My background

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Hello, my name is Vishnu Rajan

I was born in Illinois. My family and I moved around for a couple of years, but eventually settled a bit north of Philadelphia in Newtown, PA. It’s an incredibly historic and beautiful area. Going to see the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall were memorable annual school field trips. Having grown up there is also where for better or for worse, I became a Philly sports fan.

After K-12, I went off to Cornell University and got my Bachelor’s and Master’s in Engineering Physics, where most of my work was in Device Physics and Microfabrication.

At Cornell, I was on crew for all four years of my undergrad and earned my varsity letter. Doing a highly competitive sport like rowing shaped me just as much, if not more than what I learned in the classroom. It kept me to a tight schedule and instilled a discipline and competitiveness in me that still keeps me going today.

After Cornell, I moved to Portland, OR where I worked for 11 years. In 2011 was when I decided that home was back on the east coast / northeast. It was good experience out west and I enjoyed my time there.

Presently I live in the beautiful Hudson Valley. I’d describe it as similar to Newtown, PA and the area where I grew up. I don’t think I want to ever live anywhere other than between DC and Boston; ideally, either Philadelphia or New York City.

My work style

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

I am a project director with 25+ years of experience building and managing technical teams.

I’m not here to “fix” anyone

With a little guidance and encouragement, you can improve on what someone’s already passionate about.

What works for one person likely won’t work for someone else

And that’s OK! I enjoy working with people; discovering their strengths and learning what keeps them motivated. I see management styles like having many golf clubs in a bag, they all serve their purpose but the approach I choose will help us make the best shot.

It’s one thing to understand how people work, but I can also speak the language

I’ve mentored and coached engineers and technicians across an entire factory. I prioritize efforts both tactically and strategically, and I work to prevent surprises.

My strengths include new technology integration, re-engineering to drive efficiency and quality, and serving as a technical advisor to senior/executive leadership.