Sharad Vivek Sagar is the Founder and CEO of Dexterity Global. Sagar is a globally renowned social entrepreneur, noted thought leader, powerful orator and a widely followed youth icon. Raised in small towns and villages of India, Sagar founded the national organization Dexterity Global at the age of 16. Today, scholars and leaders trained in the Dexterity system have received over ₹1.75 billion in scholarships from top universities across the world, served as India’s ambassadors to global platforms, won 1,000+ national and international awards and launched their own leadership initiatives. The Telegraph noted, “Dexterity is building the future of India.”
President Barack Obama invited Sharad Sagar to the White House. Forbes listed him on the Global Forbes 30 Under 30 list. Rockefeller Foundation inducted him in the list of 100 Next Century Innovators. The Nobel Peace Center invited him to the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony. The Queen of England included him in the Queen's Young Leaders list. India’s most watched television show, Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC), invited Sharad Sagar as the youngest Expert on the show. After a stirring speech at Vivekananda Memorial in Vadodara, India’s leading media house Divya Bhaskar called Sagar, “the Vivekananda of 21st Century”.
Sagar graduated from Tufts University with a Bachelor’s degree and Harvard University with a Master’s degree on full scholarships. At Tufts University, he was the first Indian in 160 years of university history to be selected the Graduation Speaker. At Harvard University, he became the first Indian to be elected the President of Harvard Graduate School of Education. In 2017, Sagar became the youngest Indian to be invited as the Chief Guest and Convocation Speaker of a university and in 2024, he became one of the youngest in the world to receive an honorary doctorate “for his outstanding contributions and attainments in the field of social entrepreneurship and leadership."
In 2022, India’s leading newspaper Dainik Jagran bestowed upon Sagar the Editor’s Choice Award for India’s Youth Icon “for representing the bold face of young India and redefining education and leadership for millions of young Indians.” In 2023, Femina listed Sagar among 60 of India’s most admired men, alongside India’s legendary actors, athletes, influencers and business leaders.
"Very often we sit back thinking good things will happen, knowing that good things take time and hoping that someone else will do it. The world needs you. Change needs you."
Sharad Sagar, Tufts University Graduation Address, May 21, 2016
Organizations around the world have invited, awarded, listed and felicitated Sharad Sagar for his inspiring work and vision.
"My story is not just my story, it's our story — the great Indian story — the story of all things being possible no matter who you are, where you were born and what your parents did; the story of your hard work and dreams and merit dictating your destiny not your inheritance or zip code or family income."
Sharad Sagar
Learn more about Sharad Sagar's inspirational journey.
There are no published blog posts yet.The Economy and a President
Sharad was born around the same time India opened its economy to the rest of the world and in the same place where the first President of India was born.
From United Nations to Dexterity Global
Sharad represented India at national and international platforms while still in high school and founded Dexterity Global to extend the same opportunities to future leaders.
Home to Harvard
Due to a lack of good schools and libraries in the towns and villages where he grew up, Sharad was educated at home till the age of 12 and landed scholarships to attend Tufts and Harvard.
Obama and the Nobel
From being invited by President Barack Obama to the White House to attending the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony, Sharad Sagar has carried the Indian tricolor to many places.
Browse through Sharad Sagar's inspirational life through these chapters.
Early Life: Water, Electricity and Newspapers
Patna: Where It All Began
School: First Time at 12
The Funny Kid: First High School Debate
The Next UN Secretary General
The Head Boy
Japan, Korea, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh
2004 - 2011: An Unprecedented School Career
Leonard Carmichael Dining Hall
The Rousing Standing Ovation The Historic Graduation Speech
The Fighter: Race Tracks and Martial Art Arenas
The Fourteen Year Old Debate Coach
Dexterity Global: Early Days
You Remind Me Of Mark Zuckerberg
The Brown Guy: Tufts Hockey Team Manager
Dinners With Billionaires
2016: The Golden Grandslam
Swades: India and the Road Forward
2012 - 2016: An Unprecedented College Career
The Unlikely Forbes 30 Under 30
The Royal Family: Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony
Historic Scholarship Fund
The Greatest Inspiration
The Father Of Social Entrepreneurship
Harvard, See you later!
Surat: The Next Prime Minister
The Vivekananda Of the Century
The Unlikely CEO Meets The Unlikely President
568 Days: From Graduation Speaker to Commencement Speaker
The Royal Family: Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony 2016
Europe: India's First Entrepreneur-PM
YouTube: The Million View Debut
The Four-Crore Invitation
Patna Ka Kalam: The Radio Interview