Global tech icon Narayana Murthy shares his vision for leadership and innovation
SMU’s latest Visionary Series brought one of the world’s most influential technology leaders to campus, offering the SMU community an inspiring evening of insight, candour and connection. Mr Narayana Murthy — celebrated Infosys founder and a defining voice in global tech — shared powerful reflections on purposeful leadership, the value of integrity, and the human impact of good decision-making.
The event on 20 November 2025 also featured the launch of the 4th Singapore–India Hackathon, a flagship collaboration between both countries to commemorate 60 years of diplomatic relations. The Hackathon which will return to Singapore in 2026, seeks to deepen innovation, entrepreneurship and problem-solving across the two nations’ university ecosystems.
Reimagining leadership for impact
In her introduction, SMU President Professor Lily Kong recognised Mr Murthy’s global stature, noting his reputation as “one of the 12 greatest entrepreneurs of our time”, as named by Fortune, and the “father of the Indian IT sector”, as described by Time.
She emphasised that the Visionary Series forms part of SMU’s mission to broaden students’ horizons and instil a sense of responsibility. “Our aim is to shape purposeful, resilient and responsible leaders and generate knowledge that makes meaningful academic and societal impact,” she said.
Insights from the Infosys journey
Delivering his keynote address, ‘Leadership Lessons from the Infosys Journey’, Mr Murthy reflected on the three decades he spent leading one of India’s most respected multinational technology companies. He outlined qualities he believes define effective leadership: integrity, transparency, fairness, hard work, and a commitment to ensuring “everyone in the organisation shares its success”.
These principles, he explained, anchored Infosys’ rise from a small operation founded in 1981 to a company that would eventually become the first Indian firm listed on NASDAQ.
The reflections continued in a fireside conversation with SMU Chairman Piyush Gupta. Mr Murthy recalled a moment that remains deeply personal: a junior employee once told him he had been able to purchase his first home because of the firm’s stock options plan. The story, he said, served as a reminder that leadership is a moral endeavour — its impact often felt most strongly in the lives it shapes.
As discussion turned to the future of technology, Mr Murthy stressed that human insight remains central to progress. He noted that innovation is powered by curiosity, clarity in communication, and leaders who ensure consistency between words and action.
Launch of the 2026 Singapore-India Hackathon
The event then shifted to a forward-looking collaboration as SMU launched the 2026 Singapore–India Hackathon. First established by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, the Hackathon celebrates six decades of diplomatic relations and aims to cultivate the next generation of innovators in both countries.
In a pre-recorded address, Singapore’s Minister for Education and Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration, Mr Desmond Lee, said the Hackathon symbolises Singapore’s and India’s shared belief in the power of youth and innovation. “By bringing together Singaporean and Indian youth to tackle real-world challenges, the Hackathon builds bridges between our people and our industries. It nurtures global perspectives and cultural fluency, which are essential qualities for navigating an increasingly interconnected world,” he said.
Both Mr Murthy and Mr Gupta agreed that while India is widely admired for its strong entrepreneurial spirit, it remains unfamiliar to many young people in East Asia. Expanding direct exchanges, they said, would strengthen understanding and unlock new opportunities for collaboration.
Expanding SMU’s regional presence
During the event, Prof Kong emphasised SMU’s commitment to fostering meaningful connections in India and across the region. She highlighted the University’s growing presence, noting that SMU students continue to engage in Business Study Missions, community service projects and internships in several major Indian cities.
She also outlined progress in institutional partnerships, including collaborations on MBA and EMBA programmes and plans to develop joint fintech and executive education offerings. Indian student entrepreneurs have likewise left their mark on SMU; at this year’s SMU Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan Competition, a space-tech start-up from the Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology in Odisha won the People’s Choice Award.
Looking ahead, SMU will soon establish its India International Advisory Council (IAC), chaired by Mr Uday Kotak, Founder and Director of Kotak Mahindra Bank. It will be the University’s eighth IAC globally, joining councils that guide SMU’s strategy and regional engagement across Asia. Prof Kong also announced that SMU will open its fourth overseas centre in China’s Shenzhen while strengthening ties in Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.
Preparing future leaders for a complex Asia
In her closing remarks, Prof Kong reaffirmed SMU’s intention to prepare students to navigate a changing region with clarity and compassion.
We will continue to create opportunities for students to immerse themselves in India’s rich and rapidly evolving landscape; for our faculty to collaborate on meaningful research; and for our partners to innovate together for the good of society. In doing so, we prepare our community not only to succeed in a complex world, but to shape it with wisdom, empathy and courage.”
SMU President Professor Lily Kong
