One of the extraordinary attributes of Chevening fellows is the dynamic trajectory of their careers and the work they do. Their curiosity and passion compel them to expand their education, interests, and influence and pursue new opportunities and challenges. The arc of their work and interests is never static. They may start out as an engineer and years later end up running a government department, developing any number of influential organizations or services, or creating a business in blended finance.
Such is the case with Nirav Khambhati, a Chevening Rolls-Royce Science, Innovation and Policy Programme (CRISP) Fellow at Said Business School at Oxford University (2011). Thirty years ago, Nirav started out with a degree in engineering and communication. A Master of Management Studies soon followed, which led to the start of his career at Tata where, over a 20-year span, he held several positions.
During his time there, Nirav led many international projects and collaborations in the fields of telecommunications, software, and aerospace. He also branched out beyond his work and served as director on the boards of various companies within and outside India. In early 2014, he left his career in hi-tech industries to take on the mantle of turning around a fledgling and struggling edtech business of the Tata group that provided technology, financing, and capacity building to affordable private schools in India. Nirav credits this seemingly abrupt transition to the contemplation and introspection during his time at Oxford. His responsibilities were further expanded to include leading another established Tata edtech business that developed customized content for higher education institutions and corporations around the world.
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