Kunal Pal

Kunal Pal is the Executive Director of the Gupta-Klinsky India Institute at Johns Hopkins University. Previously, he spent eight years at the University of Chicago where he led the International Innovation Corps and the Applied Data Fellowship programs as Executive Director. During his tenure, he led strategy, growth, and operations for both programs, while overseeing project development and outcomes in India and the United States. Under his leadership, the International Innovation Corps grew to be the pre-eminent social impact fellowship program in India, with 250+ Fellows and alumni across 40+ projects with the Indian Government and social sector organizations. He co-founded the US-based Applied Data Fellowship in 2018, growing it to 200+ Fellows and 100+ partner organizations since launch.

Previously, he founded and ran a technology-driven admissions consulting firm in India that linked prospective applicants to current students. He also worked in business development and events at a leading public relations firm in India, during which time he worked closely with C-Suite executives to create and execute partnerships and national campaigns.

Kunal holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business with concentrations in marketing management, managerial & organizational behavior, and strategic management. He also earned his BA (cum laude) in English from Franklin & Marshall College. He spent his formative years in Kolkata, India and later attended The Doon School in Dehradun.