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USC Marshall Partners With XLRI Xavier School of Management in India

USC Marshall Partners With XLRI Xavier School of Management in India

The strategic partnerships between Marshall and XLRI will cultivate leaders capable of navigating global challenges and advancing economic growth in both countries.

by: Bea Huff Hunter
04.14.25
Bandra–Worli Sea Link

Bandra–Worli Sea Link in Mumbai, India.

[iStock Photo]

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  • Ramandeep S. Randhawa

    Ramandeep S. Randhawa
    • Senior Vice Dean for Academic Programs
    • Charles L. and Ramona I. Hilliard Professor of Business Administration
    • Professor of Data Sciences and Operations

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Deepening USC’s long history of involvement with India, USC Marshall has signed an important MOU with XLRI Xavier School of Management. The partnership with India’s oldest private business school will create reciprocal academic programs for executives, faculty, and students.

India is rapidly emerging as a global center of innovation and technology. As the world's fastest-growing large economy, it shares over $150 billion in annual bilateral trade with the U.S. Strengthening ties through meaningful engagement is vital to both nations’ advancement and economic resilience.

“Geopolitical shifts are redefining global business, and academia plays a crucial role in aligning education with these new realities,” said Ajay Porwal, MBA ’24, a real estate and construction industry leader and an alumnus of both schools who facilitated the partnership.

“The Indian diaspora — less than 0.4% of India’s population — has driven significant advancements in U.S. technology and research, yet it represents only a small fraction of India’s extensive talent pool,” explained Porwal, who is the co-founder and vice president of strategy and program management at Alphatech Group in Los Angeles.

“As India emerges as a key innovation hub, collaboration between U.S. and Indian institutions is vital — not only for talent development but also for co-creating solutions in technology, sustainability, and supply chain resilience,” Porwal added. “By fostering strategic partnerships, Marshall and XLRI can cultivate leaders who understand these complexities and drive economic progress in both nations.”

These challenges and opportunities are familiar to Porwal. Raised in India’s financial capital, Mumbai, he qualified as an engineer in Jamshedpur, the nation’s “steel city,” where XLRI was founded in 1949. After a three-decade career working in dynamic business environments with clients from McDonald’s to the American Embassy, Porwal pursued an executive diploma at XLRI. Recognizing the transformative power of education and seeking international exposure, he chose Marshall for his MBA.

“A global perspective can only be achieved in a global environment, and USC Marshall provides that,” explained Porwal. “I was in an international cohort during my MBA and learned so much cross-culturally from my classmates.”

After seeing the impact of global exposure on his own career, Porwal wanted to pay it forward by connecting XLRI and Marshall.

By fostering strategic partnerships, Marshall and XLRI can cultivate leaders who understand these complexities and drive economic progress in both nations.

— Ajay Porwal

MBA ’24 / Co-founder, vice president of strategy and program management,  Alphatech Group

Ajay Porwal

[USC Photo / David Sprague]

“Education should empower more people — it can change the way we think and bring that change into the real world,” said Porwal.

While still a student, Porwal started sharing his vision with both schools’ leadership, applying his business expertise to the task.

“I believe in the power of a seed to germinate and grow into a tree, but we need to nurture that seed,” he said. “To realize a vision, you must be meticulous, consider all contingencies, and remain resilient to a changing environment. In the end, you’ll achieve a holistic goal.”

This initiative will be overseen by Ramandeep Randhawa, USC Marshall’s senior vice dean for academic programs and Charles L. and Ramona I. Hilliard Professor of Business Administration, and Santosh Sangem, XLRI's convenor of international relations and collaborations.

“Our partnership with XLRI opens up exciting opportunities for collaboration, especially as India flourishes and ties with the U.S. deepen,” said Randhawa. “Working together, we’ll drive strategic initiatives and knowledge sharing, including dual-degree programs, to cultivate the next generation of responsible global business leaders.”

For Porwal, facilitating the connection between two historic institutions is also about giving back.

“It’s crucial to pay it forward,” he said. “Generations from now, people may forget our names, but we have the opportunity to create change, make a difference, and look to the future and plan for it today.”

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