The Indian School of Development Management (ISDM) has evolved from the need to establish a world-class development management school that becomes a fountainhead of knowledge. An institution that engages with development stakeholders to change the way SPOs are led and catalyses public action for establishing a far more just, equitable, humane and sustainable society.
The founders of ISDM are some of the best minds from the corporate, development, and academic worlds who have come together to offer:
ISDM is a not-for-profit organisation, funded entirely by private corporations, foundations and renowned philanthropists from around the world who believe in its vision.
Research Centre on Development
Management in India
Sectoral Leaders and Management
Professionals as Faculty members
Alumni working successfully in
Leading Social Sector Organisations
Leading Sector Organisations
as Placement Partners
After completing my program, I started an organization called HaritGriha in Meerut which sensitizes Resident Welfare Associations and government bodies on composting waste. My engagement at ISDM within the rubric of Organisation Building and my elective on Social Enterprises along with the sustained mentorship I continue to receive from the founders and faculty have helped me to understand myself and plan the onward journey for Harit Griha
Swati Singh,
Class of 2017-18
Founder- HaritGriha,
Meerut, India
ISDM is an ever-evolving journey. We have a strong alumni base and a welcoming faculty to reach out to. The course gave me a global perspective and group work helped me to enhance my leadership skills. The unique course structure has equipped me with the knowledge of Design Thinking & Systems Thinking which help me to operate more effectively and make more conscious life choices.
Shreya Verma
Class of 2018-19
State Coordinator -
Ministry of Social
Justice & Empowerment
New Delhi, India
ISDM’s unique and hands-on pedagogy helped me apply my learnings in real life scenarios. I was able to take away transferable skills relevant to my career goals. ISDM gave me exposure to prominent sector leaders and widened my horizons in terms of the different ways one can contribute.This enabled me to marry my background in media and communications to development management and begin a career in social impact communication. The network of friends and colleagues working across the country on diverse issues that I was able to be exposed to during my year at ISDM is something I will always cherish and reach out to for collaborative efforts.
Kshipra Ajrekar
Class of 2018-19
Communications Analyst,
Dasra, Mumbai, India
My year at ISDM was a journey within that I believe, aligned my capabilities and skill sets with my vision for a better world. It made me see the world through a systemic lens which has constantly played a crucial role in enhancing my perspectives. ISDM was the one place where I actually saw the basic human values being the centre of focus for a better world.
Monica Chauhan
Class of 2018-19
Associate Manager-
Municipal Finance
Janaagraha Centre for
Citizenship and Democracy,
Bengaluru, India
ISDM made me look at the broader picture of the development sector and gave me the ability to think and function across multidisciplinary strings of the sector. The best part of ISDM is the diversity, its culture, and its vision towards a systemic societal change that has influenced me personally and professionally.
Amaresh
Class of 2019-20
Research Associate,
Centre for Policy Research,
New Delhi, India
The course at ISDM, continuously challenged my biases and I was able to explore issues while holding multiple perspectives in approaching complex problems of the development sector.
Kunal Singh Pawar
Class of 2019-20
Strategic Partnerships & Placements Officer
(Project SAMEIP),
American India Foundation,
New Delhi, India
CHAIRMAN ACADEMIC COUNCIL-ISDM
He was an advisor to UNICEF India and was a member of India's National Advisory Council. His research has focused on poverty and human development, social sector analysis, and the impact of development policies on children and women.
An alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad, he has an MA in Economics from Bangalore University, and a Masters in Public Administration and a PhD in Political Economy and Government from Harvard.
CHAIRMAN TECHNICAL COUNCIL - ISDM
Sharad was an early influencer who envisioned the importance of digital technologies in the IT Infrastructure services space.
An alumnus of JBMIS Mumbai, in his current role as Chief of Staff at Microland, Sharad provides oversight and guidance to meet the company’s mission and long-term goals. Sharad has been an Advisor to Keep Moving movement, a Life-skills building Social Purpose Organisation and to Richmond Fellowship Society, Bangalore, an NGO focussed on mental health, helping them in strengthening leadership, leveraging technology and building financial sustenance.
DIRECTOR - ISDM
Over the years, Pramath has been a mentor to countless young professionals and entrepreneurs.Pramath’s work with educational institutions combines both strategy and execution. He draws on his rich experience to deliver high-quality and high-impact programs and institutions.
An IIT Kanpur alumnus, Pramath spent 13 years with McKinsey as a partner and he heads the India operations of Albright Stonebridge Group, a US-based commercial diplomacy firm. He is the founder of 9.9 Media, and prior to that, he was the MD and CEO of the ABP Media Group.
DIRECTOR - ISDM
Gaurav is passionate about making a strong and tangible impact by working at the grassroot level, emphasising on skill building and education through initiatives in institutional set-up and strengthening, capacity building and social inclusion.
An alumnus of BITS Pilani & IIM Calcutta, he has over 13 years of experience working both in private sector as well as in the development space (microfinance, health, impact investment, education) largely as a management consultant (P&G, American Express, Azim Premji Foundation, Lok Capital etc.).
CHAIRMAN ADVISORY BOARD - ISDM
After spending years at ChrysCapital, Dhawan took to something that he had always been passionate about, philanthropy and teaching. He consequently envisioned the Central Square Foundation and co-founded Ashoka University to help bring change in society.
An MBA from Harvard University and a double bachelors (BS/BA) holder with Magna Cum Laude honors from Yale University, he is on the India Advisory Board of Harvard and a member of Yale's Development Council. Ashish stitches together his in-depth knowledge, experience and learning to guide ISDM’s vision and strategy.
Whole Time Director - ISDM
Sharad has worked extensively in the automotive industry for global OEMs worldwide and subsequently shifted focus towards the educational domain. Other than building a strong business, he has been passionate about driving in equity and excellence in education.
Sharad, an IIT-IIM alumnus, is on the Board and actively supports IIMPACT which has established 2000 centres, working with over 55,000 out-of-school-girls to educate and help them evolve into independent personalities.
Founder and Director - ISDM
Ravi is a visionary with endless energy, a thought leader and the key driving force behind ISDM. He focuses on bringing together all social sector ecosystem players to maximise impact.
An IIT-IIM Ahmedabad alumnus, Ravi switched to the social sector in 2011, joining Azim Premji Foundation where he was the Head of Education Leadership & Management. Prior to that, he was a career banker for 24 years with several global stints in Multinational Banks.
Ravi Sreedharan, Whole Time Director at ISDM speaks about the diverse backgrounds of the ISDM students
Many ISDM graduates have started their own Social Purpose Organizations (SPOs) in areas like Solar Power, Education, and Waste Management. Others have joined leading national and international organizations where they are working in different functions including Program Management, Fundraising, Communications, Research, Corporate Social Responsibility engagement, Strategy, Partnerships, and Human Resources.
