Episode 2: In conversation with Vikram Gandhi

In this episode of ‘Sustainability Talks’ hosts Patrick Sheehan (Founder & Managing Partner, ETF) Partners), Rob Genieser (Managing Partner, ETF Partners), and Remy de Tonnac (Partner, ETF Partners) are joined by Vikram S. Gandhi. Vikram is a Senior Lecturer in the Entrepreneurial Management Unit at Harvard Business School.

Vikram has developed and teaches a new course, ‘Investing – Risk, Return, and Impact,’ in the Elective Curriculum of Harvard’s MBA Program. He also teaches Leadership & Corporate Accountability and has taught the Entrepreneurial Manager and FIELD Global Immersion in the Required Curriculum of the MBA Program. Along with MBA courses, he has taught in various Executive Education Programs. In addition, Vikram is a visiting faculty member of Schwarzman College and Tsinghua University, Beijing. He is a member of the Impact Co-Laboratory, focusing on research in the area of Impact Investing.

Vikram is the Founder of Asha Impact, an impact investing platform, and is a Senior Advisor to The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. He is also a member of the Business Administration Advisory Board at the University of the People. He is a member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) since 1997 and has been a part of the New York, Hong Kong, and Mumbai chapters. He has spent 23 years in investment banking at Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse. He holds an MBA from the Harvard Business School (Class of 1989), where he was designated a Baker Scholar and a B.Com with high distinction from the University of Mumbai. He is also a qualified Chartered Accountant.

Vikram was Vice Chairman of Investment Banking and Global Head of the Financial Institutions Business for Credit Suisse, in New York and Hong Kong. He was a member of Credit Suisse’s Global Investment Banking Management Committee and the Fixed Income Operating Committee. Prior to his tenure at Credit Suisse, Vikram worked at Morgan Stanley, where he was Co-Head of Global FIG in New York; his prior work at Morgan Stanley included heading the Firm’s institutional strategy area, its Global E-commerce Committee, and as Country Head and President of Morgan Stanley India. During his 23-year career in investment banking, Vikram has focused on advising Board of Directors and CEOs around the globe on strategic direction and the implementation of major mergers, acquisitions, and capital raising initiatives.

Asha Impact, a platform set up by socially conscious individuals led by Vikram, leverages their combined capital, networks, and expertise to address the critical development challenges facing India and other emerging economies through impact investing, venture philanthropy, and policy advocacy. Asha Impact is focused on providing equity and grant capital to social enterprises as well as engaging with government, business, and civil society on key policy issues.

Vikram has been involved with various developmental activities in India and globally. He is a Board Member and Chairman of the Asian Regional Committee of Grameen Foundation, a Board Member of Jana Small Finance Bank, and a member of the Investment Committee at Gawa Capital. Vikram is a Founding Member of Harvard University’s South Asia Initiative, a Founder of Ashoka University, the first liberal arts college established in India, and a Founding Board Member of Social Finance India. He is a member of The Global Leaders Circle at Harvard Business School. Additionally, he had worked with the National Innovation Council over the last few years to set up The India Inclusive Innovation Fund.

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