Harvard Business School (HBS) has appointed Rupal Gadhia, of Indian descent, as the upcoming managing director of MBA admissions and financial aid. In this capacity, Gadhia will collaborate with a diverse array of stakeholders, both internal and external, such as current HBS students, alumni, faculty, and administrators. Her primary responsibility will be to oversee an admissions process geared toward assembling a high-caliber MBA class with a broad spectrum of talents and experiences, as outlined in HBS’s official statement.
Matt Weinzierl, senior associate dean and chair of the MBA program, commended Gadhia for her impressive professional achievements, highlighting her genuine belief in and familiarity with the transformative nature of the HBS MBA. He emphasized her exceptional analytical, marketing, and strategic skills, which he believes will motivate the world’s most promising young leaders to become part of the HBS MBA community, of which Gadhia herself has been a dedicated and active member.
Gadhia is scheduled to commence her new role in October, and the school eagerly anticipates her return to the HBS campus, as stated by Weinzierl.
Reflecting on her appointment, Gadhia, an HBS alumna, expressed her deep enthusiasm for the opportunity, characterizing it as the culmination of a lifetime. She underscored the profound impact that the school has had on her personal and professional journey, making leading the admissions effort a natural progression.
Furthermore, the release disclosed that Gadhia’s responsibilities encompass advancing prior initiatives aimed at enhancing accessibility and affordability while eliminating financial barriers for prospective students hailing from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.
Gadhia’s career trajectory began in brand management, encompassing roles at Sara Lee and Campbell Soup Company, followed by a transition to Booz & Co. as a management consultant. She subsequently pursued her passion for branding and consulting by assuming positions at the Brand Union, where she managed North American strategy and research for consumer and corporate clients, and later at Interbrand, where she led client relationships for two major accounts. In 2017, Gadhia joined Genpact as the global vice president of brand and digital marketing. Most recently, she held the position of senior vice president and global head of marketing for SharkNinja’s robots and home environment categories, concentrating on introducing innovative products to the market.
The decision to appoint Gadhia culminated from an extensive search process overseen by Heidrick & Struggles. Throughout this process, HBS engaged with candidates from diverse backgrounds and experiences spanning a wide range of industries, as highlighted in the official release.
