Avanti: Yes She Can

On this episode of Avanti Yes She Can, Vandana is joined by one of India’s leading nutrition experts and health advocates, Rujuta Diwekar and her husband, founder of Connect With Himalaya, Gaurav Punj. Rujuta and Gaurav tell Vandana about their own career journeys and their love story – unconventional, but true to them. They also talk about the role of family, environment, and opportunity in shaping success, and reflect on what young people – especially girls – need to know about ambition, agency, and choosing the right partner in life.

 

CREDITS:

Hosts & Creative Directors: Vandana Goyal, Akshay Saxena

Project Manager: Anushree Majumdar

Project Coordinator: Saumya Sahu

 

This is a Maed in India production.

Project Supervisor: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Head of Operations: Shaun Fanthome

Producer: Ruchi Sawardekar

Sound Edit, Design & Mixing: Kartik Kulkarni, Nihar Temkar

Director and Editor: Jishnu Guha

Production Coordinator: Natasha Vakil

Show Artwork: Alika Gupta

Production Assistant: Eshwari Sajjan

Studio: R&B Studios

Support the show: https://www.avantifellows.org/donate-to-a-student

On this episode, Vandana is joined by one of the very first female officers of the Indian Armed Forces, Captain Shanthi S, and her husband (and former coursemate) Captain Shekar Kameneni. They share their journey from serving in the Indian Army to building careers and a life rooted in partnership, resilience, and mutual respect. From being part of the first cohort of women officers to navigating transitions into the corporate world, their story is one of breaking barriers, the importance of empathy in leadership and redefining roles at work and at home. 

 

CREDITS:

Hosts & Creative Directors: Vandana Goyal, Akshay Saxena

Project Manager: Anushree Majumdar

Project Coordinator: Saumya Sahu

 

This is a Maed in India production.

Project Supervisor: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Head of Operations: Shaun Fanthome

Producer: Ruchi Sawardekar

Sound Edit, Design & Mixing: Kartik Kulkarni, Nihar Temkar

Director and Editor: Jishnu Guha

Production Coordinator: Natasha Vakil

Show Artwork: Alika Gupta

Production Assistant: Eshwari Sajjan

Studio: R&B Studios

Support the show: https://www.avantifellows.org/donate-to-a-student

On this episode, co-host of the show, Akshay Saxena, talks to his good friends and allies – Head of the Godrej DEI Lab and best-selling author, Parmesh Shahani and journalist and Head, Research and Media at the Godrej Foundation and Godrej DEI Lab, Supriya Nair. Parmesh and Supriya talk about the importance of diversity and inclusion in workplaces, what it means to be a good ally and how with true allyship, the utopia of equity need not be a distant dream but an achievable reality. 

 

CREDITS:

Hosts & Creative Directors: Vandana Goyal, Akshay Saxena

Project Manager: Anushree Majumdar

Project Coordinator: Saumya Sahu

 

This is a Maed in India production.

Project Supervisor: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Head of Operations: Shaun Fanthome

Producer: Ruchi Sawardekar

Sound Edit, Design & Mixing: Kartik Kulkarni, Nihar Temkar

Director and Editor: Jishnu Guha

Production Coordinator: Natasha Vakil

Show Artwork: Alika Gupta

Production Assistant: Eshwari Sajjan

Studio: R&B Studios

Support the show: https://www.avantifellows.org/donate-to-a-student

On this episode of Avanti Yes She Can, Vandana is joined by one of the most influential women in banking in India – Kalpana Morparia. With a 40 year career working for the likes of ICICI Bank and JPMorgan, Kalpana has helped build the foundation of modern banking in India. She talks to Vandana about her expansive career across the two banking institutions, the lessons she learned as one of the first woman leaders in the industry and her advice to young working women on striking a work-life balance. 

 

CREDITS:

Hosts & Creative Directors: Vandana Goyal, Akshay Saxena

Project Manager: Anushree Majumdar

Project Coordinator: Saumya Sahu

 

This is a Maed in India production.

Project Supervisor: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Head of Operations: Shaun Fanthome

Producer: Ruchi Sawardekar

Sound Edit, Design & Mixing: Kartik Kulkarni, Nihar Temkar

Director and Editor: Jishnu Guha

Production Coordinator: Natasha Vakil

Show Artwork: Alika Gupta

Production Assistant: Eshwari Sajjan

Studio: R&B Studios

Support the show: https://www.avantifellows.org/donate-to-a-student

Kicking off a brand new season of Avanti: Yes She Can, Vandana switches things around. In this episode, she’s passing the mic to Avanti alum, Priyanka Palshetkar, as she takes a seat in the guest chair alongside her friend – comedian, actor and producer, Kaneez Surka. Together, they talk to Priyanka about supporting each other through hardships, laughing at inside jokes even twenty years later and what it really means to show up for one another. 

 

CREDITS:

Hosts & Creative Directors: Vandana Goyal, Akshay Saxena

Project Manager: Anushree Majumdar

Project Coordinator: Saumya Sahu

 

This is a Maed in India production.

Project Supervisor: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Head of Operations: Shaun Fanthome

Producer: Ruchi Sawardekar

Sound Edit, Design & Mixing: Kartik Kulkarni, Nihar Temkar

Director and Editor: Jishnu Guha

Production Coordinator: Natasha Vakil

Show Artwork: Alika Gupta

Production Assistant: Eshwari Sajjan

Studio: R&B Studios

Support the show: https://www.avantifellows.org/donate-to-a-student

Avanti: Yes She Can is back with a brand new season! Last season, our host and co-CEO of Avanti Fellows, Vandana Goyal, spoke to inspiring women who’ve worked their way to the top and built something from nothing. Yet, when we talk about success, it’s hardly ever achieved without the support of those around you – to be precise, without allyship. Joining Vandana this season is her co-host, co-CEO and ally Akshay Saxena. Together they will be talking to successful women and to the allies that have supported them along the way. 

 

CREDITS:

Hosts & Creative Directors: Vandana Goyal, Akshay Saxena

Project Manager: Anushree Majumdar

Project Coordinator: Saumya Sahu

 

This is a Maed in India production.

Project Supervisor: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Head of Operations: Shaun Fanthome

Producer: Ruchi Sawardekar

Sound Edit, Design & Mixing: Kartik Kulkarni, Nihar Temkar

Director and Editor: Jishnu Guha

Production Coordinator: Natasha Vakil

Show Artwork: Alika Gupta

Production Assistant: Eshwari Sajjan, Deepika Gudageri

Studio: R&B Studios

Support the show: https://www.avantifellows.org/donate-to-a-student

Shar Dubey is former CEO, Board Member and Advisor for Match Group. Shar earned her Bachelor's in Technology from Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, where she was one of the few female students in her class. For women breaking into a field where they are underrepresented, Shar talks to Vandana about the importance of investing your energy in enhancing your strengths, identifying your unique superpower, as well as her hope for more women to be present in STEM spaces.

 

CREDITS:

Host & Creative Director: Vandana Goyal 

Project Coordinator: Saumya Sahu

Project Advisor: Akshay Saxena

Marketing & Media Producer: Joash Cornelius

 

This is a Maed in India production.

Producer: Sean D’mello 

Co-producer: Meghna Gulati

Junior Producer: Saakshi Samant

Production Assistant: Aishwarya Patil & Tanuja M S (Avanti Fellows Alums)

Sound Edit, Design & Mixing: Kartik Kulkarni

Show Artwork: Alika Gupta

Project Supervisor: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Head of Operations: Shaun Fanthome

Studio: Island City Studios

Support the show: https://www.avantifellows.org/donate-to-a-student

 

Anu Menon is an award-winning film director and writer who brought the extraordinary story of mathematician and astrologer Shakuntala Devi to life. As a child, Anu was always drawn to storytelling but never imagined that she would enter the world of filmmaking. She talks to Vandana about being one of the few women in India to hold directing and writing positions in film and TV, and reflects on what it will take to inspire and uplift the next generation of female filmmakers.

 

CREDITS:

Host & Creative Director: Vandana Goyal 

Project Coordinator: Saumya Sahu

Project Advisor: Akshay Saxena

Marketing & Media Producer: Joash Cornelius

 

This is a Maed in India production.

Producer: Sean D’mello 

Co-producer: Meghna Gulati

Junior Producer: Saakshi Samant

Production Assistant: Aishwarya Patil & Tanuja M S (Avanti Fellows Alums)

Sound Edit, Design & Mixing: Kartik Kulkarni

Show Artwork: Alika Gupta

Project Supervisor: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Head of Operations: Shaun Fanthome

Studio: Island City Studios

 

Support the show: https://www.avantifellows.org/donate-to-a-student

 

Prashasti Singh is a standup comic who came from the small town of Amethi, and claimed fame with Comicstaan. Prashasti opens up about her start at Indian Institute of Management to making the bold leap into the world of comedy. She talks to Vandana about how no matter what career path we choose, showing up and giving it our best shot is vital.

 

CREDITS:

Host & Creative Director: Vandana Goyal 

Project Coordinator: Saumya Sahu

Project Advisor: Akshay Saxena

Marketing & Media Producer: Joash Cornelius

 

This is a Maed in India production.

Producer: Sean D’mello 

Co-producer: Meghna Gulati

Junior Producer: Saakshi Samant

Production Assistant: Aishwarya Patil & Tanuja M S (Avanti Fellows Alums)

Sound Edit, Design & Mixing: Kartik Kulkarni

Show Artwork: Alika Gupta

Project Supervisor: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Head of Operations: Shaun Fanthome

Studio: Island City Studios

 

Support the show: https://www.avantifellows.org/donate-to-a-student

 

Noorain Khan, the daughter of Pakistani immigrants, has risen to become the first Muslim American to serve as the National President of Girl Scouts of the USA. With a successful career in corporate law, non-profits, and public policy, Vandana explores Noorain’s story and how it reminds us that we can achieve anything we set our mind to, as long as we believe in our capabilities. 

 

CREDITS:

Host & Creative Director: Vandana Goyal 

Project Coordinator: Saumya Sahu

Project Advisor: Akshay Saxena

Marketing & Media Producer: Joash Cornelius

 

This is a Maed in India production.

Producer: Sean D’mello 

Co-producer: Meghna Gulati

Junior Producer: Saakshi Samant

Production Assistant: Aishwarya Patil & Tanuja M S (Avanti Fellows Alums)

Sound Edit, Design & Mixing: Kartik Kulkarni

Show Artwork: Alika Gupta

Project Supervisor: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Head of Operations: Shaun Fanthome

Studio: Island City Studios

 

Support the show: https://www.avantifellows.org/donate-to-a-student