Prof. S. Subba Rao served at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) from September 3, 1974, to March 31, 1987, as Professor in Operations Research and Quantitative Methods. His tenure coincided with IIMB’s formative years, during which he played a pivotal role in institution-building and academic development. With a background spanning the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Case Western Reserve University, USA, Prof. Subba Rao brought an interdisciplinary approach that integrated quantitative methods with managerial problem-solving. He was the founding Chairman of the Systems and Operations Management Area (SOMA) and later the Coordinator of OR & QM, contributing to the design of early courses in Operations Research, Quantitative Techniques, and Energy Systems Management across the PGP, FPM, and Executive Education programmes. As Dean (Programmes) and Director In-Charge, he oversaw the expansion of the Post Graduate Programme (PGP), strengthening admissions, placements, and sectoral specialization. His leadership extended to large-scale consultancy and research initiatives such as the Cement and Salt Studies, and to the coordination of Organization-Based and Management Development Programmes (OBPs and MDPs) for public and private sectors. A member of the Campus Development Committee, he was instrumental in evaluating alternative sites for IIMB’s permanent campus on Bannerghatta Road. His reflections reveal his deep engagement with faculty governance, curriculum reform, and the evolution of management education in India, as well as his steadfast commitment to excellence and institutional integrity during a defining phase in IIMB’s history.