Welcome to Episode 5 of the Social Impact Leadership Series, a podcast initiative by the Ashank Desai Centre for Leadership and Organisational Development (ADCLOD), IIM Ahmedabad, exploring the journeys, insights, and leadership philosophies of individuals driving transformative social change.
In this episode, Prof. Neharika Vohra, Chairperson of ADCLOD, speaks with Chetna Gala Sinha, renowned social entrepreneur, rural development leader, and founder of Mann Deshi Mahila Sahakari Bank and the Mann Deshi Foundation. Through her pioneering work, Chetna has empowered over a million rural women entrepreneurs by transforming access to finance, entrepreneurship, education, agriculture, sports, and community-led development.
Chetna shares the remarkable story behind establishing India's first cooperative bank run by and for rural women, and how listening to communities—not imposing solutions—became the foundation of Mann Deshi's success. She reflects on the importance of designing institutions around people's lived realities, creating financial systems that build control rather than just access, and nurturing leadership rooted in trust, courage, and grassroots wisdom.
The conversation explores women’s entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, rural innovation, institution building, climate resilience, leadership development, talent management, philanthropy, technology for inclusion, and the power of community-led problem solving.
Chetna also offers profound reflections on learning from rural women, building purpose-driven organisations, and why courage is often the greatest form of capital.Join us for an inspiring conversation on social entrepreneurship, inclusive development, women's leadership, grassroots innovation, and building institutions that create lasting social change.
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