Know IITians who are heading Top Companies

26 July 2019 , India : India’s education system is famed for its strength in foundation, competition and ingenuity. From teachers going the extra mile to nurture future greats, to youngsters often fighting against the odds to achieve this greatness, it is the backbone on which some of our smartest minds have changed the way the world works. It comes as no surprise that India is home to some of the best institutes across science, business and arts. This distinction can be traced all the way back to the 5th Century with Nalanda!

Since the turn of independence however, no institute can lay claim to more distinction than the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT). A dream to millions of youngsters and parents alike, admission to the prestigious institutes are reserved for the very best. Intelligence, hard work, persistence and discipline are only some of the basic qualities that define the students who make the cut. Surrounded by like-minded individuals in a fast paced environment that enables greater learning, these students are taken on a rigorous yet enriching journey. By the end of it, the institutes produce youngsters primed to lead industries across sectors, often as pioneers and inventors.

From tech-disruptors to financial magnates, socially conscious businesses to global leaders, the list of IITians that have created their own definitions of success is too long to count. Some have charter their own path more successfully than most, joining exclusive clubs of genuine industry stalwarts that shape the future of our country.

Here is a list of successful IITians who have not only dared to walk into unknown territories but also set their own standards of achievement.

N.R. Narayana Murthy

The co-founder and ex-chairman of Infosys, Nagavara Ramarao Narayana Murthy is known across the globe. In the year 1981, he co-founded Infosys, which provides business technology, consulting, engineering and outsourcing services all over the world. He went on to became the Additional Director and Executive Chairman of Infosys. Murthy, who is a first generation entrepreneur, has received the prestigious Padma Shri and Padma Vibushan awards. Time Magazine called him the Father of Indian IT. In 1969 he received master’s degree from IIT – Kanpur.

Nandan Nilekani

Nandan Nilekani is a first generation Indian entrepreneur and a politician. He co-founded Infosys in 1981 and was the CEO from 2002 till 2007. He also served as the Chairman of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). Nilekani received his bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from IIT – Mumbai.

Vinod Khosla

Indian American billionaire businessman Vinod Khosla made his fortune as one of the co-founders of Sun Microsystems, a company which created the Java programming language and Network File System (NFS). He also founded a venture capital firm, Khosla Ventures in 20004. He is an alumnus of IIT – Delhi where he studied Bachelor of Technology in Electrical Engineering.

Sameer Gehlaut

Sameer Gehlaut is the Founder & Chairman of the Indiabulls Group, one of India’s leading financial conglomerates. He is the pioneer of the online trading business in India, having introduced India’s first online trading platform as far back as in 2000. Like Murthy and Nilekani, Sameer too is a first generation entrepreneur and alumnus of IIT. He holds a B.Tech degree in Mechanical Engineering from IIT – Delhi. In 2008, Gehlaut was described by Forbes as “India’s youngest self-made billionaire”.

Nikesh Arora

Nikesh Arora is the CEO of Palo Alto Networks – An American Multinational cyber-security company. In his recent past, he had been the Vice Chairman of SoftBank Corp and CEO of SoftBank Internet and Media, Inc. (SIMI). He is an alumnus of IIT – Varanasi, where he studied B.Tech in Electrical Engineering.

Building successful companies and sustaining that success are two very different things. The leaders in this list have complimented their vision with steadfast growth. Their efforts have created greater opportunities for the masses and newer targets for the aspirational. They might be from varying industries, but apart from the common thread of being IITians, the basics of their success mantra is often remain the same – Stay Humble, Stay Hungry, Dare to Dream and Work Hard.