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

Bapna’s passion is to strengthen technology education in India. He was instrumental in establishing CMC’s Construction Project Management Program in Hyderabad. In February 2014, 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.

At present, Bapna 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.

Bapna is in the process of building The Jodhpur Initiative, a policy advocacy think-tank for holistic re-development of the City of Jodhpur and will actively lead the initiative in developing a comprehensive framework for Economic and Industrial Development.