Raghunathan is an academic, author, columnist, and a hobbyist. He currently heads GMR Varalakshmi Foundation. Raghunathan taught Finance at IIM, Ahmedabad for nearly two decades until 2001, and continues to be an Adjunct Professor at the University of Bocconi, Milan, Italy, where he teaches behavioural economics since 1990. With over 10 books and over 500 papers and articles, Raghu is a busy author and columnist. From 2001 to 2004, he was also President, ING Vysya Bank, Bangalore. He sits on numerous boards and is an active public speaker in India and outside. He has held a cartoon column briefly with Financial Express in the Past. Collecting old and ancient locks is his hobby and his collection is probably the largest in India.