Rishi S. Jaitly

Detroit Program Coordinator – Knight Foundation

Panelist - 2:00 pm, Wednesday, April 6th – Funding Innovation: Public & Private Investments in Talent

Rishi S. Jaitly joined Knight Foundation in 2011. He directs Knight’s grant making in Detroit.

Previously, Jaitly launched and led Michigan Corps, a local and global network of leaders advancing education and entrepreneurship in Michigan. He continues to be the volunteer chairman of the board.

Prior to founding Michigan Corps, Jaitly worked as director of strategic partnerships and public policy at College Summit Inc., America’s leading non-profit organization increasing the college enrollment rate of lower-income high schools. He also was head of government affairs and public-private partnerships for Google in India after beginning his tenure with the company in Silicon Valley. There, he successfully convinced the government of Pakistan to end its nationwide block of Blogger and YouTube (2008, 2009) and the government of Bangladesh to end its nationwide block of YouTube (2009). In India, he led the development of a Google product that informed and engaged voters by showcasing critical governance data during the 2009 general election.

Jaitly, a former member of Princeton University’s Board of Trustees, has a bachelor of arts degree in history from Princeton.