About · Founders & Leadership

Led by people who lived the problem they are solving.

Orchid's founders came from humble beginnings and built the university they wish had existed — guided by academic leadership of national standing and advisors from academia, industry, diplomacy, defence and public service.

FoundersUniversity LeadershipBoard of Advisors
The Orchid University community
The Founders & Officers

Five voices, one conviction.

AM
Arjun Mishra
Founder & CEO
“Orchid University was founded to ensure that no deserving student is left behind.”

At Orchid University, this journey is deeply personal — it is about transforming lives through education. Having witnessed firsthand how talent is often limited by lack of access and opportunity, I believe education must lead to dignity, confidence, and economic independence.

Coming from humble beginnings, we have experienced the barriers that millions of young Indians continue to face — barriers of access, affordability, and opportunity. We understand what it means to have aspirations but limited pathways, to have potential but not the ecosystem to nurture it.

We are building a new-age institution that combines academic learning with practical skills, industry exposure, and clear career outcomes — preparing individuals not just for degrees, but for meaningful livelihoods and impact. Orchid was not built to add another name to the map of Indian universities. It was built to solve a real national challenge.

VS
Vikas Shukla
Co-Founder & Managing Director
“Quality education must be accessible, relevant, and connected to real careers.”

Orchid University is built on a national vision — to align education with the aspirations of modern India. Our focus is to transform the country’s youth into skilled, confident, and employable talent through strong industry integration and outcome-driven learning.

By making quality education accessible and relevant, we aim to contribute to India’s Gross Enrolment Ratio and the vision of a Viksit Bharat — creating not just graduates, but capable individuals ready for the real world.

My vision for Orchid University is built on a simple principle: that quality education must belong to every young Indian who is willing to work for it — not only to those who can already afford it.

AF
Azeem Faisal
Chairperson
“This is not just the beginning of a university — it is the beginning of a movement to redefine education.”

At Orchid University, we believe education must evolve beyond degrees and classrooms. It must become a force that creates opportunity, builds dignity, and drives meaningful change in society.

As a nation, we stand at a defining moment — where the aspirations of our youth are rising, and the systems that support them must evolve faster. It is our responsibility to build institutions that do not just educate, but empower.

Orchid University is our commitment to this vision — where skills integrate with academics and industry connects with education, creating a future-ready ecosystem where learning translates into livelihood, confidence, and growth. To every student considering Orchid: you are welcome here. To the families trusting us with their children’s future: we deeply value your trust.

SS
Prof. Dr. Sandeep Sharma
Vice-Chancellor
“A university is, in the end, only as serious as the people inside it are willing to be.”

India today is a country in motion — the world’s largest youth population, the world’s fastest-growing major economy, a demographic dividend the rest of the world is studying closely. And yet, beneath these numbers, an older, quieter story persists: traditional university models were designed to teach and to test. The world has since asked more of higher education than these models alone can give.

Our vision is to build a value-driven, skill-integrated, and globally connected university that prepares individuals not only for careers but for meaningful contributions to society and nation-building. We are committed to bridging the gap between academia and industry, ensuring learning is aligned with real-world relevance, innovation, and employability.

The Orchidian who graduates from this campus will be skilled. They will also be steady, generous, and aware of what their education owes the people around them. I welcome you to Orchid University — and I hope you will treat this as the first conversation in a long relationship.

SR
Dr. Shaik Abdul Rahman
Pro Vice-Chancellor
“When education is guided by values and powered by skills, it transforms lives.”

Orchid University’s technology-driven and skill-integrated approach is a strong step towards redefining higher education. By focusing on practical learning, digital platforms, and industry relevance, it creates pathways that truly connect education with employability.

This model empowers learners to build sustainable, future-ready careers in an evolving global landscape — a scalable education model that integrates academics, skilling, and global workforce pathways, creating meaningful impact at scale.

Learning gives creativity, creativity leads to thinking, thinking provides knowledge, and knowledge makes you great.
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul KalamQuoted in the Chairperson’s message, Prospectus 2026
Board of Advisors

Eleven advisors. A nation’s worth of experience.

The Board of Advisors brings together serving diplomats, decorated military leaders, IAS officers, scientists, agriculturalists, investors and fintech leaders — each lending their field to the Orchid mission.

DP
Lt. Gen. Devendra Pratap Pandey
Leadership & Security

Former commander of the Chinar Corps in Kashmir and Commandant of the Army War College; decorated leader in national security and high-altitude operations.

HL
Dr. Heera Lal Patel, IAS
Rural Development

Pioneering IAS officer behind the "Model Gaon" and "Banda Model" initiatives; specialist in water conservation and participatory governance.

LC
Ms. Lene Chakravarty Volkersen
Global Affairs

Senior diplomat with 30 years across the Danish Foreign Ministry and the EU; has served in India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Kyrgyzstan. LL.M., University of Copenhagen.

GM
Dr. Gopal Mukherjee
Science & Research

Nuclear physicist and data scientist at VECC (DAE) and Associate Professor at HBNI; pioneer of India’s INGA and TAGS research facilities; 250+ publications.

PS
Prof. Prabha Shankar Shukla
Research & Agriculture

Nearly three decades in academia and governance; seed-science specialist who developed high-yielding soybean varieties impacting farm productivity.

RD
Mr. Rajendra Deshpande
Social Leadership

National General Secretary, Akhil Bharat Rachanatmak Samaj; four decades across healthcare, governance, MSME development and enterprise leadership.

RK
Mr. Rajat Kumar
Investment & Strategy

Investor and corporate leader with 25+ years across consulting and venture capital; Managing Partner at Nandan Capital.

AC
Mr. Abdullatheif C.P.
Education & Employability

Over four decades across banking, education and consulting; as CEO of CEEG, has advanced career guidance and employability initiatives.

AK
Dr. Anuj Kumar
Research & Management

Head of Research and Associate Professor at Rushford Business School, Switzerland; heads its DBA programme; research fellow with INTI International University, Malaysia.

YH
Capt. Yashika Hatwal Tyagi
Leadership & Empowerment

Former Indian Army officer, leadership coach and speaker on resilience and women’s empowerment.

DS
Mr. Darpan Sharma
Fintech & Finance

Co-Founder & CEO of Arthum; experience across ICICI, HDFC, Kotak Mahindra and Niyo in credit, risk and digital lending.

Life on Campus

The community they are building it for.

Build With Us

Join the people building Orchid.

We are always looking for faculty, mentors and partners who believe education should transform, not just inform.