'Not having an IIT-IIM tag': WhatsApp's new boss Kunal Shah's academia has Internet talking

The announcement of Kunal Shah as WhatsApp's new CEO has sparked a wave of reactions online, but not for the reason many might expect.

While the founder of CRED is a well-known name in India's startup ecosystem, social media users have been fixated on a different aspect of his journey — his educational background. Unlike many global technology leaders who come from engineering or management institutes, Shah studied Philosophy at Mumbai's Wilson College and later dropped out of an MBA programme at Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS).

Meta recently named Shah as the new head of WhatsApp, succeeding Will Cathcart, who has led the messaging platform since 2019. The leadership change comes as WhatsApp enters a new phase of growth amid Meta's increasing focus on artificial intelligence and consumer technology.

Kunal Shah studied Philosophy at Mumbai's Wilson College and dropped out of an MBA program at Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS).

His appointment is significant because he does not hold elite degrees like those from IIT or IIM, challenging traditional expectations of educational qualifications for top tech positions.

Kunal Shah co-founded FreeCharge, a digital payments platform, and later founded CRED, a fintech company that rewards timely credit card payments, which led to significant growth and valuation.

Kunal Shah's journey suggests that practical experience and execution may be more crucial than prestigious educational credentials in achieving entrepreneurial success.

Kunal Shah grew CRED from 0 to 17 million members and achieved significant annual revenue, while also previously selling FreeCharge for around $450 million.

Soon after the news broke, social media platforms were flooded with posts highlighting Shah's unconventional path to one of the most influential jobs in the tech industry.

One user wrote,"Imagine rejecting a candidate because he doesn't have an IIT or IIM tag. Now imagine that same person going on to lead WhatsApp globally. Credentials open doors. Execution builds empires. Kunal Shah's journey is a reminder of the difference."

Another user used the appointment to challenge traditional career assumptions, writing,"Kunal Shah is a Humanities graduate. Study Humanities to truly be a tech thought leader. Engineering is dead in the AI era."

Several users also pointed to Shah's early struggles and entrepreneurial journey.

"Billionaire founder Kunal Shah didn't start out with elite degrees or massive funding. At 15, he was running deliveries and selling CDs to pay off family debt after a bankruptcy. BA in Philosophy - He didn't learn consumer psychology in a classroom; he learned it on the streets," one post read.

Another user wrote,"He studied philosophy. Dropped out of MBA. Started working at 15 to help his family. Today Meta hired him to lead WhatsApp globally. Meet Kunal Shah — the architect of India's fintech revolution."

A fifth user summed up what many online appeared to find remarkable about the appointment:"A kid from Mumbai who chose philosophy over engineering became the CEO of the world's largest messaging platform. His name is Kunal Shah."