Divya and Sankar Krishnan, guests of the Periclean Scholars Program and NGO workers from Kerala State, India, together with Jason Kirk, an assistant professor of political science, will discuss issues related to poverty and the role of non-profits in India. Everyone is welcomed.

When: Thursday, November 5, 4:15-5:15 p.m.

Where: Isabella Cannon Room, Center for the Arts

Sankar Krishnan is an ex-partner of McKinsey & Company, who led McKinsey’s healthcare practice, initially in India (located in Mumbai) from 2000 to 2004, and then in Greater China (located in Hong Kong) from 2004 to 2006. Sankar left McKinsey in July 2006, to set up as an independent consultant in the not-for-profit/ development sector in India. Some of Sankar’s recent experiences include serving a leading global pharmaco in India and China, to develop and help implement a new strategic and organizational approach to the region that will triple profitability in five years. In addition to developing an innovative new growth strategy, he led a series of workshops with the leadership team in India to enhance their effectiveness, and led twelve teams of ~100 client-McKinsey executives in sales, marketing, manufacturing and supply chain to achieve operational excellence (50% + profit improvement in one year).

Sankar was selected by India’s top business magazine Business Today in 2001 as among the Top 25 leading young achievers in the country.

Divya Krishnan is a consultant in the not-for-profit sector in India, focused on helping organizations in this sector develop sustainable growth strategies. Before concentrating on not-for-profits, Divya was an Investment Manager till 2001. She was Head of Investments at SBI Funds, an asset management company managing one of India’s largest mutual funds, becoming the youngest ever manager to achieve this position. Earlier, she was fund manager for the largest portfolio managed by the AMC.Currently,

Divya works closely with a leading Indian non-profit institution for the hearing-impaired, to help develop and implement an aggressive growth strategy. She also advises and is part time faculty at an international institute for social entrepreneurs in India, set up by a multi-country organization for the blind. In addition, Divya has been a volunteer teacher for slum children in Mumbai, and for primary school children both in Hong Kong and in Trivandrum. Divya holds an MBA from India’s premier business school, the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad where she was awarded the prestigious Usha Fair Scholarship for academic excellence. Before this, she graduated with honors in Commerce from Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi. She is an alumni of La Martiniere School, Kolkata.

by Martin Kamela, Faculty

Last Updated - 11/04/2009