Meet the team behind ISH

Dilip Puri is the Founder & Executive Chairman of the Indian School of Hospitality (ISH). Dilip served as the Managing Director of Starwood Hotels & Resorts South Asia from 2011 till the end of 2017 when he set out to be an education entrepreneur & founded ISH. Dilip has over three decades of experience in the hospitality industry & has worked with brands such as Oberoi, Taj, IHG, & Starwood in India, Australia, & Africa. Dilip is a recipient of Hotelier India Hall of Fame – Lifetime Achievement Award. Dilip has an economics degree from the University of Delhi and completed his postgraduate studies at the Oberoi Centre of Learning & Development (OCLD). He is a member of the ISH faculty & a full-time industry mentor to students.

Prahlad Puri is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Indian School of Hospitality, and leads strategy and operations for the institute. A graduate from the University of Leicester, Prahlad has always been fuelled by an entrepreneurial spirit. He has been a part of multiple start-up ventures in verticals such as information technology, interior design, architecture tech and education. Following his graduation, Prahlad became involved in the world of technology and innovation and its applicaton in driving modern day businesses. Within both the start-up and established brands space, Prahad began his journey into the world of technology and entrepreneurship. In 2016, Prahlad joined ISH and in addition to his role as ISH’s Co-Founder and Executive Director, Prahlad is also a mentor to students of the college. In addition, Prahlad works closely with early stage start-up businesses and mentors other aspiring young entrepreneurs within the tech and educational space.

Kunal is the Managing Director and a founding member of the Indian School of Hospitality, where he leads brand strategy and growth, ensuring that the academic operations are global-first. With over three decades of experience in the academic field, Kunal’s expertise lies in establishing and growing avant-garde educational institutions, with a strong focus on building high-performance teams which deliver accelerated growth and create brand equity. Prior to his association with ISH, Kunal has led some of India’s most iconic education and aviation brands like the Kingfisher Training Academy & Aviation Services, Education Management & Consultants TC Global, and Expat Group Centre of Excellence. A graduate in Physics from the University of Bombay, Kunal has always been fascinated by the educational sector, and has worked tirelessly to bridge the gap between industry requirements and the resources available. Owing to his contributions to the industry, Kunal is considered a pioneer within the educational space in India.

Dr. Payal is the Dean of Management Studies and Research at the Indian School of Hospitality (ISH). Formerly Professor & Chair HR/OB and Associate Dean, International Relations at BML Munjal University, Payal is an award-winning academician and prolific writer. She has published 12 books so far with international publishers such as Springer and Emerald Publishers, apart from several research papers.She is also the series editor of the Palgrave Studies in Leadership and Followership, a 5-volume series with volume editors spanning USA, Austria, Australia and India. As a thought leader, she is frequently invited to write for media publications such as the Hindu and the Economic Times.

Dr Zubin D'souza is the Dean for Culinary at the Ecole Ducasse campus and the Principal for the Indian School of Hospitality. He carries with him 26 years of experience as a Chef overseeing operations in some of the finest dining establishments and hotels in India and overseas. He has been teaching for the last three years. Dr Zubin is an alumnus of the Oberoi Centre for Learning and Development and has two doctoral degrees. He has a Ph.D in Organizational Behaviour and another in Human Analytics. He is a passionate writer and has published 11 books that explore a diverse range of topics that range from management to food and cuisines.

She has more than 25 years of extensive hospitality experience including Operations, Pre openings, Skill training and coaching people to achieve personal and professional successes. She has worked with hotel ownership and operations team to identify core issues and risks connected with them & has successfully conceived and rolled out multiple training initiatives, leadership trainings, organizational development initiatives at various organizations like -. Hyatt Regency, Four Points, Fort Raichak, Heritage Palace –Jaipur, AltAir, Health Total by Anjali Mukherjee, Orange Tree Clinics & PVR amongst others.

Harsimran has over 14+ years of experience as a Grooming & personality expert. She is a graduate of the London School of Makeup and Beauty. She has helped transform the look and aesthetics of some of India’s largest corporations. During her work with some of the country’s most iconic brands - Jet Airways, Kingfisher Airlines, Taj Hotels – she has helped thousands of individuals discover their own unique brand of beauty and identity through the art of makeup and grooming.

Arun has three decades of work experience, a decade in Business Development, and two decades in Learning & Development, Advisory and Consulting in BFSI, FMCG & Hospitality spaces with an entrepreneurship experience of running a full-fledged, bootstrapped homestay in the mountains of Himachal. He graduated from the University of Calcutta in Commerce and has worked with brands like Coca-Cola, Metlife, and Temasek, leading large training interventions for diverse teams and facilitated and led multiple Leadership development programs for diverse cohorts in India & abroad. He has been associated with ISH since the past two years as an adjunct faculty for both UG & PG programs teaching Innovation, Change, Entrepreneurship, and Service Excellence. An avid networking advocate, reader & traveller, Arun loves to document and publish his day to day people experiences in a series of blog posts with close to 2 Million impressions in the past one year on Social Media. His first book was published in December, last year on “Learning through humour.”

Abhishek Tyagi has a professional career that spans over 25 years working with academic institutions within India and Africa providing leadership, administrative support, and overall management of campus-based, distance learning tertiary education and blended learning certificate programs. He worked in domains such as academic planning, accreditation, quality assurance, curriculum development, engaging in due diligence of business processes, and creating partnerships with various stakeholders. He is a Postgraduate in Business Management and has attended several workshops and training programs to craft his skills. Well versed with modern pedagogy, educational practices and developing a student-centric environment, he has demonstrated ability to work with multi-cultural, multi-location teams, logical and critical thinking, ability to solve the problem quickly and efficiently, excellent communication skills and management ability. Before joining ISH, he was working with O. P. Jindal Global University in Sonipat, Haryana. Abhishek is inclined towards spirituality and loves to travel, cook and drive.

Aena holds the role of Associate Director of Human Resources at ISH. She is a highly skilled and growth-minded professional with over seven years of cross-industry experience. Her expertise spans Operations, Human Resources, and Learning and Development functions. She has worked in various capacities in both local and international companies, including Mahindra & Mahindra and GroupM. Aena's meticulous attention to detail, along with her high emotional intelligence and exceptional people management skills, make her an invaluable asset in fostering company culture and driving growth. Aena has a keen eye for detail and excels in optimizing HR processes and systems. She holds an MBA in Human Resources from the School of Inspired Leadership and has a BBA degree along with a Liberal Studies Diploma from PDEU-Gandhinagar. Aena believes that Human Resources and Hospitality share many similarities, with one key aspect being their focus on humility and people-oriented approaches.

Gaurav Pandey has 18 years of diverse work experience in Food & Beverage, Training, and catering Sales. He has independently lead teams and profit center units. He has also served as business head of independent restaurant. He has worked in organizations like Hyatt, Conrad and Sarovar hotels.

Jerrald Jacob is Associate Director of Communication, Soft Skills and Student Experience at Indian School of Hospitality. With over 11 years of training experience as a language & communication expert, his skill lies in Language Proficiency, Presentation Skills, Voice Coaching, Public Speaking & Soft Skills. After completing Trainer’s certification from Glasgow, Scotland, he has worked with some of the most iconic brands like IndiGo, SpiceJet, NIIT and Interglobe Technologies. He was responsible for all Inflight Announcements & Communication Training for Pilots, Cabin crew & Ground Support Services in his previous role. As a Voice Coach, he has lent his voice for several Digital & E-Learning Modules. He is an Alumni of St. Columba’s School & holds a bachelor’s degree in Commerce.

Ambika has over 18 years of diverse experience in Guest Relation Management, Front Office, Reservations, Tourism and Hospitality related education. She has worked across organizations, starting with the Taj Group of Hotels, she has worked with ITC Fortune, Viceroy (Marriott’s International), Intercontinental The Grand hotels and then shifted to education with stints at the Institute of Hotel Management (Dadar Catering College), Atharva College of Hotel Management etc. She has leveraged and shared her experience across a wide cross section of students over the last 10 years.

A versatile, self-directed and resourceful culinarian with 15+ years of extensive experience with specialization on multicuisine, molecular gastronomy and Gard manger. Passionate professional perfectionist with positive attitude and has demonstrated the ability to work under pressure. Worked as a chef in reputed Hotel companies like the Oberoi, Constance, the Leela Palace and Hilton. Excellent understanding of recipe modification and nutrient composition along with advanced nutrition skills aimed at preparing specialized food items.

It's been 7 years, being a part of this artistic world of bakery and pastry. Started my professional journey with The Oberoi hotels & resorts at Mumbai. Won various competitions like IBPC and GICC before I stepped into the field of training & development. Always believed that the more we share, the more we learn helped me to be a part of teaching where I could share my knowledge, experience & art with the upcoming future of this industry, as I believe in explore, learn & excel. Specialises in all sections of bakery & pastry in terms of new product development, infrastructure, training & quality assurance, menu creations & specialised buffet set ups. Was a core member in setting up School for European Pastry, Mumbai by planning, infrastructural execution, curriculum development, R & D on various subjects and creating a new line of course by setting up egg free curriculum.

With over 16 years of experience working in academic libraries, Deepak Sharma is an experienced library and information professional. He has a PhD in library and information science and is certified with UGC-NET (Library and Information Science) programme. Being the ISH's first librarian, he designed the whole library system on campus. Prior to joining ISH, he worked at Gurugram's Northcap University. He has a track record of collaborating closely with the University's research and publications division. He has given talks at numerous conferences and seminars. He's put on two national seminars, as well as several workshops and guest talks. He has around 12 research papers in conference proceedings and journals to his credit. He has acquired an interest in Open Access Publishing and Library Marketing.

A multi-platform marketing specialist, Anuradha has over 16 years of experience in leading transformational, cross-platform global communications campaigns including over 7 years spearheading CNN’s marketing communications outreach in India and South Asia. With a proven track record in building brands and growing businesses, Anuradha has served as a trusted marketing communications partner to leading global brands, helping them own and shape their narratives in a borderless and dynamic world. A credible and engaging educator, Anuradha effectively motivates diverse student groups to attain academic and professional excellence. She is the Marketing Faculty for the postgraduate and undergraduate programmes at the Indian School of Hospitality.

Chef Aryan Mathur is an ingenuousness and veteran of culinary industry with years of experience in brands like The Oberoi, The Taj palace, and The Royal Orchid. With his in-depth knowledge of Indian Cuisine, he has shifted for shaping the future aspirants at Indian School of Hospitality as a Learning Facilitator. Having finished his schooling from D.A.V. Public school, Haldwani, Chef Aryan graduated in BACHELOR OF HOTEL MANAGEMENT WITH CATERING TECHNOLOGY (State topper) from Uttarakhand Technical University (A.I.H.M.) He has completed his Master's in Business Administration with specialization of Hospitality Management from Jaipur National University, Rajasthan. In his free time, he likes to indulge in cultural arts and perform traditional dances in which he won many certificates and trophies.

Dr. Parul Nagar is an Associate Professor-Finance at Indian School of Hospitality. She is a qualified professional, who has been in the education industry for over 2 decades and has corporate experience as an Investment Banker. She has over 25 years of teaching experience in the field of Finance, Economics, Research Methodology, Statistics and has been a mentor for students in various programs including MBA, BBA, CFA, BA, Law, B.E. and B. Ed. at Fore School of Management, New Delhi, Asia Pacific Institute of Management, New Delhi, Skyline Business School Gurgaon, Institute of Business and Management Research, Gurgaon, Manav Rachna University, Faridabad and ICFAI, Gurgaon. She has been a guide for undergraduate and postgraduate students for their dissertations and business projects with industry interface. Her notable research papers have been published and recognized by international and national journals and her books titled ‘Research Methodology Made Easy-A Handbook on Research Methodology’ and ‘The ABC of Microeconomics-The Basic Microeconomic Principles in Practice’ have been published. She is an alumna of Welham Girls’ School, Dehradun, Isabella Thoburn College, Lucknow, and University of Lucknow, where she received accolades including triple gold medals for academic excellence.

Chef Sana completed her diploma from the Asian Academy of Culinary Arts in Delhi. She’s worked in Dubai’s InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) and the famous Le Méridien hotel in Delhi. As one of our most popular facilitators, Sana Khan is known for her compassionate nature and for sharing a special bond with students on campus. She teaches pastry and bakery arts at École Ducasse ISH Gurugram and taught students with special needs during the Young Baker Program.

Harshwardhan Singh is an Assistant. Manager - Campus Operations at Indian School of Hospitality. He comes with 5 years of collective experience in Operations, is an alumni of the Oberoi Centre of Learning and development from the STEP batch of 2016-2019. He was associated with the Oberoi New Delhi as a Front office supervisor during his last assignment. Having finished his schooling from Vishwa Bharati Public School, Noida. Harsh graduated in Bachelor’s of tourism studies from IGNOU. He is also pursuing PGDBM from Narsee Monjee institute of management studies, Mumbai.

Swati Dhir is Director Enrollments at the Indian School of Hospitality, where she leads the Admissions & Outreach Department. An expert at Business Development, Sales, Revenue Management and Operations, she brings to the table over 25 years of experience. Her specialization includes business growth and expansion, P&L management, budgeting, outreach strategy, channel marketing, lead nurturing, revenue generation and building robust customer journeys. Prior to ISH, Swati has worked with brands like The Regent Hotels, Taj Hotel, Resorts & Palaces, Hilton Worldwide, Le Meridien, Hyatt Regency, among others. Swati has worked with hotels and allied hospitality sectors to develop and execute business strategies to grow the business and foster learning, team member development and training. She also brings to the table extensive experience in operations management, having led businesses and teams across her career span. Swati is an alumnus of IHMCT&N Lucknow from where she studied Hotel Management and then completed her MBA from IMT Ghaziabad.

She has 13 years of experience in the Admissions & Outreach department with various chains of leading High Schools & Universities across the country. She has led activities and events to promote the strengths of each brand and their offerings in line with students ambitions and expected outcomes. She loves to drive and enjoys exploring new places.

Jennifer Masih is an Education Counselor with eight years of experience working alongside the executive team of known Educational NGO's and Institutions. Jennifer has completed her graduation from Delhi University and specializes in Advertising and Public Relations. She is a powerful force in the workplace and uses her positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to work hard and succeed. Her belief is to always encourage all students to strive to achieve their goals.

Nimisha Grover is the Senior Manager - Admissions & Outreach at Indian School of Hospitality. She is adept at building relationships with aspiring hospitality professionals and helping them advance their careers through ISH. Before she joined ISH, she worked in sales and marketing for various educational institutions and has 10 years of experience. Nimisha holds a degree in Mathematics from Hansraj College, Delhi University. She also holds certifications in Search Engine Marketing and Search Engine Optimization and a Diploma in Interior design.

Shveta Ahuja is a B.Com graduate from the University of Delhi. She has extensive experience in customer service and sales. She has worked with companies such as Wipro, Hewitt Associates & Exhibitions India Group. She intends to work in a globally competitive environment and make the most of her work through her experience and skills. She is dedicated to ensuring all students accomplish their academic goals and strives hard until the outcome is achieved. At the same time, she is always interested in further learning and exploring her passion for cooking.

Mansi Mehra is an Education Counsellor with 10 years of experience in teaching, strategy and counselling. After receiving her degree in Commerce from the University of Delhi, she completed a course in graphic design in New York, bringing her creative personality to her professional responsibilities. She believes in the power of counselling and strives to positively change the lives of others by exploring different options and opportunities with them. Empathy and Compassion are a few of her strengths, along with this she enjoys working with the young minds of today and being a part of their journey to success.

Arshdeep Kaur is an Admissions Counsellor at Indian School of Hospitality. She has her undergraduate degree in Hotel Management from IHM Faridabad and is currently pursuing MBA in Human Resources from NMIMS, Mumbai. She started her career in the industry through the Oberoi Group of Hotels and later went on to work with Taj Hotels. Coming with 4 years of experience in hospitality and customer service she wanted to contribute to the industry through counselling and helping the new generation to step into the Hospitality industry with ease.

Anupam Mukherjee is the Director of Centre for Career Development & Business Development at the Indian School of Hospitality, where he focuses on building strong, dedicated client relationships and partnerships that lead to growth and market differentiation, with an aim of generating new business opportunities. He works with the Marketing team for Brand outreach, manages sales support services and provides strategic direction for lead generation and revenue enhancement. An expert in Hotel Operations, Food and Beverage Management Hotels Pre-operations Management and Project Management, He brings to the table 20 years of experience and is a keen planner & strategist with a track record of developing operational and sales strategies, systems & controls and customer service standards. Prior to ISH, Anupam has worked with brands including The Oberoi Hotels, IHCL, ITC Hotels, Mantri Developers and Embassy Group among others. Anupam helps hospitality companies create new revenue stream and bring operational efficiencies. Anupam is an alumni of Calcutta University, and has studied Bachelor of Commerce. Anupam also holds a Diploma in Hotel Management and has undergone Executive Development programmes with ITC hotels.

As part of the marketing team, Gaurav leads creative operations at ISH. Gaurav has over 17 years of experience in graphic design and marketing. Prior to joining ISH, he served as Director - Creative at Templatolio and Hotelivate (erstwhile HVS), and has previously worked with renowned brands in hospitality including Taj, Westin, Accor, Radisson Hotel Group, Lemon Tree Hotels, Ananta, Amari, Alila, and Marriott. At ISH, Gaurav is in charge of developing the brand aesthetics, guidelines and identity for the brand, and ensures that every creative touchpoint reflects the values of the ISH brand.

Nisha is a passionate leader and comes with 18 years of rich experience in Hotel Operations in the Luxury segment and Learning and Development. Operations and Service Excellence has been her forte. She is an alumni of OCLD from the batch of 2007 - 09. Nisha has spent 15 years with The Oberoi Group Managing Operations, leading teams and working in some of the leading hotels, like The Oberoi New Delhi, The Oberoi Udaivilas, The Oberoi Amarvilas, Trident Chennai, Trident Hyderabad, The Oberoi Mumbai, The Oberoi Rajvilas. Nisha has also managed The Guest Service Management program at OCLD and learnt instructional design as a Certified Hospitality Educator with AHLEI.

Deepak Chauhan is an Assistant Director – Finance at the Indian School of Hospitality. Prior to joining ISH, Deepak worked with companies such as IHG, Hilton, Lalit, and others, where he assisted in the development of strong financial skills. He holds a bachelor's degree in commerce and is also a Chartered Accountant.

An experienced admin professional who has worked in multiple industries supporting a range of senior executives, Vivek’s experience ranges from telecommunications and healthcare to food and hospitality where he has provided support services both to multiple managers as well as entire departments. Most recently Vivek has provided professional support to the President of Duet India Hotels, part of the Duet Group, a global alternative asset manager co-founded by Henry Gabay in 2002 and headquartered in London.