Professor Vinod Vyasulu served the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) from June 1974 to June 1988, contributing significantly to the formative years of the institution. Initially part of the Economics and Social Sciences Area, he later affiliated with the Centre for Habitat and Environmental Studies, combining his expertise in development economics with applied, sectoral concerns. He played an active role in teaching across the Post Graduate Programme (PGP), the Fellow Programme in Management (FPM), and in executive education, offering courses on development economics, technology and society, research methodology, and development administration. His pedagogy was distinctive for embedding developmental issues within the management curriculum, often through innovative assignments, case studies, and collaborative student publications. Vyasulu was instrumental in mentoring projects such as the Social Involvement Project (SIP) and rural immersion programmes, which linked classroom learning with societal concerns. He also guided national seminars on technological choice and collaborated with scholars across disciplines on rural development and environmental studies. In addition to academic work, he engaged in consultancy, including assignments with the National Small Industries Corporation and the CNPq Brazil project on habitat and technology transfer. His contributions extended to institutional building as a member of IIMB’s Publications Committee, Research Committee, and the editorial board of the IIMB Management Review. The interview captures his reflections on institution-building, academic freedom, innovative pedagogy, multidisciplinary research, Karnataka-centric development projects, and the challenges of a growing institution. His tenure exemplified a balance of teaching, research, social commitment, and administrative responsibility.