In 2016, he was appointed professor at the Indian Institute of Management, Luknow where he teaches strategic business negotiations, leadership through literature and Justice, ethics and morality.[7] In December 2018, he was appointed director of the Indian Institute of Management, Indore.[8] Rai's book "Negotiation" published by McGraw Hill Education is a bestseller and his TEDx talk on "Ethical Leadership: Lessons from the Vedas" has won him several awards.[9] In 2023, he was reappointed director of the Indian Institute of Management Indore.[10]
Rai's book titled "Organizational Behaviour" is co-authored by Steven McShane and Mary Ann Von Glinow.[11] He has trained several people in negotiations and leadership. He has also consulted for World Bank and the Government of India where he audited programs sponsored by the Planning Commission of India.[12][13] He also serves as the chairperson of the board of directors, Indore Management Association and Chairperson of the Advisory Board of Durban University of Technology Business School.[14][15]
He is a recipient of the NTSE scholarship.
Publications
Rai has contributed to the academic field, with over 40 papers and chapters published in peer-reviewed journals and books. His research interests encompass a wide range of topics, including negotiation, cross-cultural issues, management, religion, spirituality, gender, influence tactics, 360-degree feedback, recruitment advertising, and proxemics.[16] He is an expert of Sanskrit literature, he has also written about and given discourses on Indian and Western philosophy, which he avidly studies. His research always has a strong underpinning of philosophy and its elements. His research exploring the measurement of spirituality through an analysis of Vedic literature won him the best in-session presentation award at a conference in Costa Rica.
Rai, H. (2005). The Role of Hinduism in Global India and her Business Ethics. In Capaldi, N, (Eds.), Business and Religion: A Clash of Civilizations? Salem, MA:M&M Scrivener Press. 379-389.
Rai, H. (2005). The Emerging World Trade Regime, Social Clause and Implications for Employee Relations Management. In Chawla, K.N., (Eds.), Enhancing Global Business Competitiveness, Delhi: Wisdom Publications. 160-175.[17]