Early Life
Anand Deshpande was born in Akola, Maharashtra, and raised in the BHEL township in Bhopal. His father was an engineer, which instilled in him an early interest in science and technology. He excelled academically, attending Campion School and later pursuing a degree in Computer Science and Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur. He later earned a Master's and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Indiana University, Bloomington.
Rise to Success
Deshpande's career began at Hewlett-Packard Laboratories in Palo Alto, California, where he worked as a Member of the Technical Staff. In 1990, he founded Persistent Systems with an initial investment of $21,000, using savings and funds from his father and friends. Under his leadership, Persistent Systems grew into a global technology services company with over 26,000 employees across 18 countries. The company provides digital engineering and enterprise modernization services to various industries, including software, banking, financial services, and healthcare. Persistent Systems was listed on the National Stock Exchange of India and Bombay Stock Exchange in March 2010.
Key Business Strategies
Key to Deshpande's success has been a focus on innovation, client success, and strategic partnerships. Persistent Systems has expanded its offerings through acquisitions and collaborations, including partnerships with Siemens and Salesforce. Deshpande emphasized a commitment to building solutions and establishing partnerships to help clients navigate the digital transformation. The company has also focused on building a strong talent pool and investing in cutting-edge technologies.
Philanthropy
Deshpande is committed to making a broader impact and is focused on data, higher education, and entrepreneurship. He serves as a Trustee of Persistent Foundation, which is responsible for Persistent's corporate CSR. With his family, he established the DeAsra Foundation, a non-profit entity supporting nano entrepreneurs. He also serves as Chairman of the Board of Governors of IIT Patna, IIIT Allahabad, and VJTI, Mumbai.