Indian Business Leader
After 3 decades of professional experience and entrepreneurship in 5 continents, the dynamic Ish Anand has emerged as a coveted Business Leader for his unique expertise across industry verticals – ESG & Sustainability, Private Equity, Real Estate & Infrastructure, Hospitality, Education, IT / ITES, FinTech & the Startup Ecosystem. Based in New Delhi, India, Ish continues to build success stories in several domains and grow his ventures – India Sustainability Fund and Fifty Shades Greener; empower future generations; and motivate communities across the globe.
Talking about his passion for transforming business in India, he says, “I have an immense appetite for business in the areas of ESG and Sustainability, Financial Inclusion, Innovation, Social Impact, and Building a Sustainable Future for Indian Enterprises. I am focused on bringing Global Financial and Intellectual Capital into India, helping Indian Enterprise take its rightful place on the Global Stage. The Youth is a key player in this entire story and so I spend a lot of time with young students and entrepreneurs with a global outlook.”
Born into an Armed Forces Family, Ish grew up with discipline, a sense of independence, and a ‘Never Give In’ attitude. He attended some of the finest boarding schools in the country; followed by the prestigious National University Of Ireland; and additional stints at Wharton Business School and Georgia Tech, USA. While his parents supported his first year of higher education, Ish paid his way through college by studying during the day and working through the evenings.
“A complete people’s person, the Hospitality industry was a natural choice for me. I believe that a hospitality professional has the most well-rounded experience and can run any business successfully – working with people is the key. From my first job in Ethiopia, where I landed in the midst of a civil war as part of the management team of a prestigious international hotel managing an establishment in the toughest of environments to my current commitments, my profession took me around the world and the journey proved extremely adventurous and defining. It also helped me become a 1st generation entrepreneur when the opportunity came.”
When everyone his age was looking at opportunities to go and settle in the West, Ish decided to return to his roots in India – “30 years later, I have no regrets as I have impacted many lives and organizations bringing me immense satisfaction.” A hallmark of what he was known and recognized for was his ability to adapt to different industries & business verticals easily. He delivered several landmark projects in the country covering Technology Parks; Real Estate; Hotels; Private Equity and Education. His first entrepreneurial initiative in the IT & BPO space which during its journey saw 2 M&A deals is now listed on the NSE in India.
It was around the year 2002 that Ish got into entrepreneurship for the first time and from then has nurtured and built several successful organizations. His latest enterprises are the – India Sustainability Fund and Fifty Shades Greener (Middle East & India) which are committed to nurturing & funding impact focused organizations and bringing world class ESG & Sustainability Education to the masses. Fifty Shades Greener is an award-winning organization that has had profound impact across the world.
Ish is also committed towards helping India achieve excellence in the global sporting arena. His next venture to help Indian Sportswomen / Sportsmen have a strong mental attitude and makeup, which will give them a winning edge, is currently taking shape.
“What makes it all the more satisfying is the passion shared by my family.” Ish and his wife Lakshmi are proud parents to their 22-year-old son Karthik, who is training to be a Tennis Professional in Spain while simultaneously pursuing his education in Sports Management – he nurtures the dream to represent India in his sport. Ish values his close-knit circle of friends, who go back 45 years. “Nothing is more important than your family and a select set of friends – they will be with you through thick and thin – value them,” he reiterates.
Understanding the power of people and relations, Ish has dedicated a significant part of his life to helping others transform. He is a Certified Business Coach and a Motivational Speaker who is regularly invited to Industry Events and Educational Institutions around the world. He also appears on television as an Expert Commentator and is featured in the book ‘Leading with Excellence – 5 Incredibly Useful Leadership Insights from 100 Top Achievers’. He strongly believes in giving back to the society and sits on the Advisory Board of several prestigious organizations across India and the Region. In addition, he works closely on several Innovation and Entrepreneurship initiatives for young students – constantly pushing for the youth to be job creators and not just employees.
Winner of the ‘Outstanding Leadership Award’ at the Money 2.0 Conference in Dubai, December 2022, Ish relays a message for the youth: “Take pride in being Indian, and take the Indian Model to the world. As one of the largest economies in the world, we must demand our rightful place in the Global Order.”
