U n' I with Rashmi Shetty

Our guest today is Mukesh - the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Menterra. Through the Menterra Social Impact Fund, he invests in

Mukesh has 20+ years of experience in start-up investing, impact investing, private equity, investment banking and finance domains. Mukesh is a Chartered Accountant and a CFA Charterholder. He has been a member of the capital sub-committee of the Impact Investors Council, India. He is also a member of the PoleStar Award Jury which is focused on celebrating excellence in journalism and social impact.

Earlier, he was the Chief Investment Officer at Villgro, India’s oldest and foremost social enterprise incubator. He has advised the board and management of several companies. He has served as the non-executive director on the board of Biosense Technologies, Omix Labs, Adiuvo Diagnostics and Concept Learning.

In his very first fund, Mukesh raised investments from a diverse set of marquee investors such as the Government of India, U.S.-based foundations, corporate investors, family offices and HNIs.

At Villgro, Mukesh was an integral part of the idea to scale the journey of several entrepreneurs. This experience convinced him that the passive investing model focused on only deal-making combined with the invest-divest movement is not an ideal approach to solving big social problems. He used these insights to build a holistic fund-incubator platform with a conveyor belt approach to provide patient funding combined with intense post-investment operating support.

Mukesh believes that non-linear outcomes are more likely to be achieved through big, game-changing ideas that leverage the latest science and technology. He is focused on using the power of technology to solve the most pressing developmental challenges. Mukesh has co-founded this platform. He has attracted a stellar network of advisors and the best impact-oriented talent. He is now working on scaling this model to generate market-level returns and sectoral impact.

Listen in as Mukesh shares his inspirational journey from a small town in Gujarat to the investor he is today.

Our guest today is the inspirational Sanjay Deshpande who was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor at the age of 29. A massive grand mal seizure landed him

He is passionate about mental health, queer rights, and cancer advocacy. He loves to dance and has recently started writing poetry. He hopes to publish a memoir someday and travel the world before he kicks the bucket.

He led the effort to conceptualize, manage, write, and publish his first book 'Don't Ask Me How I'm Doing' with several other contributors to raise awareness about the unique challenges faced by South Asian and Indian Young Adult Cancer Patients, Survivors, and Caregivers. He hopes this book will help hundreds if not thousands, of others who have to deal with an insidious disease like cancer when they are at the peak of their lives and careers. Sanjay consults as a learning designer, workshop facilitator, and trained coach with several Edtech startups from across the country.

His book is available in all leading bookstores. This is the link to order it on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.in/Dont-Ask-How-Doing-everything/dp/8195259049/ref=sr_1_2?qid=1696535097&refinements=p_27%3ASanjay+Deshpande&s=books&sr=1-2e

He is back at Harvard today to finish his Master's program surprising everyone around him including his doctor! Listen in as Sanjay shares his journey with all honesty in this conversation completely vulnerable & pragmatic.

Our guest today is Bhavana Issar -  the Founder & CEO of a social venture Caregiver Saathi (http://caregiversaathi.co.in), which is a hi-tech and hi-touch platform that supports family caregivers through a care navigation system that aims to ease access to resources like advice, information, community, professional services, and learning tools. She consults with organizations to build Caregiver-friendly and Compassionate Workplaces that are resilient and innovative. 

After her corporate stint as an HR leader in large companies, she is an Organization consultant in the areas of Change, Leadership Development, and Organization Building. She is a Fellow and facilitator in Process Work with Sumedhas Academy for Human Context, Gestalt OD Practitioner. She's been a faculty at institutions like IIM Ahmedabad, Udaipur, XLRI, SP Jain Institute of Management, and NMIMSetc. She is a passionate person with diverse interests like poetry, crocheting, and hi-tech gadgets. As a multi-potential-ate, she most identifies as a feminist, a storyteller, and an activist who believes in the possibilities of human potential. 

 Her story was included in the book by bestselling author Rashmi Bansal - Touch the Sky: Stories of women across India who are changing their destiny.

She is a motorcyclist and believes motorcycling has helped her push the boundaries of the body and mind. She supports women motorcyclists to realize their dreams. She expresses through poetry and believes humor powers resilience. She's a bewildered parent to a strong-willed teenager and a moody pet, currently residing in Mumbai with her spouse who often complains that she's a bully.

It’s 131 Episodes of the human library audio podcast “U n’ I with Rashmi Shetty”& I feel completely grateful. All the storytellers willingly shared their story & today are good friends. One thing we all have in common is we are all connected to the “#voiceinme” Today is the 25th episode in Season 2.

These are the video extracts of the 131 episodes:

https://coachrashmishetty.com/podcast/

https://coachrashmishetty.com/podcast-2022/

https://coachrashmishetty.com/podcast-2023/ 

Our guest today is Dr. Arti Datta the founding Artistic Director of Mudra Dance Studio, Muttontown, NY, and the President of The Mudra Foundation: Art for a Cause. Dr. Arti Datta is the founding Artistic Director of Mudra Dance Studio, Muttontown, NY, and the President of The Mudra Foundation: Art for a Cause. Dr. Arti Datta was initiated into Bharatanatyam early in her childhood in India. An alumnus of

Dr. Arti Datta is a clinical scientist by profession and has conducted her post-doctoral cancer research at the Hammersmith Hospital in London, U.K., and at the NYU Langone Medical Center in New York.

Dr. Arti Datta has successfully choreographed and directed several multi-media productions including

University, NY,

Devi: An Ode to Mother Goddess,

Arpan – An Offering, a benefit for the victims of the Japan tsunami disaster,

WATER: The Flow of the Divine, a fundraiser for the Sankara Eye Foundation,

and

NAVARASA: The Essence of the

JEEVAN TARANG: The Rhythms of Life benefitting CRY America,

MARGAM: The Path for Hewlett House, and most recently

PREKSHA: A Meditation in Dance supporting Long Island Crisis Center was staged in May this year.

On the 10th Anniversary of the dance school, as a way of integrating her passion for dance with a desire to give back, she founded the nonprofit The Mudra Foundation: Art for a Cause.

Dr. Datta was recognized by the India Association of Long Island (IALI) as one of the most influential people in the Indian American Community in NY and has been felicitated on numerous occasions for her contribution to the arts in the US.

Dr. Arti Datta serves on the board of the Long Island Arts Alliance and volunteers her time at New York Cares. She continues to teach dance at the Mudra Dance Studio, Muttontown.

 Listen in as Dr. Arti shares her journey from the logical world of Science to the creative world of Dance.

When I look back at how these 130 Episodes of the human library podcast “U n’ I with Rashmi Shetty” unfolded, I feel completely grateful. Many of the storytellers willingly shared their story & today are good friends.

These are the video extracts of the 130 episodes:

https://coachrashmishetty.com/podcast/

https://coachrashmishetty.com/podcast-2022/

https://coachrashmishetty.com/podcast-2023/  

“The dream begins with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called truth.” In this quote by Dan Rather, I can confidently replace a teacher with a mentor & it will still make sense to you. Today on the eve of teachers’ day, we have a special episode. A conversation between mentor & mentee that has all elements of trust, respect, friendship & partnership. On the eve of Teachers Day, we bring to you the beautiful story of CA Arun and Dr. Vivek who from being a mentor to CA Arun has become a friend over the period of years and they have been actioning multiple projects together now. It is a wonderful example of how a good mentor builds up the mentee and helps them become the best version of themselves. Dr. Vivek started working at age 17 while studying, filled data forms door to door and exceeded his target, and learned true sales and marketing, as he had to convince security guards, receptionists -and gatekeepers of apartment and corporate offices to allow him in. He filled forms for soft drink concrete companies, financial, insurance companies, tyre companies. Those solid life lessons in the

Learning Matters is a seven-year-old ed-tech organisation based in Bengaluru. They implement their Artificial intelligence-based solution-Tara - in schools and colleges to improve the communicative English proficiency of students and teachers. They were recognized by India AI and NASSCOM for their significant contribution to India's AI ecosystem by being included in their compendium "75 at 75" which showcases 75 Indian companies doing innovative work using AI last year. https://www.aninews.in/news/business/business/learning-matters-announces-star-educator-awards-2023-celebrating-exceptional-educators-and-transformative-educational-institutions-worldwide20230817162451

Our guest today is  Saraswathy Ramamoorthy, one of the co-founders of Learning Matters. An early childhood education (ECCE) expert, she has worked in various facets of the education domain as an educator and educationist. Her core expertise is in designing and developing educational curricula and programs, teaching children, training teachers, as well as creating digital education products and programs.

Our guest today is Ashok Kamath- an alumnus of the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT Bombay). He was formerly the Managing Director of the Indian operations of Analog Devices, a major global semiconductor company. Ashok attributes a large part of his success to the fact that he was privileged enough to receive a quality education from a young age. The well-balanced foundational education he received gave him strong

So, in 2004, Ashok left his corporate career to pay back the ‘debt of honor’ he felt towards his country by empowering millions of children in the

Foundation. And with a small team of 35, he is transforming learning for over 3 million children in India. The Ganitha Kalika Andolana (GKA) model, Akshara Foundation’s flagship initiative is aimed at revolutionizing math learning for grades 1 to 5 in government schools and is built around this core idea. GKA is a unique 360-degree model consisting of a comprehensive combination of interventions targeting multiple stakeholders at both the demand and supply side of the foundational education system including the state system, teachers, and the community.

In April 2019, he was conferred the prestigious Namma Bengaluru Award for exemplary work in education. His alma mater, IIT-Bombay, presented him

 Listen in as Ashok Kamath shares this meaningful journey with The Akshara Foundation & the impact it is creating.

Our guest today is Tara Kini who has trained intensively in Hindustani classical music, from the late Shri Narayan Rao Patwardhan, Smt. Mira Khirwadkar Deshpande, and the late Pandit Rama Rao V. Naik. She is currently learning from Vidushi Lalith J Rao, and from Padmashree Gundecha Brothers.

Tara is the founder director of a music collective called Sunaad that has presented over ninety shows that demystify classical music. Inspired by Padma Bhushan Sri M, Sunaad has presented several shows on four major Upanishads, weaving together Dhrupad, dance, yoga, and storytelling. Tara has conceptualized and directed all these shows.

Tara Kini is an independent consultant in Education and Music and works with several reputed institutions in Bangalore, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, and Ahmedabad, developing curriculum, and training teachers and trainers. Tara is an advisor to the Shankar Mahadevan Music Academy.

Tara received The Senior Research Fellowship from the Sangeet Natak Academi, in 2017.

Listen in as Tara shares her fascinating journey of the beautiful blend of music & theatre.

Our guest today is the founder of "A Little Dream," a Bangalore-based non-profit, working with underprivileged children is

celebrating its 10th Anniversary this year. The organization started off as an initiative of former IT professional Reena Chowdhury the founder and Managing trustee Over the past decade ALD has reached out to orphanages and children's homes and touched the lives of 8500 children. What keeps ALD pulsating is its dynamic volunteers - young IT ‘techies’ of the city have been an integral part of ALD’s diverse activities. It was during her corporate years, she felt lacunae in her life, a need to do something for others -  to make a difference in the lives of less fortunate children. She used her artistic skills and reached out to children in orphanages, children's homes, and slums in Bangalore.

Thus was born A Little Dream.

A Little Dream has over the years been working with children on several projects be it for children in Cancer hospital wards, those suffering from Thalassemia, Diabetes, and HIV-positive kids.& also regularly holds Dental camps for children in orphanages

Listen in as   Reena shares her journey, her fearlessness, the ability to walk alone on the Road not Taken, with commitment and empathy & her

Reena’s  Personal Links 

My Linkedin page: linkedin.com/in/reenachowdhury2008 

My Instagram handle: instagram.com/reenachowdhury

My FB page:  facebook.com/reena.chowdhury

My

A Little Dream

ALD Instagram handle: instagram.com/alittledreamindia 

ALD FB page: facebook.com/ALDcamps 

ALD FB group:  facebook.com/groups/ALittleDreamCamps

Youtube channel: youtube.com/@alittledream6500

Email id : [email protected] 

Dr. Nandini Mundkur is one of India's renowned developmental paediatricians,  who has done pioneering work in the field of early detection & intervention services for developmental disorders for the last four decades.

She practiced as a general paediatrician during her early career while pursuing with a keen interest in the field of developmental studies is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (FAACP and DM).

She spearheaded the awareness-building and creation of early intervention tools in the field of developmental paediatrics in India.
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As a director at the Sackhumvit Trust, she has undertaken a program "Learn Math with Fun" via satellite for children across rural Karnataka(India).

Dr. Nandini Mundkur co-founded Totsguide a comprehensive online self-educated portal aimed to cater to the vision of helping every child with disabilities to attain a better future. Dr. Nandini Mundkur has focussed her career on ensuring children with developmental disabilities have access to the best possible

Listen in as she shares her Journey, her dreams & the impact!