 at Trivandrum, ISHTA aims to redefine hospitality education through practical, leadership-focused training for future-ready hoteliers. & – With India’s top-rated career guidance platform, I help professionals and students achieve career clarity and strategic growth through assessments, market insight, and personalized mentoring.I work with:• Hospitality professionals seeking career pivots or leadership growth• Executives exploring consultancy or entrepreneurship• Graduates entering hospitality or HR sectors• Organisations optimizing workforce learning and engagementClarity builds direction. Strategy drives results. Evidence ensures transformation. Reach out at a•••••••@zohomail.in or connect here on LinkedIn to explore career clarity, hospitality leadership, and purposeful growth.

Experience

1. Co-founder and Academic Director

   Ishta Academy

   Oct 2025 — Present · Trivandrum, IN

   Co-founding and leading ISHTA Pvt. Ltd.(Inspirace Steampot Hospitality Training Academy Pvt. Ltd.), a new-age hospitality academy set to launch in January 2026 at Trivandrum.The academy is built on the vision of creating industry-ready hospitality professionals by blending practical exposure with strong academic foundations.As the Academic Director, I oversee:• Curriculum design and academic quality framework• Faculty onboarding and training methodologies• Industry partnerships with hotels, restaurants, and hospitality brands• Student development, placement, and internship programsISHTA aims to redefine hospitality education through immersive learning, mentorship, and global standards of service excellence.

Education

• Madurai Kamaraj University

  Master of Tourism Management, Tourism Management, Hospitality Management

  1996 — 1998

• Kendriya Vidyalaya

  12, Science

  1988 — 1990

• Christ Nagar English High School

  10th Standard, Science

  1983 — 1988

• Cornell University

  Certificate in Hospitality Management, Hospitality Administration/Management

  2017 — 2019

• Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology, Ahmedabad

  DHMCT, Hotel Management

  1990 — 1993

• Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology - SMU

  Master of Business Administration (MBA), Human Resource Management

  2006 — 2008

• UCAM Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia

  Doctor of Management, Human Resources Development

Skills

• Performance Management
• Employee Training
• Job Descriptions
• Training & Development
• Organizational Learning
• Hospitality Industry
• Recruiting
• Leadership
• Front Office
• Management
• Interviewing
• Talent Acquisition
• Food & Beverage
• Presentation Design
• Employee Benefits
• Pre-Opening Experience
• Hotel Management
• Human Resources
• Microsoft Office
• Hospitality
• Resorts
• Hotels
• Social Networking
• Performance Appraisal
• College Teaching
• Employee Engagement
• Budgets
• Myers-Briggs Certified
• HR Policies
• Interviews
• Soft Skills
• New Hire Orientations
• Pre-Opening
• Compensation Planning
• Global Human Resources Management
• Employee Relations
• Budgeting
• Industrial Relations
• Training
• Conducting Interviews