Abhishek Mishra passed out with an MSc in Management from Strathclyde University in Glasgow, UK. In September 2001, he left India for an M.Phil in Management Studies from the University of Cambridge after receiving a scholarship from Cambridge Commonwealth Trust (CCT). He qualified the M.Phil degree with Distinction and was offered a place to continue for the Ph.D. Program in Management.
The Ph.D. program was conceived, developed and delivered jointly by University of Cambridge (UK) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA. He also did a short-term leadership program at Harvard University, USA. After completing his Ph.D., he moved to the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A) where he worked for over five years.
Professor Mishra, former faculty (Strategy & Innovation in Business Policy Area) at IIM-A was declared by the Samajwadi Party (SP) as one of its candidates for the Assembly elections in 2012. His dynamic candidature made him win the hearts of one and all. Consequently, as an elected representative (MLA) he was made a Cabinet Minister in the Hon'ble Akhilesh Yadav Government. As a MLA and Minister from Lucknow North constituency in the capital of Uttar Pradesh he implemented significant infrastructure improvement and enhancement projects in his constituency. He has been the poster boy for change, spearheading the development initiatives of Shri Akhilesh Yadav.
Prof. Mishra was part of the team that attracted investment to the state. He was appointed as the National Secretary of the Party and continues to work to promote the idea of new Socialism and Democracy.
Most recently, he co-founded a strategy-driven research think-tank, 'Progressive Council' to work on issues related to development, economy, environment and democracy.
He blogs at profabhishekmishra.wordpress.com and tweets at @profamishra.