Prof. Radhika Shrivastava - Championing Gender Equity,Transforming Workplaces

Radhika Shrivastava is an award-winning leader in higher-education, driving innovation in business learning, research, and leadership development. As the President/CEO of Fortune Institute of International Business (FIIB), one of India's top 40 business schools, she has led transformative initiatives that have redefined management education. As an educator-administrator she has been an advocate for gender equity and has dedicated her career to building inclusive, high-performing environments where women and men thrive as equals. With an innate ability to create, nurture, and transform, she has redefined workplace culture by embedding flexibility, empathy, and purposeful leadership into the DNA of organizations she leads.

Her commitment to gender equity is deeply personal. Growing up in a household where ambition was nurtured, Radhika and her three sisters were always encouraged to pursue their dreams. At the same time, she observed how her mother had to balance personal aspirations with societal expectations, making her keenly aware of the tightrope many women walk between ambition and obligation. Armed with an engineering degree and an MBA from premier institutions (Tufts University, IIM Bangalore), she built a thriving career in top-tier consulting and global development organizations (International Finance Corporation, DC; Deloitte Consulting, PA). Yet, an unsettling encounter with a passport officer—who insisted she would eventually have to relinquish her maiden name—served as an early reminder of the invisible battles women must fight for autonomy.

Her defining moment, however, came when she took the helm of FIIB. Navigating uncharted territory, she transformed FIIB into a proudly women-led institution that stands as a beacon for inclusive leadership. Under her stewardship, FIIB has pioneered policies that balance equity with meritocracy, ensuring that support systems empower all, rather than create divisions. From flexible work arrangements to mentorship programs, from institutionalized DEI policies to fostering male allyship, her leadership has not only elevated female representation at FIIB but has also set a benchmark for the industry. Her unwavering commitment to fostering a women-led organization is evident, with women comprising 40% of the board, 82% of the faculty, and 70% of senior staff—a representation that far surpasses the typical standards of companies with strong Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs.

With a doctoral candidacy at Henley Business School, UK, Radhika brings a global perspective to education. Her over two decades of experience across global firms and academia have been instrumental in achieving prestigious accreditations for FIIB, including AACSB membership, NBA accreditation, and EDAMBA membership—an Indian B-school first. Beyond gender parity, Radhika has fostered an impact-driven culture at FIIB, rooted in meaningful relationships and global collaborations. She has integrated sustainability into the institute's core philosophy, ensuring it permeates academic programs, operations, and community engagement. By forging partnerships with world-class organizations such as PRME, RRBM, UN Girl Up, and Haub Business School, she has expanded FIIB’s circle, creating diverse avenues for impact. These collaborations not only strengthen FIIB’s ecosystem but also immerse students in real-world challenges, instilling in them a lifelong service-learning mindset.

Her efforts have earned national and international recognition, including FIIB winning the Best Culture, Diversity & Inclusion Initiative 2025 for its Women in Leadership – #BalancingForBetter initiative. This recognition positions FIIB among leading global institutions driving meaningful change in DEI at the prestigious AMBA & BGA Excellence Awards in the UK. Additionally, FIIB has achieved the Great Place to Work certification for three consecutive years—an uncommon distinction for educational institutions. She has personally been recognized as Indira Parikh 50 Women in Education (2024), and named among India’s 20 Pragmatic Women Leaders (2023).

Radhika envisions a world where gender equity is not a movement, but a given—where women no longer have to choose between ambition and family, and where leadership reflects the full spectrum of talent. Until that day comes, she continues to challenge norms, mentor the next generation, and build workplaces where every individual, regardless of gender, can realize their full potential.