Our Writers

Young Writers Series – The Covid Impact: Women’s Participation in the Labour Force Post Pandemic 

It is a well-known fact that India’s economy faced a drastic blow during the COVID-19 initiated lockdowns. While this led to unemployment across various sectors, informal vocations, due to a lack of documentation and formal agreements, faced the brunt of this unemployment. This was further exacerbated for the female workforce, since they were shouldering responsibilities

Young Writers Series – Surveying Economic Policies for Women’s Empowerment in India

As has been explored in earlier articles on this blog, there are numerous obstacles – political, social, and structural – that prevent the integration of women into the Indian economy on equitable terms and footing with their male counterparts. These issues are deeply rooted in the Indian economy and society more broadly, and addressing them

Gender Equality, Education, and Employment in India

India is a country where gender inequality has been a crucial issue for generations. Starting at a very young age, girls face a variety of barriers that contribute to unequal economic and educational opportunities. The empowerment of women, both through education of girls and employment of women, has a direct impact on the Indian economy. 

An interview with Tushar Vyas, President of Growth and Transformation for GroupM South Asia

John Hoffmire: I find it fascinating that you have been both an entrepreneur and an intrapreneur in the field of digital media. You’ve started companies from scratch, and you created new business enterprises within a multinational corporation. Tell me about your journey from start-up entrepreneur to a GroupM intrapreneur.

Tushar: In many ways, there is not

An interview with Paramjyoti Chattopadhyay, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, NITI Aayog

John Hoffmire: I remember when I met you at Oxford in 2015, feeling like you and I had similar interests and unusual career tracks that bounced us back and forth between working to alleviate poverty, management consulting, and public policy. Am I right about the unusual career paths?

Param: I’ve always been interested in both development

An interview with Dr. Kasturi Das, Professor of Economics at the Institute of Management Technology, Ghaziabad (IMTG)

John Hoffmire: Kasturi, you have covered multiple fields in your work life so far. Tell me about your professional journey, if you will.

Kasturi: That’s right, John. In my professional journey spanning more than two decades I have worked in multiple capacities – conducting research, advisory, advocacy, teaching, academic administration, and community service. My journey has

TrueFootprint, Ltd.: a case study in the use of SME innovation to combat the COVID-19 pandemic

Here is a case study that aims to explore the efforts of a small start-up company, whose unique solutions are being deployed in the fight against COVID-19, with encouraging results. Using innovative technology and local volunteer networks, they have set out to identify the medical needs of local care providers, while reducing the effects of

An interview with Vinita Srivastava, Executive Director (Heritage) at Railway Board

John Hoffmire:  You’ve had an interesting career that spans mechanical engineering, the transportation sector, and cultural preservation. That’s an unusual mix. I’d love to learn more about how that came about?

Vinita: I don’t see it as such an unusual mix. I’ve always had a love for the Indian railroads. You see, a railway isn’t just tracks and

An interview with Sanghamitra Biswas Jayant, Member, Corporate Strategic Management Team, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited

John Hoffmire: You are an increasingly rare entity in management these days — you’ve stayed with the same company for nearly 20 years. Tell me about your work with Bharat Heavy Electricals and why you’ve felt comfortable staying there for so long.

Sanghamitra: You are right, I’ve been with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) for a

An interview with Basava Purushottam, Private Secretary to Union Minister of Education, Government of India

John Hoffmire: I met you when you were a scholar in the Chevening Research Science and Innovation Leadership Programme (CRISP) at Oxford in 2016. If I remember right, you were creating a plan for a more effective cruise industry in India at the time. I believe that was the assignment you had taken on for

An Interview with Chevening CRISP alum – Siddharth Banerjee, Managing Director, Pearson India & Asia

John Hoffmire: Big congratulations, Siddharth, on your recent appointment as the Managing Director for Pearson-India & Asia. It has been a few years since you were a CRISP (Chevening Research Science and Innovation Leadership Programme) Fellow at Oxford in 2013. Tell us what you have been up to over the years.

Siddharth: Thank you, John. When

Impact Investment Firms’ Contacts

Actis Capital
140 Broadway, Suite 2250, New York, NY
(646) 822-8070
info@act.is
Rishika Jay Prakash – Director

Acumen
40 Worth Street, Suite 303, New York, NY
(212) 566-8821

Athena Capital Advisors
55 Old Bedford Road Suite 302, Lincoln, MA 01773
(781) 274-9300
contactathena@athenacapital.com
William F. McCalpin, Managing Partner, Impact Investments

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Strategic Investment Fund
500 5th Ave. North, Seattle, WA 98109
(206) 709-3400 (media phone number)
media@gatesfoundation.org

Blue

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An interview with Shyam Menon, Partner and Co-Founder at Bharat Innovation Fund and Infuse Ventures, and Chief Growth Officer at CIIE.CO.

John Hoffmire: Like so many CRISP scholars, you’ve had an interesting journey including everything from being a research engineer to managing two successful venture capital funds you co-founded. Tell me how your career has taken shape.

Shyam: For me personally, it began back in 2001 when I got an opportunity to be part of a nanomaterials

An interview with Shailesh Pathak, Chief Executive Officer of L&T IDPL (Infrastructure Development Projects Ltd.)

John Hoffmire: I always like to start an interview by asking for a broad brushstroke picture of a career. Will you tell me about yours?

Shailesh: A British friend described my career as poacher-turned-gamekeeper-turned-poacher. After my MBA in 1986 I worked in project finance and investment banking with ICICI for four years in Bombay, as it

An interview with Dr. Shalini Sharma, Founder and CEO, Sanshodhan An E-Waste Exchange, and founding Director of the Global Institute for Circular Economy and Sustainable Development Goals (ICE&SDGs)

John Hoffmire: You are the founder of Sanshodhan An E-Waste Exchange, an emerging company working for e-waste management and the development of zero waste businesses and organizations. You also founded Global Institute for Circular Economy and Sustainable Development Goals (ICE&SDGs), the NGO. Tell me how this came about?

Shalini: It goes back to January 2017,

An interview with Dr. Nitin Shukla, Principal Scientist, National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, India

John Hoffmire: You are a principal scientist at the National Chemical Laboratory in Pune, which is known for its excellence in scientific research in chemistry and chemical engineering. Tell me about the work you do there, if you will.

Nitin: The saying, “Do what you’ll love, and you’ll never work another day in your life” definitely

An interview with Sreedevi Devireddy, Founding Chief Executive Officer, SR Innovation Exchange, the technology-business incubator of SR University, Warangal

John Hoffmire: In the three years since I met you as a fellow of the Chevening Research Science and Innovation Leadership Programme (CRISP) at Oxford University, you created and have steered SR Innovation Exchange (SRiX) to a level where you are receiving international recognition. Please tell me more about that.

Sreedevi: I explain it this way:

An interview with Sachinder (Sachin) Mohan Sharma, Group General Manager at the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL)

John Hoffmire: I’ve been on trains in India but I still can’t fathom the scale of what you must manage as the Group General Manager at the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL). Tell me more about what you do.

Sachin: The Government of India has entrusted DFCCIL with construction, maintenance and operation of

An interview with Sushrut Vaidya, innovation leader with one of the largest technology companies in the world

John Hoffmire: One of the things that always impresses me when I sit down with a CRISP scholar is the interdisciplinary learning that each of you have engaged in. You are no exception. You’ve gone from a Bachelor of Engineering, to printing technology and graphic communication, technology management, Indology and Buddhist studies. Then on to consulting

An interview with Kamesh Gupta, Senior Vice President, Strategic Collaborations & Programs, Group Technology & Innovation Office (GTIO), Tata Sons Limited

John Hoffmire: Kamesh, you are a man who wears lots of hats. Tell me about your many responsibilities at Tata.

Kamesh: As a Senior Vice President, Strategic Collaborations and Programs in the Group Technology and Innovation Office of Tata Sons, my job is to create and deliver strategic collaborations and new technology programs for global impact.

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