Vikash Kumar

Vikash Kumar

Driving Towards a “Starry” Future

I come from a remote place in India, where power outages were common and often meant my siblings and I would sleep on the rooftop during hot summer nights, gazing at the magical starry sky. As I grew older and started my job, managing operations manufacturing steel for automobiles—one of the biggest polluters—I saw those bright skies fade behind thick clouds of pollution. These memories of starry nights and the harsh reality of pollution inspired me to focus on sustainability, especially in transportation. My work explores why people hesitate to switch to electric cars and how supportive policies and accessible charging stations might change that. By combining careful study and listening to people’s concerns, I hope to make cleaner transportation a reality. And at the heart of it all is a simple wish: that no curious child in the future misses out on those magnificent, star-filled nights.

Vikash Kumar
PhD candidate, Business Administration
Ivey Business School - Western University

Supervisors

Dr. Gal Raz 
Dr. Deishin Lee

Vikash Kumar (he/him) begins his research with a fundamental conviction: progress should not come at the expense of the planet or human well-being. As cities choke under rising emissions and children inherit a future clouded by environmental neglect, he asks a critical question—how can we reimagine systems so that economic advancement and ecological integrity are not competing goals, but mutually reinforcing ones?
As a fourth-year PhD candidate at the Ivey Business School, Western University, Vikash pursues this vision by examining how firms make strategic decisions—across pricing, production, market entry, and circular business models—within the evolving landscape of environmental and economic policy. His research lies at the intersection of sustainability and decision science, aiming to build pathways where responsible business and profitability can coexist.

Supported by SSHRC grants (2024), Vikash’s current projects are centered on accelerating the transition to low-emission transportation. By identifying both behavioral and technological barriers to green mobility, he contributes actionable insights for governments designing better policy tools, firms seeking sustainable growth, and consumers striving for cleaner, healthier lives. His work represents a holistic effort to align market systems with the urgent demands of climate-conscious progress.

You can connect with Vikash on LinkedIn.

View Vikash's work as it appears in the Inspiring Minds Digital Collection.