Chief Mentor

Dr. Hrishikesh Soman brings to the Board of Advisors an extraordinary blend of academic depth, institution-building experience, and visionary leadership shaped over nearly four decades in higher education. As the long-serving Principal of Symbiosis College of Arts and Commerce, Pune, he was instrumental in transforming the institution into one of India’s most respected autonomous colleges, driving NAAC A+ accreditation, securing significant national grants, and pioneering the introduction of liberal arts education well ahead of its time in India. His work has consistently stood at the intersection of academic innovation and administrative excellence—designing future-ready curricula, integrating global professional qualifications like ACCA, CIMA, and CMA into mainstream education, and embedding technology into academic ecosystems.

Beyond institutional leadership, Dr. Soman is widely regarded as a thought architect in higher education reform and internationalization. He has forged collaborations with leading universities across the US, Europe, and Asia, while advising multiple premier institutions on autonomy, quality enhancement, and strategic growth. His deep involvement with academic councils, accreditation bodies, and policy frameworks reflects a rare ability to translate vision into scalable academic models. At PFA Institute, his presence on the Board adds not just credibility, but a powerful strategic lens—anchored in experience, yet sharply aligned with the evolving demands of global education and skill ecosystems.

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hrishikesh-soman-61a06636/?originalSubdomain=in