Over the past few decades, a significant number of Indians migrated to the US for coding jobs. However, their education, which goes beyond Math and Science, taught them negotiation, problem-solving, and societal impact. Rohit Jain, CIO of Harvard Business School Alumni Association and an investor at Harvard Business School Angels, notes this background aided Indians in progressing from coding to management roles in the US. Many, armed with degrees from American management schools, advanced to CEO and senior VP positions.
Jain, who began as a programmer and later assumed leadership roles at IBM and Upwork, emphasizes that success in corporate America extends to academia. He points out that Indian Americans have ascended to influential positions in top universities, including Harvard Business School’s deans Srikant Datar and Nitin Nohria. Jain highlights the Indian American community’s holistic approach, which benefits CEOs and academic leaders alike. He lauds the collaboration between top CEOs and academia for promoting innovation in the US, and with Indian Americans in leadership roles, this synergy gains an Indian perspective.
Jain, an entrepreneur who transitioned from programming to corporate management, notes the strength of the Indian American network in Silicon Valley, where he resides. This network empowers the community to make a meaningful impact and improve lives, a priority more significant than financial gain. Jain finds the influential alumni base of Harvard University in India particularly exciting and envisions its potential for building bridges and contributing to India’s progress.
