Gudivada Prabhakar Rao: Creating Global Hospitality Careers Through Skill-First Education
Gudivada Prabhakar Rao
Chairman
At the centre of this mission is Gudivada Prabhakar Rao, Chairman of LacSo Institute of Hotel Management & Catering Technology, Hyderabad. His journey reflects resilience, education-led transformation, and a strong belief that students from ordinary back grounds can build extraordinary careers when they receive the right training, exposure, and guidance.
Raised in a humble rural environment, Prabhakar Rao was deeply influenced by his parents, Bhushan Rao and Prabha Mani, both government school headmasters. They shaped his values of discipline, integrity, and hard work. His early education began with extraordinary simplicity; he was once the only student studying under a tree in his village school. A defining turning point came when he secured admission to Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Khammam, opening the door to wider academic and professional opportunities.
He later completed his B.Tech from Dr Paul Raj Engineering College, Bhadrachalam, followed by an M.Tech and MBA from JNTU Hyderabad. Starting his career as a lecturer in 2001, he progressed to the role of Associate Professor before choosing entrepreneurship in 2008.
Over the years, he established Sahaja School of Business and Sahaja School of Education and has been associated with the creation of nearly 18 educational institutions across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. His current focus through LacSo Institute is clear: to make hospitality education practical, accessible, career-oriented, and globally relevant. Let’s hear more from him.
As Chairman of LacSo Institute of Hotel Management & Catering Technology, what milestones have shaped your journey and the institution's growth?
My journey has been built on perseverance, risktaking, and
resilience. In the early stages, I faced serious financial constraints. There were times when I had to borrow money and even pledge my wife's jewellery to keep my dream alive. Those moments were difficult, but they gave me clarity: if the vision is strong enough, temporary struggle cannot stop longterm growth.
Today, our educational ventures have impacted thousands of students, many of whom are working in different parts of India and abroad. For LacSo Institute, the most important milestones have been building strong practical training infrastructure, creating an industry-facing academic environment, deve- loping placement support systems, and moving towards global standards through international frameworks such as CTH-UK. Our goal is not only to offer a course, but to create a career pathway.
What differentiates LacSo Institute from other hospitality institutions?
LacSo Institute is differentiated by its focus on disciplined, full-day, hands-on learning. Hospitality cannot be taught only through theory. Students need kitchen exposure, service practice, housekeeping standards, front office simulations, grooming, communication, and repeated industry-style training. That is where we invest our energy.
We also use technology as an operational advantage. I have personally worked on developing our institutional ERP & Digital Learning systems, and we are actively integrating artificial intelligence and digital tools into academic management, student tracking, admissions, and operations.
Another key strength is our placement ecosystem. We work to connect students with opportunities across hospitality properties, recruiters, and international placement channels in India and abroad. For me, the biggest success is not just seeing a student get a job. It is seeing a student from a rural or economically weaker background gain confidence, professional identity, and a respectable career.
What has been the biggest challenge in your leadership journey, and what lessons did it teach you?
The toughest phase was establishing my first institution with limited resources and very little external support. When you start with constraints, every decision carries pressure - funding, staffing, admissions infrastructure, and credibility all have to be built step by step.
That phase taught me that leadership is not about comfort. It is about staying committed
Today, our educational ventures have impacted thousands of students, many of whom are working in different parts of India and abroad. For LacSo Institute, the most important milestones have been building strong practical training infrastructure, creating an industry-facing academic environment, deve- loping placement support systems, and moving towards global standards through international frameworks such as CTH-UK. Our goal is not only to offer a course, but to create a career pathway.
I strongly believe adversity is one of the best leadership schools. It forces you to become sharper, humbler, and more focused
What differentiates LacSo Institute from other hospitality institutions?
LacSo Institute is differentiated by its focus on disciplined, full-day, hands-on learning. Hospitality cannot be taught only through theory. Students need kitchen exposure, service practice, housekeeping standards, front office simulations, grooming, communication, and repeated industry-style training. That is where we invest our energy.
We also use technology as an operational advantage. I have personally worked on developing our institutional ERP & Digital Learning systems, and we are actively integrating artificial intelligence and digital tools into academic management, student tracking, admissions, and operations.
Another key strength is our placement ecosystem. We work to connect students with opportunities across hospitality properties, recruiters, and international placement channels in India and abroad. For me, the biggest success is not just seeing a student get a job. It is seeing a student from a rural or economically weaker background gain confidence, professional identity, and a respectable career.
What has been the biggest challenge in your leadership journey, and what lessons did it teach you?
The toughest phase was establishing my first institution with limited resources and very little external support. When you start with constraints, every decision carries pressure - funding, staffing, admissions infrastructure, and credibility all have to be built step by step.
That phase taught me that leadership is not about comfort. It is about staying committed
when outcomes are uncertain. Patience, self-belief, financial discipline, and the ability to keep moving during difficult periods are essential. I strongly believe adversity is one of the best leadership schools. It forces you to become sharper, humbler, and more focused.
How does the institute nurture professionalism and interpersonal skills among students?
In hospitality, skill alone is not enough. A student must know how to present, speak, listen, serve, and behave professionally. At LacSo Institute, we place strong emphasis on grooming, communication, punctuality, discipline, teamwork, and service attitude.
We have dedicated English language support and additional training in spoken English, business communication and accent develop - ment. We are also introducing IELTS coaching, German and French language training to improve global employability. Our objective is to develop students who are technically strong, confident in communication, and prepared for real hospitality environments.
What is your long-term vision for LacSo Institute and its contribution to the hospitality sector?
My long-term vision is to expand LacSo Institute by establishing additional campuses in Hyderabad and Andhra Pradesh, and to make quality hospitality education accessible to more students. I want LacSo to become a platform of opportunity, especially for students who may not have followed a conventional academic path.
I strongly believe no individual should be permanently defined by academic failure or financial limitation. With the right training, discipline, and exposure, students can rebuild their confidence and create strong careers.
Our mission is to produce globally competitive hospitality professionals with skill, integrity, confidence, and a service mindset. Ultimately, I want LacSo Institute to be known not only for placements, but for transforming lives and empowering the next-generation.
Gudivada Prabhakar Rao, Chairman, LacSo Institute of Hotel Management & Catering Technology
Gudivada Prabhakar Rao is the Chairman of LacSo Institute of Hotel Management & Catering Technology, Hyderabad, and a seasoned education entre- preneur. Beginning his career as a lecturer in 2001, he has been associated with establishing nearly 18 educational institutions across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. His work focuses on skill-based, practical, and globally oriented education that creates meaningful career oppor -tunities for students from diverse back grounds.
How does the institute nurture professionalism and interpersonal skills among students?
In hospitality, skill alone is not enough. A student must know how to present, speak, listen, serve, and behave professionally. At LacSo Institute, we place strong emphasis on grooming, communication, punctuality, discipline, teamwork, and service attitude.
We have dedicated English language support and additional training in spoken English, business communication and accent develop - ment. We are also introducing IELTS coaching, German and French language training to improve global employability. Our objective is to develop students who are technically strong, confident in communication, and prepared for real hospitality environments.
What is your long-term vision for LacSo Institute and its contribution to the hospitality sector?
My long-term vision is to expand LacSo Institute by establishing additional campuses in Hyderabad and Andhra Pradesh, and to make quality hospitality education accessible to more students. I want LacSo to become a platform of opportunity, especially for students who may not have followed a conventional academic path.
I strongly believe no individual should be permanently defined by academic failure or financial limitation. With the right training, discipline, and exposure, students can rebuild their confidence and create strong careers.
Our mission is to produce globally competitive hospitality professionals with skill, integrity, confidence, and a service mindset. Ultimately, I want LacSo Institute to be known not only for placements, but for transforming lives and empowering the next-generation.
Gudivada Prabhakar Rao, Chairman, LacSo Institute of Hotel Management & Catering Technology
Gudivada Prabhakar Rao is the Chairman of LacSo Institute of Hotel Management & Catering Technology, Hyderabad, and a seasoned education entre- preneur. Beginning his career as a lecturer in 2001, he has been associated with establishing nearly 18 educational institutions across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. His work focuses on skill-based, practical, and globally oriented education that creates meaningful career oppor -tunities for students from diverse back grounds.