A pioneer of ethical wealth, Azim Premji is reshaping education and governance through unwavering commitment and institutional integrity
Azim Hashim Premji’s name carries significance well beyond India’s corporate corridors. Widely known as the architect behind Wipro’s evolution into a global IT powerhouse, he is equally revered as one of the world’s most influential philanthropists. His story affirms the belief that true leadership is measured not by wealth retained, but by lives uplifted and systems fortified. Through decades of focused entrepreneurship and purposeful giving, Premji has come to represent ethical capitalism and quiet, enduring service.
A Visionary’s Rise: From Family Business to Global IT Leader
Born in 1945 in Bombay (now Mumbai), Premji inherited his father’s modest vegetable oil enterprise at 21, following his father’s unexpected passing. At the time, he was pursuing electrical engineering at Stanford University, but returned home to lead Wipro, which then specialised in hydrogenated cooking fats.
His early years at the company were marked by a determined push towards diversification and modernisation. Wipro soon ventured into soaps, bakery fats, and hydraulic cylinders. In the late 1970s and 1980s, Premji began steering Wipro in an entirely new direction, identifying information technology as a domain of immense potential.
This strategic decision proved transformative. Although India’s economy remained closed and the IT sector was nascent, Premji’s foresight placed Wipro at the forefront of a revolution. By the 1990s, as liberalisation progressed and global demand for IT surged, Wipro secured major contracts with companies such as GE and IBM. The firm’s public listing in 1993 enabled further expansion into North America, Europe, and Asia.
Today, Wipro employs over 250,000 people and operates across sectors including banking, retail, and healthcare. Premji’s leadership, defined by ethics, innovation, and excellence, earned him the title “Czar of the Indian IT Industry.” His emphasis on transparency and continuous learning created a company culture that has inspired an entire generation of Indian entrepreneurs.
Commitment to Giving: Building Institutions for Social Good
Although Premji’s business achievements are remarkable, it is his philanthropic work that most profoundly shapes his legacy. In 2001, he established the Azim Premji Foundation, with a mission to strengthen India’s public education system. The Foundation now engages with over 350,000 government schools across seven states, enhancing teaching quality, learning outcomes, and community participation.
Its approach focuses on building institutional and human capacity over the long term. In 2010, Premji founded Azim Premji University in Bengaluru, offering academic programmes in education, development, public policy, fellowship for childrens literature and sustainability. A second campus opened in Bhopal, with another in Ranchi underway. Nearly 90 percent of the university’s postgraduate alumni choose careers in the social sector, many in field-based roles.
The Foundation’s operations are sustained by one of the largest philanthropic endowments globally. Premji has irrevocably donated over 21 billion dollars—including 66 to 67 percent of Wipro shares—to support these initiatives. His commitment has earned him top positions in the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List and multiple mentions on TIME’s list of the 100 most influential people in global philanthropy, including in 2025.
A Historic Scale of Philanthropy: The Giving Pledge and Beyond
Premji’s philanthropic work extends beyond education. Through the Azim Premji Philanthropic Initiatives, he supports programmes in nutrition, healthcare, governance, digital literacy for a equitable humane and sustainable society . These efforts aim not to provide temporary assistance but to build robust public systems that serve all, particularly the most marginalised.
In 2013, Premji became the first Indian to sign The Giving Pledge, a public vow to donate at least half of his wealth to causes that matter. His first donation under this pledge exceeded 2.2 billion dollars, and he has continued to expand this commitment ever since, setting a new benchmark in global philanthropy.
Ethics and Influence: Leading by Example
Premji’s values are reflected in Wipro’s governance model. He has championed ecological responsibility, gender equality, and stakeholder value long before these became corporate trends. Wipro has maintained its presence on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for 14 consecutive years and was among the first global firms to secure verification of its net-zero targets by the Science Based Targets initiative.
Premji believes that ethical failures pose the greatest internal threat to a company. He has advocated for building capacity in ethical behaviour across the business community. His approach links profitability with social progress and insists on corporate citizenship that contributes to the common good.
A Legacy of Purpose: Humility, Service, and Quiet Action
In 2025, estimates place Premji’s wealth between 11.8 and 35.9 billion dollars. Yet, he is widely known for his simplicity. He travels economy class, dines in company cafeterias, and stays in modest guest houses during official visits. His understated lifestyle adds credibility to his message and enhances his stature.
Though he stepped down as Wipro’s chairman in 2019, Premji remains its founder chairman and non-executive board member. He continues to influence Wipro’s ethical direction and strategic vision. As Chancellor of Azim Premji University, he helps guide the institution’s commitment to inclusive, values-driven education.
Recognition and Enduring Impact
Premji’s contributions have been recognised globally. He holds awards such as the Padma Bhushan (2005), Padma Vibhushan (2011), and Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur (2018). He has featured in Business Week’s list of Greatest Entrepreneurs and Forbes’ rankings of the world’s most generous philanthropists outside the United States.
His life affirms the idea that wealth carries a duty. Decades of thoughtful, principled action have reshaped India’s education sector, strengthened civic institutions, and inspired leaders across disciplines. His legacy is defined not by what he built for himself, but by what he built for others.
Premji’s story continues to inspire. It reminds us that leadership is not measured in assets accumulated, but in the lives transformed and the systems renewed for generations ahead.
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