Nirmal Narvekar, known as 'Narv' in financial circles, plans to retire in 2027 after nearly a decade leading Harvard University's endowment, which stands at $57 billion. His leadership has been pivotal in transforming Harvard's investment strategy, particularly following the challenges faced post-2008 financial crisis. Narvekar implemented significant changes, shifting nearly 90% of the endowment's investments to external managers and adopting the 'Yale model' of prioritizing alternative investments over traditional stocks and bonds. This strategy has resulted in impressive annualized returns of 8.1% over the last three years, surpassing the performance of other prestigious institutions like Yale and Princeton. Despite these successes, Narvekar's approach has drawn criticism for its reliance on illiquid investments, with some arguing that Harvard could have been significantly wealthier had it matched the performance of its Ivy League counterparts. Narvekar's tenure also underscores the stark contrast between American and Indian university funding models, as Indian institutions have only recently begun to develop their endowment systems. Narvekar's legacy will likely influence future discussions on university finance and investment strategies.