Raj Aggarwal, PhD, CFA
Cleveland International Hall of Fame
Class of 2025

Since 2010, the Cleveland International Hall of Fame (CIHF) has inducted people who have made significant and lasting contributions to our multicultural society. Cleveland is home to people representing about 120 different ethnic groups. The CIHF exists not only to honor those special people but also to inspire a new generation of leaders to follow in their footsteps.

Over 100 worthy candidates were nominated for the 2025 Class of the Cleveland International Hall of Fame. The selection committee was advised by previously inducted members of the Cleveland International Hall of Fame.

Raj Aggarwal

He holds a mechanical engineering degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, an MBA and PhD in Business from Kent State University, and the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. A graduate of Leadership Cleveland (2004), Raj has been honored with awards like the Notable Finance Leader and a Notable Immigrant Leader Awards by Crain's and the Distinguished Alumni Award from Kent State University.

Raj has served on business boards for Manco/Henkel DIY Inc., Ancora Trust Mutual Funds/Maxxus Investments (each for a quarter century), ERC, and the Flood Company. He has also been a principal in three startups and held leadership roles in many professional organizations. His executive experience includes roles at Dana Corporation and Owens-Illinois Inc., along with consulting for the UN, World Bank, Fortune 100 companies, and commercial banks.

His nonprofit volunteer and board service spans organizations like Ideastream Public Media, Kent State University Foundation, Goodwill Industries, Values in Action, Hawken School, and the Cleveland Council on World Affairs. In addition, he gives philanthropic support to these and other area organizations such as the Food Bank, JCU, Western Reserve Land Conservancy, and the Cleveland Museum of Art.

In terms of scholarly impact, with over 11,000 citations, according to a Stanford University study Raj is among the top 2% of scientists globally (top 1% by Research.com). A Fellow of the Academy of International Business and former Fulbright Research Scholar, he has held editor-in-chief roles in academic journals and served as a visiting scholar at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, the SEC, and the Comptroller of the Currency.

Raj has been the business dean at the University of Akron and held Professor and endowed chair titles at John Carroll University, Kent State University, and the University of Akron. He has taught or held visiting professor roles at Harvard University, the University of Michigan, the University of South Carolina, the University of Hawaii, and internationally at Lund University (Sweden), IUJ (Japan), Trinity College (Ireland), Griffith University (Australia), and NUS (Singapore).

Raj is being inducted by Values-in-Action President Stuart Muszynski

Congratulations Raj