# Digital Media Concepts/Shantanu Narayen
## Shantanu Narayen

Shantanu Narayen is an Indian-American business executive who is now the Chief Executive Officer of Adobe Systems Incorporated, a worldwide software enterprise (CEO). He is indeed the president of the Adobe Foundation's board of directors. Narayen's initial aspiration was to become a journalist, as he was born into a wealthy Indian family. He earned a bachelor's degree in electronics and communication engineering at his parents' request and later relocated to the United States, where he earned an MBA and a Master of Science degree. Narayen began his professional career at Apple, where he played a key role in the company's rebirth. Abode appointed him as a senior vice-president of international product research in 1998. In the years thereafter, he has successfully risen through the ranks, and in November 2007, he was promoted to his current position. Adobe has experienced a significant turnaround in recent years under the leadership of Narayen and has become an international brand having products utilized by the bulk of technology consumers. He also possesses five patents and is a frequent keynote speaker at corporate and academic gatherings throughout the world. Former American President Barack Obama publicly welcomed him to his Management Advisory Board in 2011.

## Early Life

He was born and raised in Hyderabad, India, as the youngest child of an American literature teacher and a plastics industry owner. In Hyderabad, he attended Hyderabad Public School. Narayen graduated from Osmania University in India with a Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, a Master of Business Administration from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master of Science in computer science from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. Narayen was awarded an honorary Doctor of Applied Science degree from Bowling Green State University on May 7, 2011.
Shantanu Narayen decided to join a start-up called Measurex Automation Systems in 1986 instead of a well-established international corporation during campus recruitment. It was a well-funded and successful enterprise that gave the recent graduate valuable real-world experience. He joined Apple in 1989 and spent the next six years in various executive positions.
During his time at Apple, he got trained by Apple Talk's Gursharan Singh Sandhu, who taught him how to challenge people and himself. Following Apple, he worked for Silicon Graphics for a short time as the director of desktop and collaboration products.

## Career

He joined Adobe Systems as a senior vice president of worldwide product research in 1998 and rose through the ranks to become the company's chief vice president of worldwide products. Bruce Chizen announced in November 2007 that he will leave as CEO on December 1st. Narayen took over as Chief Executive Officer of Adobe Systems, replacing Chizen, at the age of 45. It only took him a decade to reach the top of one of the industry's largest organizations, thanks to his outstanding work ethic and broad knowledge of the technological field.
Narayen, a key factor in Adobe's success, has made Adobe a must-have tool for all websites and apps, securing over 350 deals in the process. He was instrumental in Adobe's $3.4 billion acquisition of Macromedia (the developer of Flash) in 2005, as well as its $1.8 billion acquisition of Omniture in 2009. He is acutely aware of the continually changing nature of the technology sector and recognizes the importance of innovation in order to avoid stagnation. His overall pay in 2017 was $20.03 million. Besides his employment at Adobe, he serves on the boards of directors of Stario Inc., Dell Inc., Pfizer Inc., and the Advisory Board of the University of California at Berkeley's Haas School of Business. He is also the president of Adobe Foundation, the company's philanthropic arm that contributes to a variety of charitable causes across the world.

## Awards and Achievements

In 2019 he was a recipient of a Padma Shri award.
Shantanu Narayen won the Global Indian Award in 2020.
Shantanu Narayen got the Haas School's Business Leader of the Year Award in 2008. (known as the Alumnus of the Year Award from 1970 to 1998).
In 2009, he was awarded the Business and Philanthropic Leadership Award by the American India Foundation (AIF).
On Brendan Wood International's list of "The Top Gun CEOs" that year, he was listed among "The Top Gun CEOs."
In 2010, he received the Annual Leadership Award from the International Imaging Industry Association.
At Nasscom's 7th Annual Global Leadership Awards in 2011, Narayen received the Global Innovator Award.
His alma mater, Bowling Green State University, awarded him an honorary degree in May 2011.