Cambridge, Massachusetts — Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy successfully completed Harvard Kennedy School's prestigious
executive education program, earning his completion certificate alongside 62 global leaders from over 20 countries. The 56-year-old CM attended intensive daily classes from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. from January 25-30, 2026, demonstrating commitment to leadership advancement while serving as a sitting state administrator.
The week-long program, designed for senior professionals and decision-makers, cost $12,900 and focused on adaptive leadership, group dynamics, organizational diagnosis, and navigating complex real-world challenges such as conflict, change, and uncertainty. Rather than traditional lectures, the curriculum emphasized interactive case studies, peer discussions, and small-group consultations where Revanth engaged alongside corporate executives, public officials, and NGO leaders.
During his Harvard visit, Revanth demonstrated diplomatic prowess by meeting with predominantly Indian students from Harvard Business School on an exceptionally busy schedule. He shared his success mantra, discussed career paths and professional challenges, and elaborated extensively on TelanganaRising—the state's economic vision.
The Chief Minister encouraged HBS students to leverage their networks and talents as partners in India's growth story. He invited them to serve as brand ambassadors, highlighting the opportunities and strengths of Hyderabad and Telangana to their professional networks.
Beyond student interactions, Revanth held strategic meetings with Harvard's academic leadership. He met with Prof.
Dustin Tinsley, Vice-Provost and Head of Harvard-X, and Prof. Jeremy Weinstein, Dean of Harvard Kennedy School, presenting TelanganaRising vision for potential collaboration.
The discussions covered crucial educational frameworks, quality improvement processes for large-scale education delivery, modern skills development requirements, and human resources development's impact on economic growth.
Before Harvard, Revanth led a delegation including IT and Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu and Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy to the World Economic Forum in Davos, multiplying opportunities for Telangana's global engagement and positioning.
Revanth emphasized during his HBS interaction, connecting diaspora talent directly to state development initiatives.
Ranked among the world's most demanding executive programs, Leadership in the 21st Century attracts mid-to-senior career professionals seeking adaptive leadership development. Program participants typically bring over a decade of leadership experience and real organizational challenges into classroom discussions, creating peer learning opportunities across sectors and continents.
The completion signals Telangana's commitment to modern governance approaches while Revanth's participation generated significant social media attention, sparking wider conversations about continuous learning for sitting administrators and international leadership development investments.
Do You Know?
• The Leadership in the 21st Century program gained particular attention because attending CM Revanth Reddy became among the few sitting Indian state administrators enrolled in Harvard's executive education simultaneously, attracting viral social media videos of him walking to classes and sparking broader debate about leadership investment and global governance standards.
Key Facts
• Revanth Reddy completed a one-week intensive program at Harvard Kennedy School from January 25-30, 2026, with 62 global leaders from 20+ countries attending despite extreme weather conditions of -15 to -24 degrees Celsius
• The Leadership in the 21st Century program costs approximately $12,900 per participant and includes tuition, accommodation, course materials, and most meals, plus access to Harvard's global leadership network upon completion
• Beyond academics, Revanth met with Harvard Business School's Indian student cohort and held strategic discussions with Harvard leadership including Vice-Provost Dustin Tinsley and Kennedy School Dean Jeremy Weinstein regarding TelanganaRising collaboration opportunities
Key Terms
• Adaptive Leadership: A framework helping leaders navigate uncertainty by practicing real decision-making in complex situations rather than simply holding authority positions
• Executive Education Program: Intensive, non-degree professional development courses designed for mid-to-senior career leaders seeking contemporary skills and peer learning networks
• TelanganaRising: Telangana state's comprehensive economic and development vision aimed at attracting global talent, investments, and partnerships to support growth
• Global Leadership Network: Alumni connections and professional relationships formed through Harvard's executive programs, creating ongoing collaboration opportunities across continents and sectors
Asia91 Original