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Key people at Harvard Club of Russia.
The Harvard Club of Russia is a nonprofit alumni organization based in Moscow, Russia, connecting Harvard University alumni through networking events, intellectual discussions, and social gatherings. The club organizes activities such as speaker series and supports alumni contributions to education and business initiatives, primarily serving graduates from Harvard Business School, Kennedy School, and Law School. Funded through membership dues, event fees, and voluntary contributions, the club has hosted 35 events with 2,100 attendees over a two-year period, with its diverse membership including 33% women. Notable figures associated with the club include current President Mikhail Dmitriev (HBS MBA 2008), past presidents Alexander Lupachev (HBS) and Murad Sofizade (HBS/HKS), and Supervisory Board Chairman Iosif Bakaleynik (HBS 1992). The organization was founded in 2004 by Simon Saradzhyan (HKS) and David Rekhviashvili (HKS).
Key people at Harvard Club of Russia.
The Harvard Club of Russia (HCR) is not a company but an alumni-led nonprofit organization connecting Harvard graduates, primarily in Russia and the CIS region. It fosters networking, intellectual events, and community support among alumni from all Harvard schools, with nearly 600 affiliates (70% in CIS, over 350 in Moscow) as of recent records, doubling in recent years.[1][2][3] Members join for stimulating events with top personalities, professional networking, contributions to education initiatives, priority event access, and loyalty perks like partner discounts.[1][2]
HCR hosts bi-monthly sessions, discussion clubs with politicians and leaders, speaker series, joint events with schools like INSEAD and Wharton, and initiatives like global education and business climate improvement in Moscow.[1][2][3]
HCR emerged from unsuccessful attempts in the 1990s by Moscow-based Harvard alumni to form a social club.[3] The first successful effort launched in 2004, led by Harvard Kennedy School graduates Simon Saradzhyan and David Rekhviashvili.[3] Saradzhyan served as the inaugural President, followed by Alexander Lupachev (HBS, 2006), Murad Sofizade (HBS/HKS, 2009), Sergei Arkhipov (HKS, 2011), Alexey Ivanov (2013-15), Alexander Nadmitov (2016-18, 2021-22), Breffney Morgan (2018-20), Gleb Biserov (2023-24), and currently Mikhail Dmitriev (HBS MBA 2008, since 2024).[3][4]
The club evolved from basic social gatherings to a robust network with structured leadership, growing membership, and expanded programming like conferences and loyalty programs aiming for 100 paying members by 2012.[1][2][3]
HCR rides the wave of global alumni networks in emerging markets, bridging Harvard's ecosystem with Russia's business, policy, and tech scenes amid geopolitical shifts.[3][4][8] Timing aligns with post-1990s Russia-Harvard ties, evolving into a hub for CIS professionals in telecom, real estate, education, trade, and digital economy (e.g., board members in VC funds and ministry advisory roles).[2][4] It influences the ecosystem by facilitating cross-border networking, innovation discussions (e.g., future banking/IT), and talent pipelines, strengthening Harvard's footprint in Europe via HBS liaisons.[4][8][9]
HCR is poised for continued expansion with events like Global Networking Night 2025, leveraging its loyalty program and partnerships to hit growth targets.[2][6] Trends like hybrid events, AI-driven networking, and Russia-West alumni bridges will shape it, potentially amplifying influence in tech/policy amid global shifts. As the largest Harvard alumni community in CIS, its role in fostering elite connections ties back to its core mission of intellectual stimulation and impact.[1][3]
