1975/MSc/PH Founder, Deshpande Foundation, USA
Smt. Jaishree Deshpande, a distinguished leader in innovation and entrepreneurship, has made remarkable contributions to the fields of technology, education, and social impact. She earned her master’s degree in physics from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras in 1975 and later pursued a master’s degree in computer science from Boston University in 1989.
Her professional journey began at the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in Bengaluru, where she worked until 1980 before moving to Canada. After relocating to the United States, she worked for several Massachusetts-based high-tech companies and also taught computer science at the college level.
Smt. Jaishree Deshpande is the co-founder of the Deshpande Foundation, an organization that has played a pivotal role in fostering sustainable, scalable, and economically impactful innovations in the United States, Canada, and India. Alongside her husband, Shri Gururaj Deshpande, she has been instrumental in supporting entrepreneurship and social innovation through various initiatives. She also serves as the Treasurer of Sparta Group LLC and is an Emeriti Trustee on the Board of the Museum of Science in Boston. Additionally, she is actively involved with the HESTIA Fund, which supports high-quality after-school programs for low-income children in the Boston area.
The Deshpande Foundation has played a key role in the development and support of several key institutions, including the Deshpande Center for Social Entrepreneurship in Hubballi, Karnataka, the MIT Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation in Boston, the Pond-Deshpande Center at the University of New Brunswick in Canada, the Dunin-Deshpande Queen’s Innovation Center in Kingston, Canada, Gopalakrishnan-Deshpande Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at IIT Madras and the IIT-BHU Foundation.
Through her unwavering dedication to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, Smt. Jaishree Deshpande has made an enduring impact on global ecosystems of social change and technological advancement. In recognition of her outstanding contributions and lasting influence, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras and its alumni proudly confer upon
Smt. Jaishree Deshpande, the Distinguished Alumni Award for the year 2025.
