The naming was announced at a special dedication ceremony in Philadelphia on Monday with a multimillion-dollar gift from his son, Anil Dhirubhai Ambani, who is the chairman of the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group and also a Wharton alumnus.
On the occasion, Wharton Dean Patrick Harker said, “We are deeply grateful for this outstanding gift and are proud to name this prominent facility for Dhirubhai Ambani… Mr. Ambani was a true pioneer in the development of the Indian economy, opening opportunity to thousands of his fellow citizens through his then-innovative public stock offerings. We are honored to have this outstanding opportunity to pay a lasting tribute to Mr. Ambani and the companies he built, and the important role he played in India's economic growth, and we are grateful to his son Anil for choosing to remember him in this meaningful way.”
From a humble beginning, Dhirubhai Ambani went on to create an enviable business empire within a span of just 25 years. He was not just firmly rooted in traditional Indian values, but was also a modern man, the man of the new millennium. This was reflected in his passion for mega-sized projects, the most advanced technology and the highest level of productivity. The corporate philosophy he followed was simple: "Think big. Think differently. Think fast. Think ahead. Aim for the best".
Dhirubhai Ambani’s younger son Anil Ambani received his MBA from Wharton in 1983 and currently serves as a member of the Board of Overseers.
Founded in 1881 as the first collegiate business school, the Wharton School is recognised globally for intellectual leadership and ongoing innovation across every major discipline of business education. The school has more than 4,600 undergraduate, MBA, executive MBA, and doctoral students; has more than 8,000 annual participants in its executive education programs; and has an alumni network of more than 81,000 graduates.
