Smith Launches Advisory Boards in China and India

The Smith School is calling on corporate partners and its impressive international alumni to strengthen its strategy, recruiting and placement efforts in China and India. The school just launched two new advisory boards in those markets, composed of business leaders who have volunteered to help the school, current students and graduates.

Board members will share their knowledge of industry trends and skills that companies in China and India care most about. Their insights will help shape what students learn, match classroom lessons to real-world needs, and widen the pipeline for internship and job opportunities in these critical and growing markets.

Since joining the Smith School in 2021, Dean Prabhudev Konana has focused on getting Smith’s vast network of alumni more involved with the school’s strategic priorities. The new China and India advisory boards are his first formal efforts to do so outside the United States. He has already launched nearly a dozen advisory councils for specific degree programs and specialty areas.

“These alumni help us figure out how to make the biggest impacts for our students so they can have bigger impacts in the wider world,” said Konana. “Having these two new boards in China and India – two incredibly important markets – increases that impact.

Smith China Advisory Board

The Smith China Advisory Board will strengthen ties with the school’s more than 3,500 alumni and partners in the Greater China region, which includes Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

The 15 board members – Chinese nationals and expatriates living in China – are professionals at some of the world’s top multinational companies and leading global brands in China, including Deloitte, Black and Decker, Microsoft and Marriott International.

The board held its inaugural meeting on Oct. 23, 2023. The meeting was a first chance for board members to collaborate, share knowledge and network. They discussed the board’s future goals and objectives, its role in providing strategic insights and recommendations, and the various ways in which the board will engage with the Smith School to support initiatives, curriculum development, alumni engagement, and admissions and career services efforts in China.

Smith India Advisory Board

The India Advisory Board was created to provide strategic guidance and support to the school’s initiatives related to India. The board aims to foster collaboration, enhance academic programs, and strengthen partnerships between the Smith School and Indian businesses and academic institutions.

The 19 board members include professionals and entrepreneurs at top India firms and global companies, including Accenture, Bain & Co., and J.P. Morgan. Faculty from top schools in India and Smith professors Rajshree Agarwal , Anil Gupta and Kislaya Prasad also serve on the board.

The board is tasked with providing strategic guidance and advice on matters related to Smith’s engagement with India, including brand-building, academic and industry partnership, and outreach initiatives. The board will also help identify and develop collaborative projects and initiatives with Indian institutions, businesses and organizations. Members will act as ambassadors and advocates for Smith within their individual networks in India, promoting Smith’s achievements, research and programs to boost the school’s reputation.

“We are truly excited about the launch of Smith’s advisory boards in India and China,” said Konana. “Members of both boards bring an incredible wealth of knowledge and experience to our community. Their contributions will undoubtedly play a vital role in our ongoing success, and we are eager to see the positive impact these advisory boards will have on our institution.”