His gratitude to UC Berkeley not only stems from his education (he earned a degree in electrical engineering) but also from the Cal family. “A fellow Berkeley alum hired me at IBM,” he says, referring to his work as an engineer for the tech stalwart after graduation.

Over the years, Rishi has consistently given back to the College of Engineering, taking advantage of generous gift-matching programs as well as to the Library and Intercollegiate Athletics, among many areas of campus.

For Rishi, the need to support the world’s No. 1 public university is stronger than ever.

“Our alma mater is the best in the world,” he says, “but state support has dwindled over the past 10 to 15 years. The most important thing should be to ensure that all deserving students, even those with a lack of means, can come to UC Berkeley. That promise is why the campus stays close to the hearts of so many.”