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Vikram Gandhi

Vikram Gandhi

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration

Vikram S. Gandhi is a Senior Lecturer in the Entrepreneurial Management Unit. He has developed and teaches a new course, Investing - Risk, Return, and Impact, in the Elective Curriculum of the MBA Program. He also teaches The Entrepreneurial Manager, and FIELD Global Immersion in the Required Curriculum of the MBA Program, as well as various Executive Education Programs. In addition, Vikram is a visiting faculty member of Schwarzman College and Tsinghua University, Beijing. He is a member of the Impact Co-Laboratory focusing on research in the area of Impact Investing.

Vikram is the Founder of Asha Impact, an impact investing platform and is a Senior Advisor to The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. He is a member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) since 1997 and has been a  part of the New York, Hong Kong and Mumbai chapters.  He has spent 23 years in investment banking at Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse. He holds an MBA from the Harvard Business School (Class of 1989) where he was designated a Baker Scholar, and a B.Com with high distinction from the University of Mumbai. He is also a qualified Chartered Accountant. 

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Vikram S. Gandhi is a Senior Lecturer in the Entrepreneurial Management Unit. He has developed and teaches a new course, Investing - Risk, Return, and Impact, in the Elective Curriculum of the MBA Program. He also teaches The Entrepreneurial Manager, and FIELD Global Immersion in the Required Curriculum of the MBA Program, as well as various Executive Education Programs. In addition, Vikram is a visiting faculty member of Schwarzman College and Tsinghua University, Beijing. He is a member of the Impact Co-Laboratory focusing on research in the area of Impact Investing.

Vikram is the Founder of Asha Impact, an impact investing platform and is a Senior Advisor to The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. He is also a member of the Business Administration Advisroy Board at University of the People. He is a member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) since 1997 and has been a  part of the New York, Hong Kong and Mumbai chapters. He has spent 23 years in investment banking at Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse. He holds an MBA from the Harvard Business School (Class of 1989) where he was designated a Baker Scholar, and a B.Com with high distinction from the University of Mumbai. He is also a qualified Chartered Accountant. 

Vikram was Vice Chairman of Investment Banking and Global Head of the Financial Institutions Business for Credit Suisse, in New York and Hong Kong. He was a member of Credit Suisse's Global Investment Banking Management Committee and the Fixed Income Operating Committee. Prior to his tenure at Credit Suisse, Vikram worked at Morgan Stanley, where he was Co-Head of Global FIG in New York; his prior work at Morgan Stanley included heading the Firm's institutional strategy area, its Global E-commerce Committee, and as Country Head and President of Morgan Stanley India.  During his 23 year career in investment banking, Vikram has focused on advising Board of Directors and CEO’s around the globe on strategic direction and the implementation of major mergers, acquisitions, and capital raising initiatives.

Asha Impact, a platform set up by socially-conscious individuals led by Vikram leverages their combined capital, networks and expertise to address the critical development challenges facing India and other emerging economies through impact investing, venture philanthropy and policy advocacy. Asha Impact is focused on providing equity and grant capital to social enterprises as well as engaging with government, business and civil society on key policy issues.

Vikram has been involved with various developmental activities in India and globally. He is a Board Member and Chairman of the Asian Regional Committee of Grameen Foundation, a Board Member of Jana Small Finance Bank, and a member of the Investment Committee at Gawa Capital. Vikram is a Founding Member of Harvard University’s South Asia Initiative,  a Founder of Ashoka University, the first liberal arts college established in India, and a Founding Board Member of Social Finance India. He is a member of The Global Leaders Circle at Harvard Business School. Additionally, he had worked with the National Innovation Council over the last few years to set up The India Inclusive Innovation Fund.

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Entrepreneurial Management
+1 (617) 496-4594
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Vikram Gandhi
Unit
Entrepreneurial Management
Contact Information
(617) 496-4594
Send Email
Featured Work Publications
Impact Entrepreneur Fireside Chat: Teaching Impact Investing at Harvard
Harvard Business School Professors Vikram Gandhi and Shawn Cole weigh in on teaching Impact Investing at Harvard Business School. The Impact Entrepreneur Luminarias Series is a live video webinar series featuring the leading lights in impact investing and entrepreneurship.
Bloomberg: Harvard Case Studies Show ESG Can Also Generate Alpha
Harvard Business School Professor and former investment banker Vikram Gandhi discusses impact and sustainable investing. Hosted by Lisa Abramowicz and Paul Sweeney.
Three Trends Driving Impact Investing
Vikram Gandhi and Peter Boockvar, CIO at Bleakley Advisory Group, join "Squawk Box" to discuss why investing for impact seems to be growing and why investors should approach it with caution.
The HBS Case Method Teaches Real-World Lessons

Since 1924, Harvard Business School (HBS) has used the case study method to teach decision-making skills to business students. Nearly 80 percent of cases used at B-schools are developed by HBS faculty who work with business leaders around the world to write over 350 new cases each year.

 


How Donor-Advised Funds Can Amp Up Their Giving Power
Vikram Gandhi, a former Wall Street investment banker who now teaches a course at Harvard Business School that focuses on return, risk and impact investing, also sees investment opportunities for DAFs that go well beyond the usual ESG funds.

Vikram S. Gandhi is a Senior Lecturer in the Entrepreneurial Management Unit. He has developed and teaches a new course, Investing - Risk, Return, and Impact, in the Elective Curriculum of the MBA Program. He also teaches The Entrepreneurial Manager, and FIELD Global Immersion in the Required Curriculum of the MBA Program, as well as various Executive Education Programs. In addition, Vikram is a visiting faculty member of Schwarzman College and Tsinghua University, Beijing. He is a member of the Impact Co-Laboratory focusing on research in the area of Impact Investing.

Vikram is the Founder of Asha Impact, an impact investing platform and is a Senior Advisor to The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. He is also a member of the Business Administration Advisroy Board at University of the People. He is a member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) since 1997 and has been a  part of the New York, Hong Kong and Mumbai chapters. He has spent 23 years in investment banking at Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse. He holds an MBA from the Harvard Business School (Class of 1989) where he was designated a Baker Scholar, and a B.Com with high distinction from the University of Mumbai. He is also a qualified Chartered Accountant. 

Vikram was Vice Chairman of Investment Banking and Global Head of the Financial Institutions Business for Credit Suisse, in New York and Hong Kong. He was a member of Credit Suisse's Global Investment Banking Management Committee and the Fixed Income Operating Committee. Prior to his tenure at Credit Suisse, Vikram worked at Morgan Stanley, where he was Co-Head of Global FIG in New York; his prior work at Morgan Stanley included heading the Firm's institutional strategy area, its Global E-commerce Committee, and as Country Head and President of Morgan Stanley India.  During his 23 year career in investment banking, Vikram has focused on advising Board of Directors and CEO’s around the globe on strategic direction and the implementation of major mergers, acquisitions, and capital raising initiatives.

Asha Impact, a platform set up by socially-conscious individuals led by Vikram leverages their combined capital, networks and expertise to address the critical development challenges facing India and other emerging economies through impact investing, venture philanthropy and policy advocacy. Asha Impact is focused on providing equity and grant capital to social enterprises as well as engaging with government, business and civil society on key policy issues.

Vikram has been involved with various developmental activities in India and globally. He is a Board Member and Chairman of the Asian Regional Committee of Grameen Foundation, a Board Member of Jana Small Finance Bank, and a member of the Investment Committee at Gawa Capital. Vikram is a Founding Member of Harvard University’s South Asia Initiative,  a Founder of Ashoka University, the first liberal arts college established in India, and a Founding Board Member of Social Finance India. He is a member of The Global Leaders Circle at Harvard Business School. Additionally, he had worked with the National Innovation Council over the last few years to set up The India Inclusive Innovation Fund.

Featured Work
Impact Entrepreneur Fireside Chat: Teaching Impact Investing at Harvard
Harvard Business School Professors Vikram Gandhi and Shawn Cole weigh in on teaching Impact Investing at Harvard Business School. The Impact Entrepreneur Luminarias Series is a live video webinar series featuring the leading lights in impact investing and entrepreneurship.
Bloomberg: Harvard Case Studies Show ESG Can Also Generate Alpha
Harvard Business School Professor and former investment banker Vikram Gandhi discusses impact and sustainable investing. Hosted by Lisa Abramowicz and Paul Sweeney.
Three Trends Driving Impact Investing
Vikram Gandhi and Peter Boockvar, CIO at Bleakley Advisory Group, join "Squawk Box" to discuss why investing for impact seems to be growing and why investors should approach it with caution.
The HBS Case Method Teaches Real-World Lessons

Since 1924, Harvard Business School (HBS) has used the case study method to teach decision-making skills to business students. Nearly 80 percent of cases used at B-schools are developed by HBS faculty who work with business leaders around the world to write over 350 new cases each year.

 


How Donor-Advised Funds Can Amp Up Their Giving Power
Vikram Gandhi, a former Wall Street investment banker who now teaches a course at Harvard Business School that focuses on return, risk and impact investing, also sees investment opportunities for DAFs that go well beyond the usual ESG funds.
Cases and Teaching Materials
  • Gandhi, Vikram S. "CalSTRS Takes on Gun Violence." Harvard Business School Multimedia/Video Supplement 821-701, November 2020. View Details
  • Gandhi, Vikram S. "Blue Haven Initiative: The PEGAfrica Investment." Harvard Business School Multimedia/Video Supplement 321-701, October 2020. View Details
  • Gandhi, Vikram S., Caitlin Reimers Brumme, and Amram Migdal. "Blue Haven Initiative: The PEGAfrica Investment." Harvard Business School Teaching Plan 321-007, July 2020. View Details
  • Gandhi, Vikram S., and Sarah Mehta. "Generation Investment Management." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 820-112, June 2020. View Details
  • Gandhi, Vikram S., and Sarah Mehta. "Generation Investment Management." Harvard Business School Case 820-033, March 2020. (Revised May 2020.) View Details
  • Gandhi, Vikram S., and James Barnett. "Financial Inclusion at Omidyar Network." Harvard Business School Teaching Plan 320-018, September 2019. View Details
  • Gandhi, Vikram S. "Omidyar Network's Investment Decisions: MicroEnsure and Lenddo." Harvard Business School Multimedia/Video Supplement 320-702, July 2019. View Details
  • Gandhi, Vikram S. "Omidyar Network's Impact Investment Framework." Harvard Business School Multimedia/Video Supplement 320-701, July 2019. View Details
  • Gandhi, Vikram, and Mahima Rao-Kachroo. "Piramal Foundation: The Business of Philanthropy." Harvard Business School Case 520-011, July 2019. View Details
  • Gandhi, Vikram S., and Aldo Sesia. "Goldman Sachs: Making an Imprint in Impact Investing." Harvard Business School Teaching Plan 219-007, June 2019. View Details
  • Gandhi, Vikram S., and Nathaniel Schwalb. "THE VELUX FOUNDATIONS: Selecting Impact Funds." Harvard Business School Teaching Plan 819-113, June 2019. View Details
  • Gandhi, Vikram S., Caitlin Reimers Brumme, and Sarah Mehta. "The Rise Fund: TPG Bets Big on Impact." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 319-003, February 2019. (Revised October 2019.) View Details
  • Gandhi, Vikram S., and Caitlin Reimers. "CalSTRS Takes on Gun Violence." Harvard Business School Case 819-079, November 2018. (Revised December 2018.) View Details
  • Gandhi, Vikram S., Caitlin Lindsay Reimers Brumme, and James Barnett. "Financial Inclusion at Omidyar Network." Harvard Business School Case 318-004, January 2018. (Revised February 2020.) View Details
  • Gandhi, Vikram S., Caitlin Reimers Brumme, and Sarah Mehta. "The Rise Fund: TPG Bets Big on Impact." Harvard Business School Case 318-041, February 2018. (Revised August 2019.) View Details
  • Gandhi, Vikram, Caitlin Reimers Brumme, and Nathaniel Schwalb. "THE VELUX FOUNDATIONS: Selecting Impact Funds." Harvard Business School Case 819-021, September 2018. (Revised June 2019.) View Details
  • Cole, Shawn, Vikram S. Gandhi, Caitlin Reimers Brumme, and Lynn Schenk. "Goldman Sachs: Making an Imprint in Impact Investing." Harvard Business School Case 218-069, April 2018. (Revised May 2018.) View Details
  • Gandhi, Vikram S., and Lynn Schenk. "Morgan Stanley: Building Long-Term Sustainability." Harvard Business School Case 318-103, March 2018. (Revised April 2018.) View Details
  • Cole, Shawn, Vikram Gandhi, and Caitlin Reimers Brumme. "Background Note: Examining the Case for Investing for Impact." Harvard Business School Background Note 218-083, March 2018. (Revised November 2020.) View Details
  • Gandhi, Vikram S., and Aldo Sesia. "Environmental Technology Fund Partners and E-Leather." Harvard Business School Spreadsheet Supplement 318-702, March 2018. View Details
  • Gandhi, Vikram S., Caitlin Reimers, and Amram Migdal. "Blue Haven Initiative: The PEGAfrica Investment." Harvard Business School Spreadsheet Supplement 318-705, March 2018. (Revised March 2018.) View Details
  • Cole, Shawn, Vikram Gandhi, Caitlin Reimers, and Yannick Saleman. "Microfinance in India 2010-2016: Crisis and Recovery." Harvard Business School Supplement 217-070, March 2017. View Details
  • Gandhi, Vikram S., Caitlin Reimers Brumme, and Amram Migdal. "Blue Haven Initiative: The PEGAfrica Investment." Harvard Business School Case 318-003, February 2018. (Revised August 2018.) View Details
  • Gandhi, Vikram S., and Aldo Sesia. "Environmental Technology Fund Partners and E-Leather." Harvard Business School Case 318-001, January 2018. View Details
  • Cole, Shawn, Vikram Gandhi, and Caitlin Reimers Brumme. "Background Note: Introduction to Investing for Impact." Harvard Business School Background Note 218-072, January 2018. (Revised December 2020.) View Details
  • Gandhi, Vikram, and Lynn Schenk. "State Street—The Development and Growth of SHE." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 318-076, November 2017. View Details
  • Gandhi, Vikram. "State Street—The Development and Growth of SHE." Harvard Business School Case 317-040, September 2016. (Revised August 2018.) View Details
  • Gandhi, Vikram S., and Tony L. He. "Pi Investments." Harvard Business School Case 317-039, September 2016. (Revised August 2018.) View Details
Additional Information
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Asha Impact
  • Teaching Investing - Risk, Return, and Impact
Areas of Interest
  • capital markets
  • entrepreneurial finance
  • environment
  • investment management
  • sustainable and impact investing
  • Additional Topics
  • business and poverty
  • social entrepreneurship
  • Industries
  • financial services
  • Geographies
  • India
In The News

In The News

    • 06 Nov 2020
    • ImpactAlpha

    Impact Briefing

    • 04 Nov 2020
    • Financial Times

    US election: What it means for climate change and ESG

    • 02 Nov 2020
    • Private Equity International

    Special Report on Impact Investing

    • 10 Oct 2020
    • Wall Street Journal

    Sustainability Investors Shift Their Focus to Social Issues

    • 01 Oct 2020
    • Invest for Good

    The Investment Banker Turned Teacher

→More News for Vikram Gandhi

Vikram Gandhi In the News

in the news

06 Nov 2020
ImpactAlpha
Impact Briefing

04 Nov 2020
Financial Times
US election: What it means for climate change and ESG

02 Nov 2020
Private Equity International
Special Report on Impact Investing

10 Oct 2020
Wall Street Journal
Sustainability Investors Shift Their Focus to Social Issues

01 Oct 2020
Invest for Good
The Investment Banker Turned Teacher

26 Jul 2020
Investment News
DOL’S ESG proposal would hurt retirement accounts

21 Jul 2020
InvestESG.eu
Risk, Reward, and Impact

16 Jul 2020
ESG Clarity
Q&A: Harvard impact investing expert on proposed ESG rule

01 Jul 2020
US News & World Report
How to Build an ESG Portfolio – And Why You Should

26 Jun 2020
Barron’s
Companies and Investors Heed the Call to Action

03 Dec 2019
Cold Call
Why CalSTRS Chooses to Engage with the Gun Industry

03 Oct 2019
Reuters
At Harvard B-School, lessons for impact investors

30 May 2019
US News & World Report
How to Ensure ESG Investing Isn’t Whitewash

22 Sep 2017
Cold Call
State Street’s SHE: Investing in Women Leaders

twitter feed

Follow on Twitter
Additional Information
LinkedIn
Twitter
Asha Impact
 More
Teaching Investing - Risk, Return, and Impact
 Less

Areas of Interest

capital markets
entrepreneurial finance
environment
investment management
sustainable and impact investing
 More

Additional Topics

business and poverty
social entrepreneurship

Industries

financial services

Geographies

India
 Less

In The News

    • 06 Nov 2020
    • ImpactAlpha

    Impact Briefing

    • 04 Nov 2020
    • Financial Times

    US election: What it means for climate change and ESG

    • 02 Nov 2020
    • Private Equity International

    Special Report on Impact Investing

    • 10 Oct 2020
    • Wall Street Journal

    Sustainability Investors Shift Their Focus to Social Issues

    • 01 Oct 2020
    • Invest for Good

    The Investment Banker Turned Teacher

→More News for Vikram Gandhi

Vikram Gandhi In the News

in the news

06 Nov 2020
ImpactAlpha
Impact Briefing

04 Nov 2020
Financial Times
US election: What it means for climate change and ESG

02 Nov 2020
Private Equity International
Special Report on Impact Investing

10 Oct 2020
Wall Street Journal
Sustainability Investors Shift Their Focus to Social Issues

01 Oct 2020
Invest for Good
The Investment Banker Turned Teacher

26 Jul 2020
Investment News
DOL’S ESG proposal would hurt retirement accounts

21 Jul 2020
InvestESG.eu
Risk, Reward, and Impact

16 Jul 2020
ESG Clarity
Q&A: Harvard impact investing expert on proposed ESG rule

01 Jul 2020
US News & World Report
How to Build an ESG Portfolio – And Why You Should

26 Jun 2020
Barron’s
Companies and Investors Heed the Call to Action

03 Dec 2019
Cold Call
Why CalSTRS Chooses to Engage with the Gun Industry

03 Oct 2019
Reuters
At Harvard B-School, lessons for impact investors

30 May 2019
US News & World Report
How to Ensure ESG Investing Isn’t Whitewash

22 Sep 2017
Cold Call
State Street’s SHE: Investing in Women Leaders

twitter feed

Tweets

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