Sudha Murty is a globally renowned author, educator, and philanthropist, best known as the Founder-Chairperson of the Infosys Foundation. Her life is an inspiring testament to breaking gender barriers in engineering and a deep commitment to social change through technology, education, and literature. She has been honored with the Padma Bhushan (2023) and the Padma Shri (2006), two of India’s highest civilian awards.
Murty’s professional career is marked by pioneering achievement: she became the first female engineer hired at TATA Engineering and Locomotive Company (TELCO), India's largest auto manufacturer. She secured this position by writing a candid postcard to the Chairman, successfully challenging the company's "men only" gender bias. This victory set the stage for her subsequent career, which included a role as Senior Systems Analyst at Walchand Group of Industries. She brings this profound experience of overcoming obstacles to her philanthropic work.
Her philanthropic impact is massive and targeted: through the Infosys Foundation, she has funded several orphanages, participated in rural development efforts, and successfully supported the movement to provide all Karnataka government schools with computer and library facilities. Her dedication to culture is further evidenced by her establishing the prestigious Murty Classical Library of India at Harvard University. She also serves as a member of the public health care initiatives of the Gates Foundation.
Murty is a distinguished author whose books, translated into all major Indian languages, include the novel Dollar Bahu and the story Runa, both of which were adapted into successful televised and cinematic dramatic series. In 2024, she was nominated as a Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha. Her presentations blend her profound wisdom, literary sensibility, and firsthand experience in the corporate and social sectors to inspire transformation and growth.
