Top 10 Famous Harvard Alumni

Share this post

Harvard University was established in 1636 and became one of the top institutions with the best quality of modern education. In over three centuries of its existence, Harvard has produced many notable graduates who went on to become prominent personalities in their respective fields. In this article, we will talk about some of the most famous alumni of Harvard University.

Harvard graduates have made great contributions in the fields of business, science, technology, governance, film, etc. and impacted lives world over. They have found disruptive businesses, discovered new technologies and cures and made award-winning movies. Some of the most famous alumni of Harvard University are-

1. Barack Obama

The 44th President of the United States of America was enrolled in Harvard Law School. One of the most famous alumni of Harvard, he graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1991. After getting selected to Harvard Law Review at the end of his first year, he went on to become the first Black President of this prestigious publication. In 2008, he became the first African American president of the USA.

2. Ratan Tata

One of the most iconic businessmen of India, Ratan Tata needs no introduction. After graduating from Cornell University in 1962 with a bachelor’s in Architecture and Engineering, he went on to do the Advanced Management Program from Harvard Business School in 1975. In 1995, Tata was awarded HBS’s highest honour–the Alumni Achievement Award. For this famous alumni, Harvard University also features Tata Hall–a seven-story building on campus.

3. Anand Mahindra

Mahindra is a well-known Indian billionaire industrialist and the chairman of Mahindra Group. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University where he studied filmmaking and architecture. He aspired to be a filmmaker but instead went for an MBA from Harvard Business School and graduated in 1981. The industrialist is one of the most famous Indian alumni of Harvard. In 2008, he received the Alumni Achievement Award.

4. George W. Bush

George Bush was the 43rd President of the United States of America and the first president to hold an MBA degree. One of the most famous alumni of Harvard, the former President graduated from Harvard Business School in 1975. Classmates and Professors at Harvard University describe Bush as a person with unusual confidence, a relaxed attitude and more of a listener than a participant.

5. Kapil Sibal

In 1977, Kapil Sibal graduated with an LLM degree from Harvard Law School. A highly-regarded lawyer and politician, Kapil Sibal is an excellent orator, efficient administrator, and a celebrated professional who has successfully represented high-profile cases in the Supreme Court of India. He has also held prominent portfolios in the government. He is counted among the most notable alumni of Harvard University.

6. Neil DeGrasse Tyson

Neil DeGrasse has multiple titles associated with him. He is a renowned planetary scientist, astrophysicist, science communicator, researcher, TV host and author. Tyson is one of the most famous alumni of Harvard University. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Physics in 1980. He became a pop-culture icon who popularised science with his books and appearances on television and radios.

7. Sheryl Sandberg

She is the Chief Operating Officer of Facebook and a billionaire. In 1991, she graduated summa cum laude from Harvard University with a degree in Economics. She returned to Harvard Business School and earned the highest distinction in MBA in 1995. Before joining Facebook, she has worked with Mckinsey & Co. and as a Vice President at Google. She is also the founder of Lean In Foundation.

8. Rahul Bajaj

With more than 30 businesses under its umbrella, the Bajaj Group is one of the largest business groups in India. Rahul Bajaj was the Chair of the Bajaj Group for forty years and retained the honorary title till before his death, acting as chairman emeritus. He is one of the most famous Indian alumni of Harvard University and holds an MBA degree from Harvard Business School.

9. T.S. Eliot

A well-known literary figure of the 20th century, T.S. Eliot’s modernist poetry is included in the academic curriculum. In 1909, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard University in an elective subject similar to comparative literature. In the following year, he went on to study Master of Arts in English Literature from Harvard University.

10. Steve Ballmer

Former CEO of Microsoft, Steve Ballmer graduated from Harvard University with a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Mathematics and Economics in 1977. He is an American businessman and investor and has served as the CEO of Microsoft from 2000 to 2014. At present, this famous Harvard alumni is the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association.

Preparing your applications for Ivy league colleges? We at Jamboree do just that–help you write a winning application. Book a free fifteen-minute session with our counsellor and get started with your college application.

Share this post