Azad Oommen is an Indian-American social entrepreneur, nonprofit leader, and global education reform advocate best known as the co-founder of Global School Leaders (GSL), a nonprofit that trains school leaders to improve learning outcomes for students in underserved communities across Brazil, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Kenya.
He is also the founding Executive Director of the Central Square Foundation and is widely recognized as the husband of acclaimed actress Poorna Jagannathan, who stars on Netflix’s Never Have I Ever.
Oommen holds a Master’s in Public Affairs from Princeton University and a Bachelor’s in International Economics from Georgetown University, and has dedicated over two decades to transforming education systems in low and middle-income countries.
Azad Oommen Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Azad Oommen |
| Birth Year (est.) | Around 1974 |
| Âge (2026 est.) | Early to mid-50s |
| Birthplace | Kerala, India |
| Nationality | Indian-American |
| Profession | Social Entrepreneur, Education Reformer, Nonprofit Leader |
| Education | BA International Economics, Georgetown University; MPA, Princeton University (Woodrow Wilson School) |
| Co-Founded | Global School Leaders (GSL) |
| Co-Founder Partner | Sameer Sampat |
| Previous Role | Founding Executive Director, Central Square Foundation (CSF) |
| GSL Countries | Brazil, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Kenya |
| GSL Reach | Over 13,000 school leaders trained |
| Wife | Poorna Jagannathan (married January 11, 2003) |
| Son | Anav Oommen |
| Residence | Los Angeles, California |
| Net Worth (est.) | Not publicly disclosed |
Early Life in Kerala, India
Azad Oommen was born and raised in Kerala, India, a state known for its strong emphasis on education and high literacy rates. Growing up in this environment gave him a deep appreciation for the power of learning and its role in lifting communities out of poverty.
His exact birth date has not been made public. Based on his educational and professional timeline, he was likely born around 1974. His early years in Kerala appear to have instilled in him a lifelong commitment to equity, community development, and systemic change.
He later moved to the United States to pursue higher education. Details about his parents and siblings have been kept private, reflecting his preference for a grounded and modest public profile.
Education: Georgetown and Princeton
Azad Oommen’s academic credentials are among the strongest in the global education reform space. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in International Economics from Georgetown University in Washington DC, one of the most prestigious institutions for international relations and global policy.
He then pursued a Master’s degree in Public Affairs at Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. This program is globally recognized for training leaders in policy, diplomacy, and social impact.
These two qualifications gave Oommen a rare combination of economic analysis, policy thinking, and global strategy. They formed the intellectual foundation for everything he would build in the decades that followed.
Early Career: Clinton Fellowships and American India Foundation
Before entering the world of education reform, Azad Oommen built deep expertise in leadership development across multiple countries and contexts.
He ran the Clinton Fellowship for Service in India, a program that placed emerging leaders in high-impact roles within Indian civil society organizations. He also ran the Clinton Democracy Fellowship for City Year in South Africa, focused on civic engagement and democratic participation.
In the United States, he directed the Mickey Leland Hunger Fellows program for the Congressional Hunger Center, which trains future advocates in the fight against domestic and global hunger. He also served as a director at the American India Foundation, where he significantly expanded the organization’s U.S. fundraising network.
Each of these roles demonstrated his ability to design and manage fellowship programs that develop leaders capable of working across cultural and systemic barriers.
Central Square Foundation: Building the Foundation for Change
Azad Oommen’s first major organizational leadership role came when he became the founding Executive Director of the Central Square Foundation (CSF) in India. CSF is a venture philanthropy fund that invests in organizations working to improve the quality of student learning across India’s K-12 education system.
Under his leadership, CSF developed a rigorous investment strategy focused on funding evidence-based education startups, advocating for policy reform, and supporting the India School Leadership Institute (ISLI). The foundation channelled resources toward systemic change rather than short-term fixes, a philosophy that would define Oommen’s entire career approach.
His work at CSF cemented his reputation as one of the most serious and credible voices in Indian education reform. It also gave him the relationships and insight needed to launch something far more global.
Global School Leaders: Training 13,000 School Leaders Worldwide
The defining achievement of Azad Oommen’s professional life is the co-founding of Global School Leaders with Sameer Sampat. GSL is an international nonprofit that trains and develops school leaders in marginalized communities to improve learning outcomes for students who are most at risk of being left behind.
The organization operates in five countries, with each program designed to be culturally relevant and practically applicable. GSL does not impose a single Western model. Instead, it works alongside local school systems to identify what effective leadership looks like in each specific context.
Global School Leaders at a Glance
| Category | Detail |
| Founded | Around 2015 |
| Co-Founders | Azad Oommen and Sameer Sampat |
| Countries of Operation | Brazil, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Kenya |
| School Leaders Trained | Over 13,000 |
| Mission | Develop effective school leadership for underserved communities |
| Approach | Locally adapted, evidence-based leadership training |
| Former CEO | Azad Oommen (stepped down July 31, 2024) |
Under Oommen’s leadership as CEO, GSL grew from a startup idea into a globally recognized organization with a track record that governments and international bodies take seriously. The 13,000-plus school leaders trained under GSL represent millions of students whose learning environments have been directly improved.
Oommen stepped down as CEO on July 31, 2024, marking the end of a transformative chapter. He remains closely connected to the organization in an advisory capacity.
Board Memberships and Advisory Roles
Beyond GSL, Azad Oommen serves on and advises several significant organizations in the education and social impact sectors.
Azad Oommen Advisory and Board Roles
| Organization | Role |
| Central Square Foundation | Advisory Board Member |
| India School Leadership Institute (ISLI) | Board Member |
| Saarthi Education | Advisory Board Member |
| Impact Innovators | Board Member |
| Entrepreneurs Foundation (Villgro USA) | Board Member |
| Congressional Hunger Center | Board Member (from February 2024) |
These roles reflect the depth of trust that leading institutions across India, the US, and globally have placed in his judgment and expertise.
Published Work and Thought Leadership
Azad Oommen is also a published contributor to leading development and education platforms. His article titled “Inside Out: Changing Systems from Within,” published on India Development Review (IDR), explores why approaches that work within existing systems are more effective than those that try to replace them.
He has also contributed to Devex, the World Bank’s development blog, and spoken at international education leadership roundtables, including events hosted by the Education University of Hong Kong. His writing and speaking consistently argue that sustainable education reform requires both strong evidence and deep respect for local context.
Marriage to Poorna Jagannathan
Azad Oommen and actress Poorna Jagannathan were married on January 11, 2003, in a private ceremony. The couple dated for several years before marrying, having first connected through their shared involvement in social impact work in India.
Poorna Jagannathan is an accomplished actress and producer of Indian descent. She is best known for playing Nalini Vishwakumar in the Netflix coming-of-age series Never Have I Ever, created by Mindy Kaling. She also received critical praise for her work in HBO’s The Night Of, as well as appearances in Defending Jacob, Gypsy, and Big Little Lies.
Poorna Jagannathan at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Poorna Jagannathan |
| Profession | Actress, Producer, Activist |
| Famous For | Never Have I Ever (Netflix), The Night Of (HBO) |
| Married | January 11, 2003 |
| Spouse | Azad Oommen |
| Son | Anav Oommen |
| Residence | Los Angeles (Westside) |
| Advocacy | Women’s rights, sexual assault awareness, and social justice |
The couple has been together for over two decades. Poorna has publicly expressed deep love and admiration for Azad on social media. On Father’s Day 2021, she wrote that her family revolves around him and that his warmth is like nothing she thought she could experience. On Valentine’s Day 2022, she wrote that they had built a simple life together full of extraordinary beauty.
Their home on the Westside of Los Angeles was purchased in 2008 and later renovated. Poorna has described how the architecture reminded Azad of the traditional Kerala-style courtyard home called a nalukettu, a form common in his home state.
Son Anav Oommen
Azad and Poorna have one son together, Anav Oommen. Anav was born in 2005 and has been raised largely outside the spotlight, reflecting his parents’ shared preference for a grounded family life despite their combined public profiles.
Anav has been described as engaged in social causes and community advocacy, reflecting the values-driven household his parents have built.
Azad Oommen’s Net Worth
Azad Oommen’s personal net worth is not publicly disclosed. His career has been built in the nonprofit and social entrepreneurship sectors, which are not typically associated with large personal financial accumulation.
Several sources estimate his net worth at between $300,000 and $1.5 million based on senior nonprofit executive compensation standards. His wife, Poorna Jagannathan, has a net worth estimated at between $2 million and $4 million from her film and television career.
What is clear is that Oommen has consistently chosen impact over income. His social capital and the scale of his influence in global education far exceed any financial figure.
Final Thoughts
Azad Oommen’s career is a study in long-term commitment to a single, clear purpose: ensuring that children in marginalised communities around the world have access to schools led by effective, capable, and inspired leaders.
From Kerala to Georgetown to Princeton, from the Clinton Fellowship to the Central Square Foundation to Global School Leaders, every step in his journey has pointed in the same direction. He chose systems over shortcuts and community over celebrity.
His marriage to Poorna Jagannathan and their shared family life in Los Angeles reflect two people who found each other through a common belief in service and social change. As Poorna wrote publicly, they built a simple life together full of extraordinary beauty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Azad Oommen?
Azad Oommen is an Indian-American social entrepreneur and education reformer. He is the co-founder of Global School Leaders, a nonprofit that has trained over 13,000 school leaders in five countries, and the founding Executive Director of the Central Square Foundation in India.
Where is Azad Oommen from?
He was born and raised in Kerala, India, before moving to the United States for higher education.
What university did Azad Oommen attend?
He earned a Bachelor’s in International Economics from Georgetown University and a Master’s in Public Affairs from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School.
Who is Azad Oommen’s wife?
His wife is Poorna Jagannathan, an Indian-American actress best known for her roles in Never Have I Ever on Netflix and The Night Of on HBO. They married on January 11, 2003.
Does Azad Oommen have children?
Yes. He and Poorna Jagannathan have one son named Anav Oommen.
What is Global School Leaders?
Global School Leaders is a nonprofit co-founded by Azad Oommen and Sameer Sampat. It trains school leaders in underserved communities across Brazil, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Kenya. Under Oommen’s leadership, the organization trained over 13,000 school leaders.
When did Azad Oommen leave Global School Leaders?
He stepped down as CEO on July 31, 2024, after more than eight years of leadership.
What is Azad Oommen’s net worth?
His exact net worth is not publicly disclosed. Estimates from various sources range from $300,000 to $1.5 million. His influence on global education reform is considered far greater than any financial figure.
What did Azad Oommen do at the Central Square Foundation?
He was the founding Executive Director of CSF, an Indian venture philanthropy fund that invests in systemic education reform and organizations working to improve K-12 student learning across India.
Read Also: Johnny Carell: Steve Carell’s Son, Northwestern Student and the Next Generation of Talent
