Akshaya Patra x Women Who Win - Bringing Powerful Stories from Women Leaders in Philanthropy
Akshaya Patra is the world's largest NGO school meal program, providing hot, nutritious lunches to over 2 million children every day. The organization operates 66 centralized and decentralized kitchens in 15 states and 2 union territories in India. The organization is leading the way in creating a more efficient and sustainable solution to address child hunger and improve access to education for children in need. Their philosophy - “No child in India shall be deprived of education because of hunger”
We are excited to showcase the women of Akshaya Patra. From chapter chairs to board members, chief guests, donors, and community supporters, this series highlights the power of the philanthropic spirit and how women leaders around the world are inspired by this cause and are setting an example for the next generation of philanthropists.
Akshaya Patra Community Leaders
Authors Creating Change - The Power of the Written Word
"Collaboration is the key to long term success as an organization... we’re successful together and there are no personal 'wins. I encourage my team to invest in their relationships with each other and have each other’s back—what we accomplish, we accomplish together.” Today’s woman dreamer, Sonia Sardana is the Chief Transformation Officer of Innova Solutions. an award-winning global technology services company that is accelerating client success through digital innovation. In this inspiring interview with Women Who Win for our Women in Philanthropy series with Akshaya Patra USA, Sonia reflects on her journey in business transformation, her approach to team building, and how she gives back through Akshaya Patra and the Innova Foundation. She shares, “Youth are our future, and we are passionate about nourishing their spark.” Enjoy her story!
“ I strongly believe in the importance and power of education. This is a core value of the work I do with both ZuMantra and TheSmartGirls. This is a core belief that is shared by Akshaya Patra. As a small business owner, I find Akshaya Patra’s scale and reach across India to be deeply impressive.” Today’s woman dreamer, Marvi Ali, is a student at Vanderbilt University and has been a social entrepreneur since the age of 11. Her venture, ZuMantra, helps women artisans from rural parts of India and Pakistan become empowered through financial independence. In this inspiring interview with Women Who Win for our “Women in Philanthropy” series with Akshaya Patra USA, Marvi reflects on her journey as a young founder and the power of education is propelling rural communities forward.
“Always talk to the people in your life, especially your elders. Listen to their stories, and learn from their experiences.” Today’s woman dreamer, Jessica Shah is an NYC based finance professional and entrepreneur, with a passion for philanthropy and giving back. In her inspiring Women Who Win interview, she shares the key lessons she learned from her parents journey, and how she applies them in her finance career, her venture Komenci, and in her philanthropic work with Akshaya Patra’s Young Professionals. Check out her story!
Young Professionals
“You could say I dream of the day where they don’t give BACK, because they just… give.” Today’s woman dreamer, Sapna Saxena, is a dynamic female venture capitalist and entrepreneur, with a passion for giving back. She is the co-founder of Neel Capital Management. She is also an active philanthropist, working with her family’s philanthropic arm, The Saxena Family Foundation, and a strong supporter of The Akshaya Patra Foundation. In this inspiring interview, she shares her professional and philanthropic journey, her advice to young professionals on getting involved with charities and giving back, and her next big dream. Enjoy!
“ I made “helping others” a top priority in my life” Winter is the Season of Giving! As we approach the exciting holiday season, now is the time for giving back and for gratitude. Today’s woman dreamer, Poonam Kamdar, has been taking the initiative to give back from a young age, and inspiring those around her. Poonam shares her experience as a Youth Ambassador for Akshaya Patra, a NGO in India providing nutritious meals to school children daily. She discusses the Coin Jar program she founded, and how she finds time to give back in her busy everyday life. Enjoy her inspiring story below!
We are excited to collaborate with Akshaya Patra USA in their mission to empower and educate students around the world!