As dean of the Fletcher School, it is an honor and a privilege to present our highest award, the Dean's Medal, to Anand Mahindra. Mr. Mahindra is one of the world's most influential industrialists. A magna cum laude graduate of Harvard College, he received his MBA from the Harvard Business School. Since then, he has grown the Mahindra Group into a diversified global conglomerate which now employs more than 250,000 people in 100 countries. He has created successful business operations in renewable energy, agriculture, automotive, IT, aerospace, real estate, education, and more. He has been a pioneer in the evolving role of business, its responsibilities, and its necessary partnership with government. He has led the dialogue and action from the private sector on critical issues of sustainability and social responsibility. The Mahindra Group is commonly considered one of the leading firms in the response to climate change. Social responsibility is an important part of his business philosophy. He's a strong supporter of education and health programs, maximizing social impact. For example, Project Nanali has increased access to high-quality education for more than 350,000 girls from rural, tribal, and urban areas. Mr. Mahindra is a UN Global Compact board member as well as a member of the World Economic Forum's Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders. He has served on the Global Board of Advisers of the Council on Foreign Relations. He has been named to Barron's list of top 30 CEOs worldwide and noted on Fortune Magazine's list of the world's 50 greatest leaders. A global CEO influencer on social media, his Twitter followers also number in the millions.
But to me, on a personal note, you have been an inspiration as we grapple with today's poly-crisis in a flat and fast-moving world, where the hallmark of a successful leader, not only in the corporate sector, is one whose integrity is intact. But you have a close personal connection to the Fletcher family. Many of you may not know that Harish Mahindra, Mr. Mahindra's father, was Fletcher's first graduate from India in 1946. Earlier I was able to give Anand, if I may, from our archives, copies of his father's application letter, the transcript, and the recommendation to Fletcher from the dean at Harvard. In his Fletcher application, Anand's father wrote: 'If India achieves Dominion status or a state of complete independence, she will need the help of men trained in foreign affairs to see that she establishes friendly and economic relations with other nations of the world.' Just a year after he wrote that, India celebrated its independence on August the 15th, 1947. And now, as India's 75th anniversary of independence approaches, Anand Mahindra today becomes the first Indian national to address our graduates, following just 75 years after his own father's graduation. There is a symmetry here and a connection to this award which exemplifies what we aspire to: a community proud of its past, enriched by deep and binding connections, yet focused on the future. So, on behalf of the Fletcher School and our wider community, it is my pleasure to, in a sense, welcome you home here today. And please join me so I can give you the Dean's Medal. Thank you.
