With more than 13 years of experience in IT consulting and implementation of e-Governance, Analytics, AI/ML & digital transformation based projects, I could get opportunities to undertake large scale IT projects for various Ministries, Government Organizations and PSUs involving key activities such as Project Management, IT roadmap strategy formulation, IT Application development, Data Analytics, AI/ML, Business Process Re-engineering, Procurement Management & Project Monitoring.
I am associated with Deloitte for more than 2.5 years, currently serving as an Associate Director. Prior to this I worked with Grant Thornton (~7 years), Accenture (~2 years) and MP State Horticulture (2 years).
Location: Delhi
Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/rishi-khare-22655153
Insta: iamrishikhare
Q. Tell us about your School and College before you came to IIFM. How was your experience there? And how did IIFM happen?
A. I completed my 12th from Campion school Bhopal, which not only shaped my academic journey but also prepared me to face future challenges with integrity, confidence, and resilience. Then I joined LNCT for B.E. Hons (CSE), which provided technical foundation & practical exposure to real-world engineering problems.
I joined IIFM for its unique blend of management education and sustainability, combined with strong exposure to public policy, fieldwork, and Government systems which aligned well with my aspiration to contribute to sustainable development & responsible governance.
Q. How has been your journey from IIFM so far?
A. My journey at IIFM so far has been intellectually enriching, with strong exposure to field learning, collaborative problem-solving and interaction with a diverse peer group and experienced faculty broadened my perspective and improved my communication, teamwork, and leadership skills that helped me grow both professionally and personally.
Q. What were some of the key milestones/learning in this journey that you would like to share with us?
A. Some of the key learnings from IIFM which helped me at various point in time of my career are:
· Understanding how ecological, economic, and social systems are interconnected and must be managed holistically.
· Application of data, research, and field insights to management and policy problems.
· Role of leaders in creating impact beyond profit, with long-term sustainability and public value
· Importance of balancing multiple interests—Government, Communities, Industries and the Environment.
Q. How has been your experience in your current Organization? What all areas have you been working here?
A. My experience at Deloitte has been professionally enriching and fast-paced, offering strong exposure to structured problem-solving, client engagement, and high-impact projects. Working in a collaborative and performance-driven environment, I gained hands-on experience in analyzing complex business challenges, applying data-driven insights, and delivering solutions aligned with client and organizational objectives.
The role strengthened my understanding of IT consulting & implementation methodologies, stakeholder management and project delivery under tight timelines. Interacting with cross-functional teams helped me improve communication, adaptability, and teamwork, while Deloitte’s emphasis on quality, ethics, and continuous learning shaped my professional discipline. Overall, my time at Deloitte significantly enhanced my analytical, professional, and client-facing skills, preparing me for roles that require strategic thinking and execution excellence.
Q. What is the most satisfying part in your career?
A. The most satisfying part of my career has been the opportunity to work on complex, real-world problems where my skills could create tangible impact. Whether it was delivering structured, high-quality solutions in a professional environment at Deloitte or developing a deeper understanding of sustainability, governance, and public systems at IIFM, I have found fulfillment in learning continuously and applying knowledge meaningfully. I find it particularly rewarding to collaborate with diverse teams, break down complex challenges into actionable insights, and see my work contribute to better decision-making. The ability to grow professionally while working with purpose and responsibility has been the most satisfying aspect of my career journey so far.
Q. Has your learning at IIFM helped in shaping how you approach your professional roles?
A. Learning at IIFM has significantly shaped how I approach my professional roles by giving me an impact-oriented mindset. I now look at problems not just from a functional or technical perspective, but by considering environmental, social, economic, and governance dimensions together.
The emphasis on case-based learning, policy analysis and field exposure at IIFM has helped me become more structured and evidence-driven in decision-making. I am more mindful of stakeholder interests, long-term implications, and implementation realities. This learning has made me more adaptable, analytical, and responsible in my professional roles, enabling me to deliver solutions that are not only effective but also sustainable.
With Ashish Bhambhani, Praveen Shrivastava, Late Abhishek Chauhan
Q. Who (or what) are the biggest influences or drivers in your careers? What would be your advice to freshers and IIFM graduates who are looking to choose similar sectors/roles.
A. My time at IIFM has been a major driver in shaping my long-term career direction. It helped me recognize the importance of sustainability, governance, and systems thinking, and how management decisions can create lasting social and environmental impact. Guidance from esteemed Faculty and field exposure reinforced my motivation to work in roles where professional excellence and public value go hand in hand.
With Professor YD
My advice to freshers and IIFM graduates is to focus first on building strong fundamentals—analytical skills, communication and discipline—before narrowing down a specific role or sector. Be open to exploring diverse opportunities early in your career, as initial roles often shape your thinking more than your designation.
For those aspiring to build a career in IT consulting and implementation:
One should develop a strong foundation in structured problem-solving and technology fundamentals. IT based projects are not just about technology consulting or implementation—it is about understanding business needs, simplifying business processes, translating business needs into technical solutions and ensuring effective implementation.
Q. How did you decide to go for higher studies post IIFM? And how was the experience?
A. I got an opportunity to visit IIM Kozhikode for Leadership Development Program sponsored by Deloitte. The program provided rigorous exposure to advanced management concepts, strategic thinking and leadership frameworks, delivered through case-based learning and interactive classroom discussions. IIM Kozhikode campus also made me relive IIFM memories.
Q. What are your favorite memories during your IIFM days?
A.
· First and the foremost: IIFM Campus
· Food at IIFM Mess
· Field Trips
With Rajesh Piyush, Ashish Abhishek Gautam & Arjun Kaurava during field trip @Rajasthan
Q. In hindsight, what was the biggest contribution or take away from IIFM that you think played a critical role in shaping you as an individual or professional?
A. The biggest takeaway from IIFM was the development of systems thinking and an impact-oriented mindset, reinforced by strong faculty guidance, peer learning, and field exposure, which fundamentally shaped how I approach professional and leadership roles.
With Praveen Shrivastava & Arun Sreekumar
With Praveen Shrivastava & Ashish Abhishek Gautam
Q. The best buddies / seniors /faculty at IIFM? Some memorable tidbits that you like to share?
A. One of the memorable tidbits that I would like to share:
1st Lecture of CSR sir who brought components of PC (RAM, Motherboard, Network cables etc.) and showed everyone before initiating BCDH (Basic Computing and Data handling).
Q. As an alumni, what’s your advice to freshers or those are joining IIFM to get best out of the 2 years there?
A. My advice to those who are studying or planning to join IIFM is to follow ‘Be Here’ approach. Stay completely engaged with the present—live IIFM campus, learn deeply, contribute meaningfully and make the most of available resources at IIFM instead of being overly focused on future roles or outcomes.
Q. What would be your advise for recent graduates who look for changing their sector after working for couple of years?
A. My advice is to view a sector change as a strategic transition, not a reset. The experience you have already gained such as stakeholder management and professional ethics remain valuable across sectors. Focus on identifying and articulating transferable skills, rather than starting from scratch. One should invest time in understanding the new sector deeply before making the move. Speak to practitioners and understand the day-to-day realities—not just the aspirational roles. This reduces uncertainty and helps you make an informed transition.
Q. What was your typical day at the work? And how does it look like while you are on a break?
A. A typical workday usually begins with checking emails and project dashboards to understand priorities, deadlines and client expectations followed by team stand-ups or coordination calls to align on tasks and resolve dependencies. Most of my day involves requirement analysis, data review, designing solutions, documentation and coordinating with cross-functional teams such as developers, functional consultants and client stakeholders. Depending on the project phase, I would be involved in presentations, implementation planning or issues resolutions. The work requires balancing attention to detail with timely delivery, clear communication and adaptability especially in client-facing environments with tight timelines.
During breaks, I try to disconnect from day-to-day execution. I use this time for upskilling or revisiting concepts that help me grow personally and professionally. I also try to spend time with family, engage in physical activity and pursue interests outside work.
Q. And how about weekends, hobbies, family and anything else you want to add?
A. During weekends I try to spend time with family, going out on a long drive with music.
Q. Favorite Books, movies, authors?
A.
Favorite Books: Da Vinci Code, Sachin Tendulkar’s biography (Playing it my way), When the shoe fits (by Osho),
Favorite Movies: Bahubali, KGF, any comedy movie
Favorite Authors: Dan Brown, James Hadley Chase
Q. IIFM is driven by alumni’s passion and commitments towards its goal. How would you like to contribute to IIFM or IIFM alumni, students?
A. I would like to contribute to IIFM through student mentoring by sharing industry insights, supporting career readiness and strengthening alumni–student connect in consulting and implementation domains.
Q. What do you think is different at IIFM now vs when you studied there? When was the last time you visited IIFM?
A. I visited IIFM in 2014. I would like to visit again and see the changes if any.
Q. Any suggestions on who you want to get profiled/interviewed here?
A. Arjun Kaurava, Praveen Shrivastava, S. Arun.