Sudershan Shaunak
Sudershan Shaunak serves as the Director of the North San Diego Small Business Development
Center (SBDC), a program hosted by an institution that is housed at MiraCosta College
and supported by federal and state funding. He leads a team of staff and business
advisors who, since 1999, have helped MiraCosta students and local entrepreneurs start
more than 500 new businesses, create or retain over 3,700 jobs, obtain $140,90 million
in financing, and win $445,347 million of government contracts. Each year, his team
conducts over 150 workshops and provides free one-on-one mentoring services to over
1,000 aspiring business owners at no cost.
Prior to his role at SBDC, Sudershan spent decades as an entrepreneur, where he had success starting, growing, and selling companies of his own. Today, he uses the lessons he learned building businesses to mentor the next generation of entrepreneurs in the region. His areas of expertise include strategic planning, financial management, financing, business expansion/growth, turn-around, and start-up.
At MiraCosta College, education and economic development go hand-in-hand, which is why Sudershan plays such a critical role on the foundation board. As the head of SBDC, Sudershan has been able to help strengthen the school’s business connections in the region and help deepen its economic impact, all while helping to grow the MiraCosta College Foundation.
In 2014, Sudershan received the Anthony Vigil Small Business Advocacy Award, bestowed by the U.S. Small Business Administration San Diego District Office and the San Diego & Imperial Small Business Development Center Regional Network to an individual who demonstrates exemplary advocacy, leadership, and extraordinary assistance for the small business community.
When asked what is most rewarding about his work, Sudershan is quick to point to the student entrepreneurs who he has mentored over the years. MiraCosta College is always looking to evolve and grow its programs to meet the needs of the local economy and Sudershan is proud to help facilitate those efforts.