The appointment of IIT-Delhi alumnus Soumitra Dutta as the new dean of Cornell University’s business school is just the latest example of Indians getting top jobs in global outfits, in this a prestigious Ivy League institution. There are many Indians heading business corporations — Pepsi, Citibank and Deutsche Bank among them — and of late there have also been top appointments in academia, such as at the Harvard Business School and Chicago’s Booth School of Business.
Most if not all these professionals finished their basic schooling and early college studies in India, and then obtained higher degrees at Western institutions, thus getting wide and varied education and experience. Indians also tend to bring a good understanding of multiculturalism, given the diversity in this country. This is a handy asset in today’s global workplace, as institutions and corporations look to expand their operations and reach. Many international firms now understand the importance of bringing in people from different backgrounds — not just as a “face” but to steer these organisations in an increasingly complex world. The statement by Cornell’s president that Dutta is a “natural fit” for the school’s global outlook sums it up well. Of course, in the end, it is sheer merit that counts: in this respect Indian top bosses, whether in companies or academia, are well equipped too. They are the new global citizens, who just happen to be of Indian origin. Today’s world recognises no frontiers, neither geographic nor ethnic, where skills are concerned; and Dutta’s appointment underscores that.