Meet Indrajeet Viswanathan

Indrajeet Viswanathan sometimes refers to himself as “Captain Planet” and for good reason. As director of Energy Management and Sustainability, Jeet combines his passion for helping others with his previous experience to advance sustainability initiatives at CUIMC that align with Plan 2030.

What inspired you to get into the Energy and Sustainability sector?

I grew up in Mumbai, India, and saw firsthand how my family suffered from the effects of air pollution. Seeing one of my parent’s health impacted by air pollution probably inspired me the most to get into sustainability.

During my time working in Dubai, I also saw these massive constructions of artificial islands pumping a lot of sand into the sea, which did not sit well with me.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be an elevator lift operator. Elevators were a novelty while I was growing up—not every building had them. It was fun going up and down and I wanted to do it all day.

Who was your role model?

Growing up, we heard many stories about freedom fighters and people who struggled for our independence. Bhagat Singh has always been my role model. He was willing to give his life for independence so others could live in a democratic country where they can make their own choices without being restricted of what they can do and where they can move. Through his work, I’ve learned that whatever I do has to be for everyone and not myself; I shouldn’t be selfish as I keep growing in my career.

What has been your greatest achievement in your career?

We recently completed the most comprehensive decarbonization audit in our organization’s history. The results of the study will help the university decide how it should invest in upgrading its energy infrastructure over the next 15 years. These projects are designed to remove over 25,000 tons of carbon emissions from being released while also saving millions of dollars in utility costs for CUIMC. What I do today will have an impact for several decades to come and that makes me very happy.

What is something that brings you joy?

My nieces. They live in Melbourne, Australia. We are were close with each other, they always bring a smile to my face.

What is a piece of advice you’d give to your younger self?

A piece of advice that I would give to my younger self would be to not be indecisive about what you want from your life. It is okay to be wrong but take action instead of overthinking or overanalyzing an outcome. Learn to appreciate and celebrate the smallest of moments in life.

Any hidden talents you'd like to share?

I have run several marathons in Southeast Asia, Middle East, North America, and Australia. I have completed over 20 half marathons and lost count of the 5K’s and 10K’s I've finished (laughs). I have my own medal collection in my home which I cherish a lot.