Growing up in Hong Kong and England, Prakash Melwani dreamed of attending HBS. Realizing that dream, he says, completely changed his life. “I owe the School so much,” says Melwani, a longtime donor to the HBS Fund who recently extended his generosity by establishing an associate professorship to support the School’s pipeline of faculty.

“Associate professors are the future of the School. I want to support the next generation as they come along,” offers Melwani, who emphasizes the important role that HBS professors have played in his life. Bob Glauber, for example, “brought finance to life for me,” he says. In addition to being an excellent teacher, Glauber introduced Melwani in 1985 to Steve Schwarzman (MBA 1972), cofounder of Blackstone, the firm Melwani joined in 2003 and where he is now senior managing director, global chief investment officer of the Private Equity Group, and executive chairman of the firm’s private equity business in Asia.

Melwani’s support for the School stems from the deep impact his two years in the MBA Program have had on his life as well as his belief in the School’s mission. “HBS was the perfect preparation for a career in private equity,” he says. Learning through the case method taught him how to analyze industries, recognize patterns, and make decisions with imperfect information, all skills he has used since he graduated, including at First Boston; at Vestar Capital Partners, a firm he cofounded in 1988; and now at Blackstone.

Melwani has remained close to the School since graduating with high distinction as a Baker Scholar. He has served on the Board of Dean’s Advisors and various class committees, kept in touch with classmates, and was the subject of an HBS case study about Blackstone’s investment in the footwear company Crocs. He also gives generously to the HBS Fund because he has “full trust in the School’s administration,” and understands the importance of flexible funding to HBS’s ability to fulfill its mission. The School’s response to COVID-19—creating hybrid classrooms, offering additional financial aid, and giving students options for how to continue their education—he adds, highlights just how critical that flexibility can be.

“I have seen how much the School has evolved over the years,” notes Melwani, who has two children who earned MBAs at HBS. “There is more emphasis on interpersonal skills; environmental, social, and governance issues; ethics; and globalization.” He is impressed by the discussions he’s witnessed as a class visitor. “There is a lot more nuance in today’s classroom,” he says, adding that he believes the softer skills are essential to building a successful career.

Education has been an important theme throughout Melwani’s life. It was a priority that his parents, especially his father who was orphaned at a young age, stressed to their three children. Because of them, Melwani was inspired to earn a degree in economics at Cambridge University, to attend HBS, and to prioritize education in his philanthropy. His gratitude to the School and to his parents came together when he made his most recent gift on the occasion of his 35th Reunion. The Arjan and Minoo Melwani Family Associate Professorship of Business Administration is a son’s tribute to his parents’ belief in the power of education to change lives. “This professorship brings everything full circle,” he concludes.

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