Mr. Shankar Venkateswaran ( 17th Batch )

Mr. Shankar Venkateswaran has built a distinguished 35-year career at the intersection of business and society, marked by three significant phases. He began his professional journey as a management consultant, advising companies on complex business challenges. He later transitioned to the nonprofit sector, where he gained deep insights into the realities faced by socially and economically marginalised communities in India and contributed meaningfully to large-scale solutions.

Drawing upon these experiences, Mr. Venkateswaran subsequently worked closely with businesses to integrate social and environmental responsibility into core business practices. His last full-time role was as Head of Sustainability for the Tata Group. Among his many contributions, he is particularly proud to have helped establish one of India’s earliest nonprofit organisations focused on corporate responsibility. He has also played a key role in developing innovative, scalable initiatives in migrant education and urban livelihoods, and has contributed to the formulation of government guidelines and reporting frameworks on responsible business conduct.

Currently, Mr. Venkateswaran is a co-founder of a pioneering climate finance company. He serves as Chair of Oxfam India and sits on the boards of several NGOs and social enterprises. He continues to write and speak widely on the role of business in society.