Ahana, an MBA from IIM Tiruchirappalli and a B.Tech from VSSUT, Burla, embarked on a corporate career at Infosys and Deloitte for over six years. Yet, a deeper calling, rooted in her mother's lifelong dedication to education, inspired a profound career change. Leaving strategy consulting behind, she took the helm of a school empowering first-generation tribal students. Today, as Head of Partnerships & Communications at Hamari Laado, she champions quality education for rural India. Beyond her professional mission, Ahana is a dedicated animal rescuer, and finds joy teaching young children, reading, watching movies, or taking care of her community cats.

A trailblazer, Aparna recently took voluntary retirement from the Indian Army after serving the nation for 20 years. A native of Raipur, Aparna achieved many firsts in her family and extended community. In a journey that started from being an NCC cadet and making it to the Republic Day Parade and Youth Exchange Program, Aparna got commissioned in the Army Ordnance Corps at the age of 22. Soon, Aparna served in many roles and locations, including leading a United Nations Peacekeeping mission in Congo. Aparna is a subject matter expert on Conflict Related Sexual Violence and lends her time and energy towards women's development. Aparna's journey is an inspiration to every young girl growing up in a small town.

An army partner and a mother to a cheerful daughter, Aparna cares deeply about the army families and their development. She took the lead in introducing our NEEV program at Army Campuses. With Aparna joining the Board, we rely on her leadership to take NEEV to many young girls around the country.

Bharati holds a Master’s degree in Digital Humanities from IIT Jodhpur and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Osmania University, Hyderabad. With roots in rural India, she has been actively volunteering since her school days, driven by a deep desire to contribute to meaningful change. Her work and interests consistently align with causes that create real impact, especially in underserved communities. Bharati also finds folk art interesting and often practices it in her spare time.

Mahima is a dedicated teacher with a strong commitment to empowering young girls, especially in rural India. Having completed her Ph.D. in Economics from Pacific University, Udaipur, she brings both academic insight and lived experience—growing up and studying in government institutions in Bhunas and Bhilwara.

Her connection with Hamari Laado goes beyond work; it gave voice to a deeply personal calling—to not just live for herself, but to contribute meaningfully to society.

As someone who understands the challenges girls face around education, safety, and self-worth, Mahima believes that with the right support and inspiration, every girl can transform her life and uplift her entire community.

Through Hamari Laado, she now trains girls in self-awareness, confidence, teamwork, and self-defense—walking beside them as they chase their dreams. For her, this isn’t just work—it’s a mission rooted in purpose and a heartfelt desire to see every ‘Laado’ walk with confidence.

Sankalp’s grandfather was a polymath. Growing up around him as the eldest grandchild, he was blessed with undivided attention and unending treasure trove of books, stories, and walking / cycling expeditions. Over time he also recognized the blessing of growing up in Jamshedpur, a city which Shri Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata, the founder of Tata Group had imagined as a planned multi-cultural environment.

His participation in Hamari Laado is an attempt towards creating high-quality learning and mentoring opportunities for the most disadvantaged group in the society i.e. for rural girls from impoverished families.

Sankalp’s decade long corporate world experience lies in NOL Singapore, Infosys Technologies and the Tata Group across strategy, operations, marketing, management consulting and talent management. Subsequent to his doctorate in Strategic Management, he transitioned to academia serving IIM Trichy and IIT Jodhpur before joining IIT Bombay where he serves as the Desai Sethi Chair Professor of Entrepreneurship, investigating dimensions of university entrepreneurship ecosystems and entrepreneurship education.

Teaching children by deploying novel engaging methods is a constant source of motivation for him which he also translates into a range of entrepreneurship courses at IIT Bombay. Sankalp likes walking across cities he visits and captures his experiences as short stories for children

Currently serving at XLRI Jamshedpur as Associate Professor - Strategic Management, Vinayak explores intersections that challenge organizational practices in complex social settings. In doing so, he engages with organizations across scales and locations. He is passionate about possibilities of change that organizational action brings in society. Vinayak grew up in UP and holds a PhD in management from IIM Indore and holds a PhDin Microbiology as well! Vinayak is also a visiting research faculty at Essec Business School, France. Vinayak enjoys reading and meeting people from lesser known places!

A compassionate leader, Deepa recently retired from Tata Steel Ltd after 37 years of service through various dimensions of Human Resources. A graduate of XLRI Jamshedpur, Deepa started her career in the HRM division at Tata Steel's plants in Jamshedpur. Through-out her career, Deepa lived and carried the Tata values of care for her teams, employees, and businesses. Along with her expertise in various functions of HR, Deepa passionately created solutions that improved workplace culture, fostered diversity, enhanced social responsibility, and ensured ethical and compliant practices.

Deepa calls both Pune and Jamshedpur her home. A mother to two working daughters, Deepa has consistently volunteered in the communities through Tata Steel Foundation, including during the Covid pandemic. With Deepa joining the Board, we look to her guidance in strengthening teams and partnerships that can take Hamari Laado to many diverse communities.

A motivated, compassionate and young social worker who wishes to create a positive impact on the lives of people across the nation. Having done her schooling in Chennai and master's in social work at Amrita University, Coimbatore, Gayathri has been exposed to the problems plaguing the urban areas. Later with her work stint involving field visits to schools in the rural centres, she has got a glimpse of the other side of Bharat.

Kavita holds an MBA in Fashion Merchandising and Retail Management from FDDI, Noida. She spent 11 years at Bata India, leading retail operations across Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu—managing 150 stores, a 500+ member team, and ₹1300 million in revenue. Raised in a border village and educated in government schools, she brings a deep understanding of rural realities. A former NCC cadet and proud army spouse, Kavita now serves as Chief – Operations and Coach Development at Hamari Laado.

A Chartered Accountant by training, Mehul spent the majority of his career in the professional and business world until 2020. Since then, he has been intentionally choosing projects and people he genuinely enjoys working with. He finds joy in bringing ideas to life and watching them grow. Joining Hamari Laado feels like his opportunity to finally contribute to something truly meaningful—something that makes a real difference.

It is a unique story but represents stories of many of us. We all want to leave the world better than where we found it. We have many ways to go about that change, and all of it adds up. Whether we are helping build next set of roads that are connecting cities to villages, or working in an IT company helping world be better connected.

I grew up in a village in remote Rajasthan where my grandfather's family moved during the 1947 partition of India.

Driven by the vision of my father, we moved from one place to another, in need for education. I later worked in a textile plant in Punjab, with the great TATAs in Jamshedpur, and moved to the U.S. for MBA. I worked in development space and later found myself selling engines to mixer companies so they can build our roads, and to Bus companies so they can take kids to school. All of it adds, isnt it?

But my heart never left the imagery of the village where I grew up. About the daughters whose fathers couldn't do what my father did. I have wondered many times - in this more connected world, how can I give back to the places I have left behind. Many of us are migrants who have landed in different cities, countries in search of jobs and hopes. Many of us want to give back, in whatever little capacity we can.

This organization is set up with the hope of tapping into that collective spirit of doing our bit. To make it easy to connect with your role as coaches, mentors, sponsors, and much more. Read about our programs, share your thoughts, and tell us how we can help you do your bit. It all adds up!

Ms. Sudha Dhar brings decades of experience in information management and aligning business with technology to support strategic growth. In her recent roles as Enterprise Architecture Director at Cummins Inc. and CPPIB, and previously as CIO for Cummins India, she has focused on driving technology strategies critical to enabling digital business. Through various leadership positions, she has provided thought leadership for large-scale transformation programs, leadership coaching, mentoring, and building high-performing teams. A passionate trekker and artist who enjoys painting with acrylics, Sudha is deeply committed to social impact. She joined Hamari Laado to support Prem’s vision and contribute meaningfully to the cause of girls’ education—a cause she deeply cares about.

A native of Rajasthan and an inquisitive traveller, Siddharth graduated from Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar and returned back to Jodhpur to practice at the High Court of Rajasthan. For more than a decade now, Siddharth has appeared before various courts and tribunals on cases concerning Constitutional law, Education, Human rights, Consumer laws and Environmental laws. Siddharth has constantly supported to Hamari Laado by providing legal guidance in matters that impact the educational attainment of rural girls.

Vishnu followed the dual role of a teacher and a farmer for decades. Along with the many hats he wore as a father, change maker, and path breaker. He migrated with his family multiple times, so he could get education for his daughters. He deeply understands the social norms that shape the rural areas and their ethos. He knows the resistance on the path as well as the journey to change. His cross-generational insights and rootedness are core to our pace at Hamari Laado.

Vintee started her career as a faculty for MBA in khazani women's institute, with the objective to empower women through their personal and professional development. Later, Vintee worked in the finance department in Torrent power Ltd. Vintee believes in the propagation of cultural and social values for the common good of the society. She volunteers at the Green cell of IIT Jodhpur while also helping young girls in NEEV in schools near IIT Jodhpur. Vintee finds joy and creative expression through her passion for dancing.