Business Success Story: From IIT Dropout To Google Cloud CEO, The Inspiring Journey Of Thomas Kurian

Former IIT student who dropped out of college is the CEO of Google Cloud. He is none other than Thomas Kurian, who led the company towards success after taking over the role of CEO and has surpassed the net worth of another IIT graduate, Google's CEO Sundar Pichai.

Thomas Kurian

New Delhi: Thomas Kurian, the prodigious mind behind Google Cloud's meteoric rise, boasts a journey that defies conventional narratives. Hailing from the quaint village of Pampady in Kerala, India, Kurian's roots are grounded in a family where intellect and ambition thrived. Born to a chemical engineer and a teacher, the seeds of curiosity and determination were sown early in his upbringing.

His educational voyage commenced at St. Joseph's Boys High School in Bengaluru, where Kurian's academic prowess began to unfold. Alongside his twin brother George Kurian, now the CEO of NetApp Inc., he embarked on a remarkable journey that would eventually lead them both to the forefront of the tech industry.

Their trajectory took a pivotal turn when they gained admission to the prestigious IIT Madras, setting the stage for a transformative chapter in their lives. Fuelled by a thirst for knowledge and a drive to excel, the Kurian brothers sought broader horizons, aiming for the pinnacle of academic excellence.

Venturing across continents, they undertook the SAT tests and cast their aspirations towards institutions like Princeton University. Their collective ambition and unwavering dedication secured them coveted spots at Princeton, where Thomas Kurian delved into the realm of electrical engineering, laying the groundwork for his future endeavors.

Yet, his quest for knowledge didn't culminate with a bachelor's degree. Eager to broaden his understanding of business dynamics, Kurian pursued an MBA from the esteemed Stanford Graduate School of Business, augmenting his technical acumen with strategic insights.

Kurian's professional odyssey commenced at McKinsey & Company, where he honed his skills as a consultant, navigating the intricacies of software, telecommunications, and financial services industries with finesse. However, it was his tenure at Oracle, spanning over two decades, that catapulted him into the echelons of corporate leadership.

Ascending through the ranks, Kurian's tenure at Oracle witnessed him spearheading pivotal product management and development initiatives, culminating in his appointment as Vice President of Oracle's e-Business division. Steering a colossal software development team across 32 countries, he orchestrated the creation of Oracle Application Servers, propelling the company towards unprecedented growth.

In a watershed moment, Kurian transitioned to Google Cloud in 2018, assuming the mantle of CEO with a vision to redefine the industry landscape. Implementing strategic overhauls and leveraging his unparalleled expertise, he navigated Google Cloud towards unparalleled success, eclipsing even the net worth of his fellow IIT alum, Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google.

With a reported net worth of Rs. 15,000 crore, Thomas Kurian stands as a testament to the transformative power of ambition, resilience, and unwavering dedication. His journey from a small village in Kerala to the zenith of Silicon Valley exemplifies the boundless potential that lies within individuals driven by relentless pursuit of excellence.