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Dr. Sandeep Keshava Rao

Head of the Financial & Operational Performance Academic Group

Associate Professor of Finance

DCU Business School, Dublin City University, Ireland

Associate Editor - Sustainable Finance & Investment

Fellow (FCES) - The Commercial Education Society of Australia (CESA)

Welcome to my personal website! I’m Sandeep, originally from Bengaluru, India, and currently serving as Associate Professor of Finance and Head of the Financial & Operational Performance Academic Group (Head of School) at DCU Business School, Dublin City University.

Previously, I was the Programme Chair for the MSc in Finance and MSc in International Treasury & Banking at DCU. My teaching and research focus on Corporate Finance and Sustainable Finance, reflecting my dual interests in value creation and responsible business practices. I hold a Ph.D. in Finance from the University of Strathclyde, funded by the prestigious UK Commonwealth Scholarship. My academic journey also includes a Master’s in International Securities and Investment Banking from the ICMA Centre, Henley Business School (University of Reading, UK), and an MBA from Visvesvaraya Technological University, India.

Before moving fully into academia, I spent over seven years in the corporate sector in senior leadership roles. I founded and led two technology ventures in India — Savinirs Infotech and Savinris Electronics — which delivered innovative IT solutions such as fuel management systems and social media-integrated RFID technology. My industry experience also includes roles as an award-winning market analyst at Thomson Reuters and as a sub-broker with Motilal Oswal Securities Ltd in India.

Alongside, I bring more than a decade of experience as a visiting lecturer, teaching finance and data analysis at top business schools in India, France, and the UK. My research has been published in leading peer‑reviewed journals, including: Journal of Corporate Finance (ABS 4, ABDC A*); British Journal of Management (ABS 4, ABDC A); Economics Letters, Energy Economics, Annals of Operations Research (ABS 3, ABDC A/A*). I have also served as an Associate Editor for the Review of Accounting and Finance and the Journal of Risk Finance and reviewed extensively for top-ranked journals such as the British Accounting Review, International Review of Financial Analysis, and Emerging Markets Review. Currently, I rank in the Top 10% of authors on SSRN by new downloads over the past twelve months. I am also an active member of global academic associations, including FMA, EFA, BAFA, and TIES, and proud to remain connected with the UK Commonwealth Scholars Alumni Network.

My research interests: Corporate Finance, Sustainable Finance, Climate Change, Migration, Socio-Economic issues

Read my Media Piece

RTE Brainstorm on Friday, 1 Apr 2022 16:01

How extreme weather events affect financial markets

Interview with PagalGuy , 3 Oct 2023

The ever-changing landscape of business today, focusing on finance and its impact on crafting sustainable solutions and dynamic leadership within management education.of Global Financial Influence and Sustainable Leadership

Education

- Ph.D. (Finance) from Strathclyde Business School, University of Strathclyde, UK. (2020)
- MSc (International Securities Investment & Banking) from ICMA Centre, Henley Business School, University of Reading, UK (2009)
- M.Phil (Management) from Madurai Kamaraj University, India (2009)
- MBA (HR) from Visveswaraiah Technological University, India (2005)
- Bachelor of Business Management (Finance) from Bangalore University, India (2003)

Other Qualifications

- PG Diploma (Research Methodology in Business and Management) from University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK (2019)
- PG Certificate (Research Methodology in Business and Management) from University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK (2018)
- Securities & Investments Institute Diploma, Securities & Investments Institute (now CISI), UK
- International Fixed Income and Derivatives Certificate, ICMA & University of Reading, UK

Awards, Honors and Research Grants

Finalist of the Bankinter Consumer Finance Award in Business Ethics

President's Award for Excellence in Teaching 2021/22 at Dublin City University - shortlisted in Three different categories: (i) academic category (ii) team academic category - Sustainable Operations (MT5230) Teaching Team, and (iii) team academic category - Management of Operations (MOPs) Team

Teaching Excellence Awards 2020 - Shortlist (Best in Faculty - Business) and nominated (Best Tutor) for the annual award at the University of Strathclyde.

Winner of the ‘Honorable Mention-Student Paper’ award for the paper titled "Immigration Fear Induced Populism and Cross–Border Acquisitions" at the Academy of International Business: U.S. West Chapter 2020 Annual Conference at San Diego, USA on February 27-29, 2020.

Commonwealth Scholarship, funded by the UK government for the doctoral program at the University of Strathclyde, UK. The total scholarship is worth £78,048 for three years which includes tuition fees £13,500 per year and a stipend of £12,516 each year.

“Reuters Living FAST Recognition Award” (twice) for the “Reuters India Strategy” project for sourcing & creating a database of M&A of 880 Indian publicly listed companies. Reuters Living FAST Recognition Award is an annual award from Thomson Reuters to the site-wide outstanding performer.