Stanford, California — June 2025:
Two decades after their journey together began, former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife, entrepreneur and philanthropist Akshata Murty, returned to their alma mater—Stanford Graduate School of Business—not as students, but as keynote speakers at the 2025 commencement ceremony.
“This is literally where we met,” said Akshata Murty, as she reminisced about the transformational journey from India to California and the serendipity of their time at Stanford. Her words blended nostalgia with humor as she recalled a former admissions officer once telling her that, based on their essays, she and Sunak were destined for each other.
“Forget being the best business school in the world, Stanford is an even better matchmaking service,” she joked, drawing warm laughter from the graduating class.
Sharing a personal touch, Murty later posted a photo from their cherished running spot at “The Dish,” captioning it: “Back up at the Dish for our favourite morning run in Stanford.”
Their speech revolved around three life principles shaped by their experiences:
- Trust in Data, But Know Its Limits
Sunak, identifying as a “numbers guy,” spoke of the comfort that data can bring. Yet he cautioned that numbers can’t always predict the future: “Data can’t look around corners,” he said, emphasizing the importance of intuition and flexibility. - Idealism Needs Grounding
Murty reflected on her passion for social change, sharing how Sunak’s pragmatic questioning helped her turn lofty goals into actionable outcomes. “He always asked, ‘How?’” she recalled, noting that their conversations shifted her mindset toward making real, scalable impact. - Dharma Over Outcome
They concluded with the Sanskrit principle of Dharma, which focuses on performing one’s duty without attachment to the results. “It’s about finding fulfillment in effort, not outcomes,” they said.
Sunak ended their joint address with heartfelt words:
“We’ve always pushed each other’s thinking to become sharper and better.”
The couple, both graduates of the Stanford Class of 2006, married in 2009 and are now parents to two daughters. Their return to the iconic campus was not just a celebration of academic achievement, but a moving reflection on love, personal growth, and purpose.
