Global IndianstoryThe World is mine: Megha Sudha Reddy, business tycoon, fashion icon, philanthropist

The World is mine: Megha Sudha Reddy, business tycoon, fashion icon, philanthropist

Written by: Vikram Sharma

(November 14, 2022) Megha Sudha Reddy can often be spotted in the company of Paris Hilton, Eva Longoria, Elizabeth Hurley, a galaxy of Hollywood stars and the world’s most influential leaders. Her iconic red-carpet appearances on the world stage are just too many.

From the Global Gift Gala to the MET Gala, Paris Couture Week and the First Ladies Luncheon — Sudha Reddy has stunned the global audience like no other. But that is only one part of her introduction. Philanthropy forms the other, more important part.

“I am an avid connoisseur of art, fashion, and the finer things in life,” smiles Megha Sudha Reddy, the Director of Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited MEIL) in an exclusive conversation with Global Indian.

Sudha Reddy at the Met Gala 2021, wearing a Falguni Shane Peacock gown and Chanel stilletos. Photo: ANI

One of the leading business tycoons of India, a global fashion icon, socialite, philanthropist and globe trotter, Sudha Reddy gets into the distinct roles with such elan that she stuns the world in everything that she does.

A brief conversation with her will tell you that Sudha lives life on her own terms.

Fashion Icon

“My style is a replica of my personality. It is versatile and unique,” says Sudha Reddy, who was among the few invitees to the prestigious F4D (Fashion 4 Development) Annual First Ladies Luncheon during the 77th session of the UN General Assembly in New York this year. Powerful women from various fields including fashion, politics and business ventures attended the mega event.

The fashion icon was honoured with the Fashion 4 Development Philanthropy Award by New York State Senator Alessandra Biaggi. Previous winners include Charlize Theron, Diane Kruger, Arianna Huffington, Diane Von Furstenberg, Naomi Campbell, Amber Heard, Ellie Goulding and Victoria Beckham.

Leaving a mark in the global fashion circles, the billionaire walked the red carpet at the 2021 Met Gala. She is also the first woman from south India to have been invited by the committee of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture in 2022.

Showcasing India’s artistic heritage

“My sole aim for this trip was to highlight India’s rich artistic heritage. Indian craftsmanship is something that has to be celebrated on the world stage,” says the billionaire who has attended private dinners hosted by some of the most prominent designers, including Christian Dior, Rahul Mishra, Giambattista Valli, Alexandre Vauthier, Armani Privé, Zuhair Murad and Rami al Ali, and Fendi.

She says that engaging in discourse with world’s most influential leaders at all the prestigious events she attended, offered her an opportunity to share her vision with them. “I feel blessed to represent my country on a global stage,” says the fashionista.

Her inspirations ? “Princess Diana and Marilyn Monroe,” says the MEIL director, who was the first guest in the new Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Lucerne, Switzerland, recently, which is a rare honour for an Indian.

Globe-trotting and attending the mega events have enabled Sudha Reddy to expand her horizons and gain exposure. “Most importantly, I have learnt that there is always room for learning more,” says Sudha, who received a personal invite from Paris Hilton, requesting her presence at the launch of her fragrance in Mumbai last month.

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At work

When it comes to her work at Megha group of industries, the wife of top industrialist Megha Krishna Reddy and mother of two says that while there have been challenges, it has been a fulfilling journey. “Our focus is to take India’s infrastructural capacity to newer heights, in terms of road and highway infrastructure,” says the company’s director.

Born and brought up in Andhra Pradesh, she credits her husband Krishna Reddy, whom she describes as a great source of learning. “Sheer hard work has ensured that we and our family of 7,000 employees have turned dreams into reality,” says Sudha Reddy.

One of the major ongoing projects of Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL) is the Zojila Pass tunnel, with which they have created a place for itself by drilling a tunnel in the Himalayan range, the first of its kind in such a geographical zone.

Philanthropy

Making the world a better place is a mission Megha Sudha Reddy has chosen for herself.

“I have witnessed the struggles of the underprivileged communities across India. We all have something to give back to the society and do our bit. I am doing mine,” says Sudha.

Through the Sudha Reddy Foundation, the business tycoon is working tirelessly towards affordable healthcare, accessible education for the underprivileged even as she has taken massive steps in spreading awareness about cancer and other chronic diseases.

“Working for these causes is my mission. It keeps me motivated and drives me to do more for the people,” says the recipient of “Champions of Change” award from the Telangana government. She firmly believes that donating time, money or skills positively impacts lives of many people.

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She is actively associated with Action Against Hunger and Poverty, Breast Cancer Research Foundation and Fight Hunger Foundation.

“Anyone who is in a position to give back to society should do their bit,” feels Sudha Reddy, who advocates for equitable medical care and literacy while providing women and children with a forum to have their voices heard.

With kindness and compassion at the centre of her mission, she aims at aiding and uplifting many more lives across the length and breadth of India.

Not only does she work alongside American actress Eva Longaria to raise awareness about children suffering from chronic diseases, Sudha Reddy, she previously collaborated with Elizabeth Hurley to work toward breast cancer awareness.

Fitness freak

Whether she’s working, travelling or attending mega events around the world, the business tycoon makes it a point to devote some time to fitness. She never misses her 90 minute workout schedule, five days a week.

“I also practice yoga and eat in moderation. Regular exercising keeps stress at bay,” smiles Sudha Reddy, who regularly takes to meditation and indulges in various religious activities. “Prayers have healing powers,” is her firm belief.

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Published on 14, Nov 2022

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Dipak C Jain: Small town boy to global management guru

(Aug 1, 2023) On his first day as Dean at the Kellogg School of Management, Professor Dipak C Jain stepped onto stage, before the MBA class of 650 students to make the customary commencement address. A few minutes in, the director of corporate communications rushed up to him and whispered in his ear, "There has been a terror attack. You need to end your speech before the phones start ringing." That was September 11, 2001. "Who could have anticipated that event," Professor Jain asked, in a talk for SolBridge International School of Business, back in 2018. "Nobody. But what we did know is that when the students graduated, the economic conditions wouldn't be good." Dealing with crisis Flights resumed regular services a month later, on October 3, 2001 - Jain is specific about the date, he remembers it well. "For the next few months, hardly a day passed when I wasn't on a flight, going to meet a potential recruiter." Students, Jain emphasises, come to business school with certain aspirations, they expect good teaching and a good placement, too. When he called his peers at Stanford and Harvard, they were resigned to the situation. "They told me, 'Dipak, it will

the situation. "They told me, 'Dipak, it will affect all of us'. That much is true but how we react can be different." He could use it as an excuse, or do something about it. He chose the latter.

[caption id="attachment_29919" align="aligncenter" width="588"] Professor Dipak Jain. Photo: Twitter[/caption]

"We all live under the same sky but seem to have different horizons," Jain said in a lecture. That year, aside from flying out to meet recruiters, he also wrote to his old students, asking them for work for his fresh graduates. That letter, as it happened, got into the press. Jain was approached by CNN's Lou Dobbs, asking him to appear on the show. He couldn't make it that day but Dobbs ran with the story anyway, saying, "Kellogg Dean begging for jobs." Jain saw it as "the best publicity you can get without paying for advertising." He flew out to meet recruiters. The following year, Kellogg School of Management had the highest placement rate and was rated by Businessweek as the 'top business school in the world'.

Currently, the Global Indian is the co-president and Global Advisor of the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), before which he was Director, Sasin Graduate Institute of Business Administration of Chulalongkom University in Bangkok. After eight years as Dean at the Kellogg School of Management, Jain stepped down in 2009. Two years later, he served for three years as a Dean of INSEAD, from 2011 to March 2013. "I was the first Dean of a European School," he remarked. "It's much more difficult in France than most other places to be accepted, as an Indian.” Jain also serves as an Independent Director on the Board of Reliance Industries Limited and has been a consultant with Microsoft, American Express, Eli Lilly and Company and Hyatt International.

Difficult beginnings

Dipak Chand Jain was born in a small town in Assam, to a "blind father and a mother who never went to school." His grandfather, who had been a schoolteacher, would tell him, "Your father has never seen light. Make sure that you always spread it to the world." Life was tough in his home town as his school had no tables or chairs, or paper to write on. Students sat cross-legged on the floor and scribbled on slates with pieces of chalk, committing what they wrote to memory before they erased it. There was no university either.

[caption id="attachment_29916" align="aligncenter" width="506"] Prof Jain with alumni from CEIBS[/caption]

Finding success

In 1976, when it was Jain's turn to graduate, he topped the university. For a young boy with very few opportunities in life, it was a major milestone. When he finished his honours in Mathematics from Dharam College in Tezpur, he left home for the first time in 25 years. "My father took me to the bus station in Guwahati and I got on a bus for the first time. Who knew that I would one day go on to become the director of United Airlines?" From this, he learned what he calls one of the major attributes to his success. "There are no shortcuts in life. I did my high school, college, a Master's and a PhD. These things take time. Nothing good happens quickly."

There are no shortcuts in life. I did my high school, college, a Master's and a PhD. These things take time. Nothing good happens quickly.

Ten years later, after his PhD, Jain was a student of Mathematics with no business school background. He received his first job offer, to teach a course in marketing at the Kellogg School of Management. His first encounter with Dean Donald Jacobs, who would go on to be a lifelong colleague, mentor and friend, came at the end of his first year. Jain arrived at the faculty dinner where Dean Jacobs stood and decided to introduce himself. "He took one look at me and lost his temper. I had no idea what I had done wrong. He told me to leave."

The importance of feedback

Jain decided to stick around for the dinner anyway, thinking that his departure would reflect poorly on his boss. The next day, a superior told him that no harm was meant by the incident and not to take the matter personally. It was another mantra he adopted for the rest of his life. "Don't take things personally. And when you're given feedback, accept it with gratitude. The same man who yelled at me in public made me deputy dean, a candidate for the next dean. A football coach told me once that he only yells at players in whom he sees potential."

At the start of his teaching career in 1998, Jain found a group of students waiting outside his office one evening to tell him, "Professor, we have come to the conclusion that you don't know the subject." Jain admitted he was new to it, having had no B-school experience. "They said, we are not here to complain but we believe that there is a great teacher inside of you. We are here to promise that we will make you the best teacher you can be." They stuck to their word, bringing him magazine articles and copies of the Wall Street Journal that Jain could use as case studies in his classes. When he became Dean, Jain began to organise an informal session for students and faculty, where the former could freely express their opinions.

Don't take things personally. And when you're given feedback, accept it with gratitude. The same man who yelled at me in public made me deputy dean, a candidate for the next dean. A football coach told me once that he only yells at players in whom he sees potential.

When Jacobs died at the age of 90, Jain, who was in Delhi heading for the funeral, received a call from his daughter. "She said, 'Dipak, dad passed away. Come quickly.' He had made me the trustree of his wealth. Building trust with people will make you what you are."

INSEAD, France

In May 2011, Jain accepted the post as a Dean at INSEAD in France, fascinated by the idea of a one-year MBA. At the time, Jain was involved in two other projects as well - creating a business school in Bangladesh and focussing on entrepreneurship and small business management for women in countries like Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, as well as starting a university in Angola. "For global prosperity and peace, we have to target women," he said, at the time of his appointment, in 2010.

With areas of interest that include market segmentation, competitive market structure analysis, marketing of high-tech products and cross-culture issues in global product diffusion, as well as forecasting models, Jain has published over fifty articles and is the author of Marketing Moves: A New Approach to Profits, Growth and Renewal. "Business school is about structured thinking. Solving problems means developing that structured approach." The real-world problems are many - soon, the world will have a large ageing population, with increasing lifespans indicating that the duration of retirement could be as long as the time spent working. "How do we engage the retired population?" This is the age, he says, of "human capital," and the core purpose of business education is "shaping and attracting human talent."

Follow Professor Dipak C. Jain on Twitter or listen to him on YouTube

Building better lives: How Nowsheen Yaqoob went from aviation to human development through NLP

(March 27, 2023) Nowsheen Yaqoob believes no matter what the adversity is, one must learn to be joyful in all situations. Joy, she believes, is a basic emotion – It was the conviction that led to the creation of Auracious Global Consulting - a human development company based in Dubai, that helps individuals and organisations across the globe achieve their full potential on the personal and professional fronts. Their approach, according to the company's LinkedIn profile, involves the latest developments in neural and behavioural science, Neuro Linguistic Programming, Hypnosis and Quantum Physics, as well as Life Coaching and Change Management models. Auracious works with a diverse clientele from around the world, as well as with clients like FedEx, De Montfort University Dubai and Amity University Dubai. Nowsheen, who left behind a lucrative career in the aviation sector to help people and organisations transform themselves, has come a long way. The wind beneath her wings Born in Srinagar, Nowsheen is a qualified Architect and holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration, besides being a certified life coach. Growing up, she always dreamed of a profession that would allow her to fly. "When I would watch planes fly as a child, I

Administration, besides being a certified life coach. Growing up, she always dreamed of a profession that would allow her to fly. "When I would watch planes fly as a child, I dreamt of working in a profession that would allow me to travel across the world. However, when it actually happened I felt something was missing,” Nowsheen said, in an interview with Global Indian.

[caption id="attachment_36614" align="aligncenter" width="361"] Nowsheen Yaqoob, founder, Auracious Global Consulting[/caption]

So, after more than a decade of working in the aviation sector she realised that it wasn't her calling. She loved communicating and connecting with people more. Nowsheen went on to do a Master’s in Neuro Linguistic Programming and life coaching. During this time, she realised “there were many people, especially youngsters, who were unable to experience joy because of some trauma they were carrying,” she says. "I transform the way people understand themselves, their relationships, career, and health. The intent to help people in an authentic manner, backed by professional tools, put me on the road to making Life Coaching my career."

Nowsheen constantly feels this desire to add value to people’s lives, especially the ones who feel they are under societal pressure and have issues that prevent them from achieving their best potential due to self-limiting beliefs. She finds it extremely fulfilling personally and professionally in more ways than she could have imagined.

The entrepreneurship route

It was this passion that led to creation of Auracious Global Consulting. "As an Internationally certified Master Life Coach and Neuro Linguistic Programming Practitioner, my work focuses on human development, along with personal and professional coaching solutions," Nowsheen explains. She remarks, that in her quest for excellence, she has taken purposeful strides to blaze new trails in her specialisation, combining the best of her experience and expertise to help people and individuals achieve growth.

Nowsheen ensures that her beliefs and values hinge on achieving human connectedness, growth and contribution, in a manner that brings the best benefits for those who gain from it. "I give my best in everything I do, and be as genuine as humanly possible, with a never-give-up attitude. It is this same belief, ‘yes, it is possible’ that I share in my work, to help transform an individual’s mindset to realize their infinite horizons, dimensions, and potential."

Her personal transformation

Nowsheen has had her own journey of transformation. "The amalgamation of my life experiences with how I overcame many challenges and obstacles in life, and my passion for sharing my learning with people helped me to take this up as a career," she explains. From her early childhood years and well into adult life, hers has been an arduous journey towards overcoming many fears and anxieties. When she triumphed over them, it inspired her to go forward confidently in her chosen field of work.

In order to take the plunge into entrepreneurship, Nowsheen had to overcome her own self-limiting beliefs and rise above the apprehensions, fears, doubts and vulnerabilities, as well as a certain level of self-directed scepticism. "Now, I am living my passion of helping individuals to break their shackles of fears, anxieties, traumas, and stress, to live a confident, happy, and fulfilled life."

Her focus areas

Today, Nowsheen helps individuals and corporations to transform the way they understand themselves, their relationships, career, and health, thus becoming their personal and professional best.

Nowsheen Yaqoob, founder, Auracious Global Consulting, Global Indian

"I work on bringing about a dynamic transformation in people’s lives through the principles of Human Potential Development, NLP and Life Coaching through individual sessions, awareness workshops, corporate trainings, group coaching, webinars, seminars, social media awareness, eBooks, self-help PDFs and podcasts."

Human connectedness is the core value on which her Life Coaching approach is founded. Each step of the personal empowerment journey is designed to the highest degree. Auracious Global Consulting uses a well-structured combination of scientifically proven tools and techniques that are an amalgamation of Neuro Linguistic Programming, Life Coaching processes, Compassionate Counselling, Hypnosis and Meditation. “I have been a full-fledged Life Coach since 2015. However, my career in training and development has grown over the past 18 years, with many milestones, experiences, and learning.”

A global mission

She works with people of over 200 nationalities and Auracious Global Consulting is based out of Dubai. Still, Nowsheen keeps her ties with her homeland. “I visit India off and on for counselling; have conducted many sessions in Kashmir with schools, different organisations. I work with multinational companies and conduct workshops for employees and top-notch CEO’s,” she says. These days, Nowsheen has people calling her up from across the world seeking counselling.

In 2022, she also launched Auracious Global in Kashmir and provides online consultations. When she is in Kashmir she does in-person consultations. “People just need to be more aware that help is available and they need to be guided in the right direction. In order to create awareness I make the best use of my social media handles – both personal as well as professional.”

“It is a rewarding journey of transformation and fulfilment for those who I work with, by helping them overcome struggles to achieve their goals,” the entrepreneur remarks. Nowsheen loves to work closely with her clients and seeing them experience their personal breakthroughs is a constant source of fulfilment and gratification for her. “I give my 100 percent to my clients which led my clientele to grow organically through referrals and meaningful associations.”

Overcoming obstacles

Taking on huge responsibilities at an incredibly young age, with minimal guidance and no mentor presented Nowsheen with a mountain of obstacles to surmount.

“However, successfully overcoming those early challenges gave me that all-important thrust in the right direction. I had to break free from the imaginary mould of ‘perfection’ to face realities and to see for myself that inner happiness is more validating and satisfying than trying to live up to anybody else’s definition of perfection. We are not here to live up to a mark sheet of perfect expectations. We are better off discovering and creating our own happiness in each moment of our lifetime, she explains.

Making a difference

At various points in her personal and professional life, Nowsheen has been able to give back to society in many ways where her expertise could be harnessed free of cost to those who needed it. “Throughout the year 2020, especially when the pandemic forced people to give in to mental, emotional, and psychological pressures, and income sources dried up, I was able to provide professional life coaching pro bono to one and all.”

Lately, she has been working towards building a community of transformational coaches, thought leaders, mentors and change facilitators – who offer help to those who cannot afford or access professional coaching. “The foundation of this community lies on shared ideologies, and a fluid forum that inspires, sustains, and encourages progressive thoughts and sustainable human potential transformation.”

Nowsheen’s own struggle for inner transformation and her courage to follow her dreams, have led to her living her greatest passion - making a meaningful difference to people’s lives, by helping them make empowering decisions. She helps people to create the best version of themselves for themselves, and for the larger benefit of society.

“The greater aim is to make the world a better place through individuals who are joyful, confident, and evolved.” Apart from receiving many awards and appreciation during her course of journey, having received the Business Excellence Award from Padma Bhushan Javed Akhtar in November in Dubai has been quite a humbling experience for Nowsheen.

Follow Nowsheen Yaqoob on LinkedIn

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MR Rangaswami: From angel investing to mobilising Indian leaders for social change through Indiaspora

(March 12, 2024) These days, MR Rangaswami is a real man about town in the US. He's at the top summits, meeting celebrities like AR Rahman when they're in the US, and rubbing shoulders with the likes of PM Modi, attending parties at the home of Vice President Kamala Harris or rubbing shoulders with Ambassadors Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Eric Garcetti. He's one of Silicon Valley's top angel investors and philanthropists, as he mobilises his vast network of business leaders, politicians, startups and non-profits to bring about social good. It wasn't always the case, though. MR Rangaswami's success came through hard work, failure and the ability to take a risk, which he has done several times, from becoming the US' first angel investor to organising a CEO retreat for some of the US' biggest names in the corporate world and giving all the proceeds away to charity. Back in 1997, however, when MR Rangaswami was busy organising his first CEO retreat under the banner of his company, Sand Hill, it seemed as if things weren’t destined to go his way. He set up an advisory board, put a programme together and sent out invitations. Nobody registered. CEOs received dozens of

s received dozens of conference invitations just like this one, and they wanted to know how this one was any different. So, the Global Indian made a bold decision, one that would change his life. He decided to organise the first ever non-profit conference, where 100 percent of the proceeds would be donated. The idea was a huge hit. In the last 15 years, the organisation has given away over $20 million to non-profits, and CEOs pay up to $10,000 per head just to attend. The conference is also a platform for deserving non-profits to network with industry captains, receive advice, feedback and investments.

M.R. Rangaswami is widely regarded as one of the founding fathers of Silicon Valley. He has been profiled on the front page of the Wall Street Journal, named to Forbes' 'Midas' list of investors and has been recognized by CRN as one of the top 25 Tech Executives. He's also the founder of Indiaspora, through which he mobilises high achievers from the Indian diaspora as a force for good. His ethos is simple: Indians are in the top one percent in the US, with an average annual income of $1,50,000. "Our community tends to be very low profile," he said, in an interview. "But we need to be more high profile because all Americans need to know that we are generous and we help." Indiaspora hosts an Annual Leadership Forum, a Philanthropy Summit and the Global Connect Initiative, and engages in community issues as well.

‘Young and naïve’ in Houston, Texas

M.R. Rangaswami first arrived in Silicon Valley "as a young, naive person with absolutely no idea of what the value was about," as he puts it. He had graduated from Loyola College, Chennai and was a techie with a comfortable job in Houston, Texas. One day, when he met a consultant for training, the consultant asked him what he does. M.R. replied that he had an MBA and works with computers. "He says, 'what the heck are you doing in Houston? You better get out to Silicon Valley'. In those days there was no LinkedIn, no Facebook, no internet, nothing. In '82, I'm sitting in Houston saying, how the hell do I get to Silicon Valley?"

The only way was the long way. He went to the library, starting at what Silicon Valley was in the first place. He made a list of potential employers and software company listings, typed out his resume and mailed it out to them.

The Silicon Valley journey

Sure enough, a company called him, did an interview and offered him a job. What MR didn't know at the time was that he had joined a startup. And he was the only Indian there. The compan did great, doubling in the first year, the second year and third year. Then, in the fourth year, the company asked him to lay off all the employees in his group, until he was the only one left. "Then they called me and said, 'You're laid off as well'."

[caption id="attachment_49924" align="aligncenter" width="528"] MR Rangaswami with PM Narendra Modi[/caption]

However, instead of being bogged down by failure, MR knew the time had come to pivot away from the corporate ladder. "I grew in the industry, seen Steve Jobs, Mary Ellis and Scott McNealy and all the big names in enterprise and consumer tech," he says. "That was my upbringing. I had a terrific career at companies like Oracle and helped take a company public; the stock went from 25 cents to $50." And the sudden break in his career allowed him to ask if he wanted to keep on making money or do something different with his life.

This was the mid-nineties, at the height of the startup boom and the Silicon Valley dot-com bubble. And M.R. Rangaswami chose to do what nobody had done before. He founded the first Angel Investor firm, at a time when the phrase hadn't even come in to use yet. In 1997, he bought sandhill.com for $20, beginning his journey as one of the founding fathers of the Silicon Valley tech startup ecosystem. "I picked up the domain for $20 and thought, that's going to be my exit. One of these days, someone's going to offer me a million bucks." His aim was to help startups, either through feedback and connecting them with investors, or by investing personally. He invested in some 150 companies, a few of them did badly, and others did very well. "I invested in some good companies but that was not my intent," he says. "It was to help founders."

The thrill of giving back

It did, however, invoke his spirit of giving. "Then I wanted to bring the whole ecosystem together, through a conference or a retreat for the top 100 people in business and in tech," Rangaswami recalls. He had seen the Indian community in Silicon Valley grow in leaps and bounds, until they populated the top one percent of the working population in the US. When MR first came to Silicon Valley, it was home to some 10,000 Indians. Fast forward four decades and there are 4,00,000 Indians living there. They're also among the highest earners, at the forefront of major corporations, VCs, angel investor firms and startups.

[caption id="attachment_49925" align="aligncenter" width="443"] MR Rangaswami and Sri Sri Ravishankar[/caption]

When his corporate retreat idea didn't take off, Rangaswami decided to make an even bolder move and pivoted straight into the non-profit space and discovered that he had created a very successful mode. "We have been able to give away over $20 million and also bring the CEOs of non-profits into our network and give them mentorship, advice and even money from many of the CEOs of large corporations," he said, in a talk. "The same CEOs pay a lot of money to attend, today, it's $10,000 per person. All that money goes to non-profits, I don't take a single penny out of it and the model has become a huge success." He also went on to found the Corporate Eco Forum, an invite only community for publicly listed companies with a strong environmental focus in their core business strategy. Members in the Top 100 include Bank of America, Procter & Gamble, Wells Fargo, JP Morgan Chase & Co, Microsoft, Sales Force, The Walt Disney Company and many more.

The birth of Indiaspora

After that, there was no looking back. In 2007, noticing that the Indian diaspora was growing in numbers and in wealth, with no single organisation to unite them, he started Indiaspora. "There are communities for lawyers, doctors and other professions. And there are groups for communities like the Gujarati Samaj and the Tamil Sangam," he says. "The idea was to bring together people from all walks of life to be a force for good." Driven by the idea of 'seva', Indiaspora helps non-profits and different organisations amplify their messages.

A decade later, Indiaspora is a high profile network of global Indian leaders, involved with philanthropy, civic engagement and social impact and entrepreneurship and innovation. Their philanthropic efforts are in the form of a long-term partnership with Give, based in India. In the US, they aim to support over 500 non-profits through philanthropic contributions from over 200 partners and this arm of the organisation is headed by Ashish Shah. The partnership was formed in 2022, as Give India and Indiaspora hosted the Indiaspora-Give Philanthropy Summit at the Consulate General of India, New York, bringing together leading philanthropists, foundations and non-profits.

Their civic engagement deals with a diverse set of issues, including racial justice and gender equality. And MR Rangaswami believes that all enterprises will eventually be social enterprises, that for-profit companies will work for social good. He urges everyone to live by Salesforce's' 1-1-1- model - 'Donate one percent of your time, product, profit to philanthropic causes'.

Follow MR Rangaswami on LinkedIn.

Romulus Whitaker: India’s legendary herpetologist and conservationist

(February 17, 2024) While the effects of AI on health and work-life balance are receiving widespread attention, snakebites continue to be a neglected public health issue. WHO estimates about five million snakebite occurrences in India annually leading to nearly 2.7 million envenomings (a life-threatening disease caused by snake venoms). These incidents lead to somewhere between 81,000 and 138,000 deaths annually in the country. Snakebite envenoming also causes up to 400,000 cases of amputation and other permanent disabilities. American by birth and Indian at heart, herpetologist and conservationist Romulus Whitaker is one of the few individuals who has dedicated his life to addressing this problem. Born in New York in 1943, Whitaker arrived in India as an eight-year-old. He fell in love with the country and made it home. Driven by his deep passion for wildlife, he embarked on a life-long journey dedicated to the study and conservation of India's reptiles, establishing himself as a herpetologist and conservationist. Over the years, he has made invaluable contributions to wildlife research and nature conservation in India, and has pioneered several significant projects. He established the Madras Snake Park in 1969, the The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust in 1976, the Andamans Centre of Island

ed the Madras Snake Park in 1969, the The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust in 1976, the Andamans Centre of Island Ecology in 1989, and the Agumbe Rainforest Research Station in 2005. His contributions have been recognised with prestigious awards, including the Whitley Award, Rolex Award, Order of Golden Ark, Peter Scott Award, Salim Ali Award, and the Padma Shri.

[caption id="attachment_49148" align="aligncenter" width="704"] Conservationist | Romulus Whitaker | Global Indian Romulus Whitaker[/caption]

Two species, Eryx whitakeri, a type of Indian boa, and Bungarus romulusi, a species of krait, are named after Whitaker. In addition to penning numerous technical papers and books, such as ‘Snakes of India: The Field Guide,’ Whitaker has directed and produced several wildlife documentaries, including the Emmy Award-winning ‘The King and I,’ that explores the natural history of the king cobra, the largest venomous snake in the world. Acclaimed as the 'Snakeman of India,' Whitaker is professionally affiliated with multiple organisations working towards wildlife conservation across the world. Fluent in Tamil and Hindi, Whitaker has recently released the first volume of his three-part memoir, 'Snakes, Drugs and Rock 'n' Roll: My Early Years,' published by Harper Collins and co-authored by Janaki Lenin.

Addressing the ‘poor man’s disease’

For decades, Romulus Whitaker and his team have been dedicated to addressing snakebite issues in India. Referred to as a 'poor man's disease,' it not only causes physical harm to its victims but also places a considerable burden on their families, as those affected are predominantly individuals employed in agricultural settings.

Dealing with snakebites in rural areas is tough. Awareness is crucial, especially about medically important venomous snakes like the spectacled cobra, Russell’s viper, common krait, and saw-scaled viper, most commonly found across the geographical region.

- Romulus Whitaker

[caption id="attachment_49145" align="aligncenter" width="665"] Conservationist | Romulus Whitaker | Global Indian Romulus Whitaker[/caption]

Over the years, Whitaker has worked towards educating rural communities on snakebite prevention, providing guidance on safety protocols, and aiding in the identification of the four most dangerous snake species. Through workshops conducted for local rescuers, forest departments, and fire departments, Whitaker and his team have strived to minimise human-snake conflicts and ensure the safety of all involved.

Improving rural healthcare access

“Dealing with snakebites in rural areas is tough. Lack of healthcare means victims often don't make it to a hospital on time. With so many snake species, identifying the dangerous ones is tricky,” Whitaker mentions in one of his blogs. “People sometimes go to traditional healers, and transportation issues delay treatment. On top of that, different venom types and a lack of trust in healthcare workers make things even more complicated. Sadly, snakebite isn't a priority in many hospitals, and healthcare workers often need proper training,” he adds.

Whitaker and his team collaborate with regional, national, and international organisations, including US-based Global Snakebite Initiative (GSI) that aims to improve the quality, effectiveness, and accessibility of treatment options globally.

[caption id="attachment_49152" align="aligncenter" width="636"] Conservationist | Romulus Whitaker | Global Indian Romulus Whitaker with tribals[/caption]

“We are also training ASHA workers and health staff to boost their confidence in administering antivenom (AV). Some hesitate due to the risk of allergic reactions from antivenoms. We are collaborating with researchers to develop better antivenoms, not only to reduce reactions but also to make it region-specific,” he mentions.

Recognising the under-reporting of snakebite incidents, Whitaker and his team are advocating for a snakebite registry and are involved in developing regional, state, and national strategies to address the problem comprehensively.

Developing friendship with snakes

Growing up in the countryside of northern New York State, Whitaker developed a fascination for snakes, in the way most children have a fondness for toys. Rather than discouraging his fascination, his mother actively supported his interest by even allowing him to bring snakes home, taking him to the Natural History Museum in NYC, and getting him books about snakes.

At the age of eight, in 1951, when Whitaker relocated from the USA to India with his mother Doris Norden, and stepfather Rama Chattopadhyaya, he was instantly captivated by the warmth of the people. He studied in Kodaikanal, where he cultivated a deep appreciation for the natural world through explorations in the forests of the Palni Hills.

[caption id="attachment_49153" align="aligncenter" width="679"] Conservationist | Romulus Whitaker | Global Indian Romulus Whitaker with school kids[/caption]

In 1961 he went to the U.S. for higher education, and briefly served in the U.S. Merchant Navy before joining the Miami Serpentarium, where he met his mentor William Haast and gained expertise in venom collection. Whitaker's deep love for India compelled him to return in 1967.

Becoming central figure in snake and crocodile conservation

Upon his return, he was introduced to the Irula tribe, renowned for their snake-catching abilities. He discovered they were misusing these skills. “They were amazing at catching snakes, but sadly, they were misusing their skills in the snake-skin industry,” Whitaker says. This prompted him to establish a snake park for their welfare. His initiatives coincided with the government’s efforts to ban exploitative activities involving snakes.

My early days with snakes taught me we needed to change how people see them.

- Romulus Whitaker

In 1969, Whitaker established a snake park near Madras, employing Irulas as caretakers to alter their relationship with snakes. By 1971, with assistance from the chief conservator of forests, the park was relocated to the Guindy Deer Park in the city, attracting a million visitors in its inaugural year.

During the mid-1970s, he collaborated with his ex-wife, Zai Whitaker, to launch the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust near Mahabalipuram's Shore Temple - significant initiative in crocodile conservation and now a premier attraction in Chennai. Also known as the Centre for Herpetology, crocodiles are bred in captivity there with the purpose of releasing them into the wild.

[caption id="attachment_49154" align="aligncenter" width="679"] Conservationist | Romulus Whitaker | Global Indian Romulus Whitaker[/caption]

For me, it wasn't just about saving the animals from the destruction we humans were causing in trying to get our resources; it was also about preserving nature's balance by protecting its habitat. Because caring for the environment and its animals benefits us as well.”

- Romulus Whitaker

Over the next seven decades, Whitaker developed deep interest in two of India's iconic reptiles, the gharial crocodile from the northern rivers and the king cobra from the southern rainforest.

Transforming snake hunters to snake protectors

Recognising the need to provide the Irula Tribe with sustainable livelihoods, Whitaker founded the Irula Snake-Catchers Cooperative in 1978. This cooperative transformed snake-catching into a humane practice, focusing solely on venom extraction, with released snakes returning to the wild. Today, the cooperative supplies 80% of India's snake venom for antivenom production, saving countless lives across the nation, while the Irula tribals are engaged in dignified livelihoods.

Man of many achievements

Deeply committed to wildlife, in 1986, at the age of 43, Whitaker obtained a B.Sc. in wildlife management from Pacific Western University. He was appointed as a wildlife consultant by the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization which led him to provide his expertise in Papua New Guinea, Mozambique, Malaysia, Bangladesh, and Indonesia. He also served as the vice-chairman of the Crocodile Specialist Group under the IUCN/Species Survival Commission, and led efforts to rescue the gharial from the verge of extinction.

[caption id="attachment_49155" align="aligncenter" width="748"] Romulus Whitaker during a talk[/caption]

“I am happiest out in the wild just watching turtles, snakes, crocs and other herps,” tells the herpetologist, conservationist, wildlife researcher, filmmaker and author whose life revolves around wildlife.

Reading Time: 5 mins

Ananya Birla: The artist and entrepreneur tiptoeing into the family business

(February 3, 2023) Ananya Birla's appointment as director to the Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd marks the entry of the fifth generation of the family in the $60 billion conglomerate. However, before diving into the family business, the 28-year-old billionaire heiress wanted to carve her own journey and not rest on the laurels and fame of her family name. And that's exactly what she did in the last decade - being an artist and an entrepreneur. Being born with a silver spoon can spell comfort and security, but affluence can also cast a shadow on freedom and destiny. And this was something that she was aware of at crucial junctures of her life. It is her heart that Ananya follows, and this led to her finding her true calling — music and entrepreneurship. For someone passionate about singing and making a difference in the world, Ananya is carving her niche as a youth icon. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ananya Birla (@ananyabirla) A loneliness that led to music Born to billionaire industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla and Neerja Birla, Ananya often found herself at the crossroads of living up to her family's name and

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A loneliness that led to music

Born to billionaire industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla and Neerja Birla, Ananya often found herself at the crossroads of living up to her family's name and carving her own identity. With a bodyguard and a curfew in place, Ananya felt claustrophobic trying to fit into the world's expectations of her. It was music that came to her rescue in times of loneliness and made her feel understood.

[caption id="attachment_34628" align="aligncenter" width="508"] Ananya Birla | Global Indian | Artist Ananya Birla with father Kumar Mangalam Birla[/caption]

Her parents who were supportive of her dreams often helped ease her dilemma. Even as a child, it was music that gave Birla solace and joy. At age nine, she picked up the santoor, having watched her mother play the instrument over the years. Growing up, she fell in love with the guitar and taught herself to play the instrument through YouTube tutorials. That's when she started tiptoeing into the world of music composition. However, music continued to be a hobby, until, she moved to Oxford University to study Economics and Management.

The musical journey

It was here that Ananya was introduced to the vibrant music scene and the gig culture that played a catalyst in transforming her passion into a career. She began playing at local pubs and clubs in London, and also started writing her own music. This exposure to several genres of music gave her the confidence to make her own music. And that's what she did when she dropped her first single Livin the Life in 2016.

The popularity of the song landed her a worldwide release through AM:PM recording after Dutch DJ Afrojack remixed it. This was the beginning of her innings in music.

Ananya arrived on the scene when there were not many takers of the music that she was producing. But the 28-year-old had to break the ceiling to make her voice heard, literally.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzeKmJj7L-Q

In a conversation with Billboard, she said, "When I started out, I was told that there wasn’t really an audience in India for my type of music. Until recently, film music really dominated. Different genres and English-language songs didn't get much attention. Now labels are pushing independent singers, and there's a lot more opportunity for artists who want to create their own music. The digital shift and globalisation also mean the appetite for English language music has increased so much," adding, "I think if you want to stand out from the crowd you have to be willing to take risks and go against the grain. Breaking out was tough and I got a bit of criticism at first which was hard to deal with. But, I learned quickly that this comes with the territory and anything creative is 100% subjective. I am so happy people are now responding so positively to my music back home."

With 2017 came her next single Meant To Be. Such was the response to her song that made her the first Indian artist with an English single to go platinum in India. In no time, Ananya made a name for herself in the music world and was recognized by international artists. So much so that she soon found herself performing at Coldplay's concert in Mumbai.

The platinum singer

Ananya is one of the few women artists who is making it big in pop music with five of her singles making it to platinum. Be it Hold On (2018) or Unstoppable (2019), Ananya has been carving a niche for herself in the world of music, one song at a time. "As a woman in a male-dominated industry, it’s important to believe in yourself and not to do anything you don’t feel comfortable with. It can be tough. When I started out, it really hurt when I was told that my style, look, or sound wasn’t right. But my vision was strong and I refused to change for anyone. As soon as I was confident being unapologetically myself, everything started falling into place," she added.

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Ananya's songs are an extension of herself, something that she draws from her personal experiences. For her, music is a medium through which she connects with people and emotions.

The singer and songwriter is one of the few artists to collaborate with big names like Sean Kingston and Mood Melodies, thus giving the world a perfect mix of pop music. Ananya's songs and collaborations are a reminder that music is a universal language. "International perspective definitely helps take a song to the next level. I'm influenced by all the places I go. I’ve been lucky to work in some of the best cities across the world where music is a huge part of the culture. India, though, is a part of my soul. It is impossible not to be influenced by it, the intensity, the sounds, the centuries of culture," added the Global Indian.

In just a few years, Ananya has become a name to reckon with in international music circles. If her 2019 song Day Goes By was proof of the first collaboration between an Indian and American artist, her 2020 song Everybody's Lost put her on an American national top 40 pop radio show, Sirius XM Hits, making her the first Indian artist to achieve that feat.

Ananya's music is universal, and her performances at some of the biggest music events like Global Citizen, Oktoberfest, and Sunburn are proof of her popularity.

The entrepreneur making a difference

Ananya's love for music is quite evident, but not many know that she founded her first startup at 17. While her heart is in music, her purpose lies in making a difference and that's exactly what she did when she started Svatantra Microfin to provide financial aid to women in rural India.

Despite her privileges, Ananya was aware of the existing income gap and wanted a company that could help small businesses grow. But it was a challenge to start a company at 17, even with a powerful surname.

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"When I started up, I was young and no one was willing to join my team; banks were not willing to lend. No clients are willing to come in. I used to cry in the bathroom when I came home after work," she told Makers India in an interview. But she was determined to make it happen and currently, her startup has reached over one million customers across the country.

Ananya expanded her vision and dove into a global luxury e-commerce platform with Ikai Asai in 2016. It was in the same year that Forbes named her one of Asia's Women to Watch.

The youth icon and entrepreneur is also closely involved with MPower, a mental health foundation she started with her mother Neerja to break taboos around mental health. Her struggles with anxiety as a teenager led to the formation of MPower, and the foundation is working incessantly to create awareness of mental health.

"We have centuries worth of stigma built up around mental health issues - self-perpetuated by the fact that poor mental health is so difficult to talk about. However, the importance of talking about it cannot be overstated. When we talk about mental illness we debunk falsities, tackle isolation and empower those suffering to get the help they so badly need. With global suicide rates on the rise, it is crucial that reaching out for help becomes an act of power as opposed to a sign of weakness," she told YourStory.

Ananya Birla | Global Indian

During the pandemic MPower joined hands with the Government of Maharashtra to launch a 24x7 helpline and more than 45,000 calls were received within the first two months of its launch.

Not only this, Ananya launched Ananya Birla Foundation in 2020 to provide COVID-19 relief work that had the distribution of PPE kits and providing essentials to migrant workers at its centre.

At 28, Ananya is the textbook example of a youth icon who is breaking the glass ceiling with her global music one hit single at a time, and making a difference in society with her philanthropic work.

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Reading Time: 7 min