Advisor (Industry-Academia Interface), IIT Jodhpur;

Former CEO and Board Member of two Tata enterprises, is an Advanced Leadership Initiative Fellow-2012 at Harvard University

Mahendra Bapna, former CEO and Board Member of two Tata enterprises, is an Advanced Leadership Initiative Fellow-2012 at Harvard University. Mr. Bapna earned his Engineering degree from M.B.M. Engineering College Jodhpur and a Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Management from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management-Mumbai.

His passion is to strengthen technology education in India. He was instrumental in establishing CMC’s Construction Project Management Program in Hyderabad. In February 2014, Mr. Bapna, along with business leaders and renowned academicians from Harvard University, NYU and Arizona State University, launched University-21, a premier, global consulting organization that helps higher, vocational and professional educational institutions in India.

Currently, he is engaged in redefining a model for Higher Educational Institutions in India with emphasis on performance accountability. As an Advisor at IIT Jodhpur, he is engaged in institutionalizing a fresh version of undergraduate education at IIT Jodhpur, called Blended B.Tech. Program. In another fresh effort, recognizing both the challenges and the opportunities that urbanization creates, Mr. Bapna is in the process of building The Jodhpur Initiative, a policy advocacy think-tank for holistic re-development of the city of Jodhpur.