Tech Entrepreneur Dr. Romesh Wadhwami Awarded the Padma Shri

Apart from being a successful tech entrepreneur, Dr. Wadhwani is led numerous social and philanthropic initiatives

FREMONT, CA: Indian-American entrepreneur Dr. Romesh Wadhwani was awarded India’s fourth-highest civilian award, the prestigious Padma Shri, by the Government of India. Considering the travel restrictions due to the covid-19 pandemic, Dr. Wadhwami could not be present in New Delhi to receive the award from the President of India. He was presented with this award by the Consulate General of India, San Francisco, on behalf of the Government of India. The award ceremony was attended by Shantanu Narayen, chairman and CEO of Adobe, a former recipient of Padma Shri in 2019, and several other VCs of the Bay Area.

Apart from being a successful tech entrepreneur, Dr. Wadhwani is led numerous social and philanthropic initiatives such as the National Entrepreneurship Network, Startup & Small Business Initiatives, and Global Innovation Networks. The Wadhwami Foundation has been actively involved in promoting policies that accelerate the economic development of emerging economies via large-scale job creations. The foundation is active in India as well as several other countries across the globe.

Early Days

Dr. Romesh Wadhwani was burned in present-day Pakistan in 1947 when his family moved to India following the country’s independence. After getting a bachelor’s degree from IIT Bombay, Dr. Wadhwani earned a master’s and Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is currently the CEO and Chairman of Symphony Technology Group (STG), a private equity firm that provides software and internet services.

Philanthropic Ventures

Dr. Wadhwani is on the board of trustees of the JFK Center for Performing Arts and the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. The Wadhwani Foundation enables growth-centric entrepreneurship across 500 universities and colleges, creating jobs and offering many students the opportunity to engage in research initiatives in bioscience and biotechnology.