Global Tech Talk

Leaders Convene for IIT Conference

World-renowned leaders of government, business and academia recently gathered for the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Global Alumni conference in Santa Clara, California.

In addition to welcoming Senator Hillary Clinton and General Electric CEO Jeff Immelt, Carnegie Mellon President Jared Cohon, iGate CEO and Carnegie Mellon Trustee Sunil Wadhwani and Carnegie Mellon College of Engineering Dean Pradeep Khosla all spoke at the conference.

With discussions ranging from energy strategies to how to build a world-class institution, the conference focused on the theme of "Transforming the World through Technology."

President Cohon joined John Hennessy, president of Stanford University, in leading a panel discussion on how globalization and technology have changed the education and research landscapes.

Dean Khosla was one of several other university leaders on a panel that discussed what makes institutions like Carnegie Mellon stand out from the rest. The panel also addressed questions on how to take best practices at U.S. universities and apply them to the IITs.

Other speakers at the three-day event included Nobel Prize winner Arno Penzias, Vodafone CEO Arun Sarin, and Carnegie Mellon alumnus and former trustee Vinod Khosla (E '78) of Khosla Ventures GP.

The IIT describes the program's design as showcasing technological advances and business accomplishments leading to global transformations. According to PC World, the conference drew nearly 4,000 attendees.

Time.com recently noted that IIT graduates become some of India's "technological elite." Carnegie Mellon's alumni, too, have and continue to play a strong role in India's tech and business advancements:

Dr. Lalitesh Katragadda (CS '96, '98) Co-Head, Google, Inc., Bangalore R&D Center;
Dr. Vittal Kini (E '75, '81) Intel India Director, Intel India Research Centre, Intel Technology India Pvt. Ltd.;
Mr. Harsh Manglik (GSIA '76) Accenture;
Ms. Sulajja Motwani (GSIA '92) Trustee, Managing Director, Kinetic Motor Company Ltd;
Dr. Padmanabhan Balaram (MCS '73) Chairman, Indian Institute of Science Bangalore; and
Dr. M. Rammohan Rao (GSIA '68, '69), Dean of the Indian School of Business.

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