Rishi Sunak and Akshata Murty return to Stanford, where it all began

India Today

17-06-2025

Nearly two decades after they first met on campus, former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife, Akshata Murty, returned to Stanford Graduate School of Business, this time, not as students, but as commencement speakers for the Class of 2025.Sharing the stage together, the couple blended humour with heartfelt reflection as they walked students through life lessons, their personal journey, and how Stanford shaped them, as professionals and as partners.advertisement'This is literally where we met,' said Murty, who spoke about her journey from India to California, adding that Stanford was nothing short of transformational. 'It opened our eyes to a whole new way of thinking. It also changed the course of our lives,' she said.
Murty revealed that their connection may have been fated. A former admissions director once told her, based solely on their application essays, that she and Sunak were meant to be together. 'So, thank you, Stanford. Twenty years and two daughters later, forget about being the best business school in the world, you're an even better matchmaking service,' she joked, drawing applause and laughter from the crowd.Sunak shared a three-part framework of lessons they had learned together and from each other. The first was about the 'comfort of data.' 'I'm a numbers guy,' he said, adding that it helped him bond with his father-in-law, Infosys founder Narayana Murthy. He underlined the value of combining data with intuition, saying, 'Data can't look around corners.'advertisementThe second lesson, delivered by Murty, focused on balancing big dreams with practical steps. She reflected on her desire to tackle inequality and social change in India, and how Sunak always challenged her to think beyond idealism. 'He always asked, 'how?' I had genuinely never met someone my age who thought like that,' she said.Their third takeaway was rooted in the Sanskrit concept of Dharma, the idea of doing one's duty without obsessing over the reward. 'It's about finding fulfillment in effort, not outcomes,' they said.Murty also looked back at their student days with affection. 'I used to get annoyed with him. He'd insist on joining me for a run, and wouldn't stop talking,' she quipped. But she didn't shy away from praising him either: 'A practical idealist can achieve the remarkable.'Sunak concluded with a nod to their dynamic. 'We've always pushed each other's thinking to become sharper and better.'The event wasn't just a nostalgic return, it was a full-circle moment, filled with honesty, humour, and the kind of grounded advice that can only come from experience, love, and a shared path.Watch the video here: Later, in an Instagram post, Murty shared a picture from their favourite spot in Stanford, writing, "Back up at the Dish for our favourite morning run in Stanford." advertisementTake a look at the post here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rishi Sunak (@rishisunakmp)Their speech reminded graduates that while ambition and intellect matter, it's the people you meet and the values you carry that truly shape the journey ahead.