Seasoned entrepreneur and philanthropist Sajjan Agarwal has joined the board of Rishihood University in India as a founder. He brings with him a wealth of experience and a remarkable track record of entrepreneurial success and philanthropic dedication.

Based in Raleigh, North Carolina (USA), Sajjan ventured to the United States after completing his engineering degree at the Birla Institute Of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, India. He later earned an MBA in Finance from Michigan State University.

In 1981, he founded Sigma Electric Corporation which worked in offshore manufacturing and supply chain management. Under his visionary leadership, Sigma Electric grew to supply thousands of electrical components to major corporations worldwide, with operations spanning both India and the United States. He sold the business to Goldman Sachs in 2007.

Currently, Sajjan serves as the Chairman and CEO of GreenHawk Corporation, a company headquartered in Raleigh. Sajjan and his family are involved in philanthropic boards including Duke Hospital Raleigh, Ekal USA, YMCA, and the Hindu Society of North Carolina. The Asha & Sajjan Agarwal Foundation has worked on education, hunger eradication, homelessness prevention, and the promotion of visual and performing arts.

The inclusion of Sajjan Agarwal as a founder further strengthens Rishihood University’s mission to transform the future of education in India. Sajjan’s involvement is expected to

bring new insights and opportunities, enhancing the educational experience and expanding the university’s global reach, especially in the USA.

As Rishihood University continues to grow, the support and vision of leaders like Sajjan Agarwal will be instrumental in shaping a brighter, more impactful future for all.

Joining the board, Sajjan says, “The time is right in India’s journey and its growing relations with other countries, particularly the USA. I am motivated by Rishihood’s philosophy of being inspired by India’s civilizational ethos and its 21st-century potential. I think we need more such initiatives to maximize impact”.

University’s Chancellor and Former Union Minister Suresh Prabhu says, “The inclusion of Sajjan Agarwal as a founder further strengthens Rishihood University’s mission to create impact through education. Sajjan’s involvement will expand the university’s global reach, especially in the USA.” Boston-based entrepreneur and investor Dr. Suresh Jain is also one of the initial founders of Rishihood.

Rishihood University is an impact university set up through collective philanthropy. Suresh Prabhu, former Railways Minister, serves as the Founder-Chancellor and Billionaire Motilal Oswal is also one of the founders. The university has a 25-acre residential campus outside Delhi. Its Vice-Chancellor and other faculty members have previously worked in the USA in organizations like Stanford University, Amazon, Deloitte, Yale University, University of Maryland, Indiana University, and more.

Rishihood University has founders and donors from other countries too, such as Australia, Singapore, and the UK. Over the last decade, philanthropic institution-building has picked up momentum. Alumni of IITs and BITS Pilani have established endowments in their alma mater. India has also seen the establishment of private universities set up through global philanthropy. With this trend, one hopes to increase access to quality higher education in India significantly.

Moreover, the Indian diaspora community — of which Mr Agarwal is a part — is crucial in connecting India with global networks of research, trade and technology and making India a knowledge economy on the global scale.