[1] Since 2013, for three consecutive years, Raghunathan has been featured in the list of top 50 thinkers in management across India and the Indian diaspora.

He taught finance and accounting at IIM, Ahmedabad[6] from 1982 to 2001, where he held various positions, including chair, of the postgraduate program.

Raghunathan is also a columnist of long standing, especially with The Economic Times, and has authored over 500 papers and articles[citation needed].

[citation needed] A graduate of Panjab University, Chandigarh, Raghunathan obtained his doctorate in finance from Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta.

Raghunathan is a Tamilian, born and brought up in Punjab and Haryana, and spent much of his early schooling in Jammu and Kashmir.