BOSTON (Diya TV) — Harvard Business School alumnus Amit Dixit has created a new fellowship to help Indian women pursue MBA degrees at the prestigious business school.
Dixit announced the Shobha Dixit Fellowship Fund last month. The new financial aid program aims to support Indian women who want to study at Harvard Business School but may struggle to afford the cost.
Dixit said his own experience shaped the idea. He grew up in India and dreamed of studying in the United States. After graduating at the top of his class from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, he faced a major financial challenge.
He could not afford the cost of traveling to the United States or paying for graduate school. However, a fellowship from Stanford University donor John A. Blume changed his path.
“I couldn’t even afford a flight to America,” Dixit said. “So, it changed my life — somebody’s generosity.”
That support helped Dixit attend Stanford University. It also helped him build a career that eventually led to his current role as head of Asia private equity at Blackstone, a global alternative investment management company.
Now, Dixit wants to extend similar support to other students. He said the fellowship reflects the generosity that helped him reach his educational and professional goals.
“This fellowship opened up, and that opened the doors for me,” Dixit said.
The new HBS fellowship comes as the business school sees a strong recovery in fundraising. Harvard Business School received $121 million in new gifts and pledges in fiscal year 2025, down from $145 million the previous year. However, the school was on track to raise nearly $200 million in fiscal year 2026, according to The Harvard Crimson.
Financial aid remains an important part of the MBA program. HBS spent about $38 million on MBA fellowships in fiscal year 2025. The school provided financial assistance to 43% of MBA students. Each recipient received an average of more than $47,300.
Dixit has not disclosed the size of the Shobha Dixit Fellowship Fund. Under HBS guidelines, named fellowship funds require at least $250,000 for current-use funding and $500,000 for endowed funding.
The fellowship focuses specifically on Indian women. Dixit said his two daughters and his mother, Shobha Dixit, inspired that decision.
He believes women still need greater representation in business leadership. He also wants his daughters to have the freedom to become leaders in any field they choose.
Dixit hopes the fellowship will reach talented women across India. In particular, he wants to reach candidates who may not consider Harvard Business School because of financial concerns.
Some potential applicants may live in smaller Indian towns or run their own businesses, he said. They may not know that financial support could help them pursue an MBA at HBS.
Dixit also hopes the program will encourage more people to support students from less privileged backgrounds. He said other HBS alumni and business leaders could create similar programs.
The fellowship also marks Dixit’s 25th HBS reunion. His long relationship with the school made Harvard a natural choice for his philanthropic effort.
HBS will have sole discretion over fellowship recipients. The school will consider financial need under its admission and financial aid policies. Dixit, however, has shared his preferences for the type of students he hopes the fund will support.
The fellowship could cover all or most of a recipient’s tuition, depending on each student’s financial situation. Dixit also hopes to meet recipients and offer mentorship or career guidance.
Most importantly, he views the initiative as the start of a long-term commitment. If the fellowship succeeds, Dixit and his family could expand their involvement.
Dixit said the leaders of tomorrow should come from many different backgrounds. His new HBS fellowship aims to help make that opportunity more accessible to Indian women seeking business education and leadership careers.
