Akshaya Patra — New — Women Who Win

"Leading with Trust and Purpose": Sonia Sardana Shares Journey from IT Manager to Chief Transformation Officer, and Her Commitment to Giving Back

"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!

Crafting Change: Marvi Ali's Journey from Student to Social Entrepreneur

“ 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.

The Value of Hard-Earned Money: Jessica Shah Shares Journey in Finance, Entrepreneurship, and Akshaya Patra

“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!

The Millennial Kitchen: Tanvi Shah Talks Cooking for a Cause Through Akshaya Patra Partnership

“The first thing I learned is that healthy food is actually delicious” Today’s woman dreamer, Tanvi Shah is a woman to know in the food space. She co-authored cookbook “The Millennial Kitchen” with her daughter, Mira. She is dedicated to healthy eating and creating unique recipes that others can seek inspiration from in their own kitchens. Dedicated to “cooking for the cause”, the proceeds of the Millennial Kitchen are supporting Akshaya Patra. In her Women Who Win interview, Tanvi reflects on the inspiration behind the book, her recent feature in Nasdaq, and she shares 2 must try hearty fall recipes! Enjoy

Women Who Win News DeskOctober 12, 2022Akshaya Patra

Renowned Author Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni Shares Journey with Empowering Women through Writing, Philanthropy, and More

“Read a lot! Unless you read, you cannot become a good writer. Books have been wonderful teachers for me.” Today’s woman dreamer, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is a woman to know in the arts & literature world. She has published 20 books including Palace of Illusions and The Last Queen, and her short stories have been published in The New Yorker, Vogue etc. She is also dedicated to giving back. We are excited to share this inspiring interview in our Women in Philanthropy series, in collaboration with Akshaya Patra. Enjoy!

Empowering Others: Nithya Iyer Singh Reflects on Her Journey as a Woman in Healthcare and Philanthropy

“If you can start your life and end your life volunteering, that is a blessing.” Today’s woman dreamer, Nithya Iyer Singh is a female leader in the drug development/healthcare space, with a passion for giving back. In this inspiring interview for our Women in Philanthropy series in collaboration with Akshaya Patra USA, Nithya reflects on her professional journey, her mission to give back to underserved communities, and her passion for running marathons. We are excited to share her story on Women Who Win.

CEO of Vertex Pharmaceuticals Reshma Kewalramani Reflects on Her Journey as the First Female CEO of a Large Biotech Company

Tech - Sciences, women in healthcareWomen Who Win News DeskJune 28, 2022this week, THIS WEEK, Homepage Featured, Homepage Hero, newsletter subscribe 2, Akshaya Patra, AP Featured, HPC - Trailblazers, spotlight

Women in Philanthropy: Mitzi Perdue Shares Expertise on The Role of Women in Family Business and Food Equality

Business - WorkplaceWomen Who Win News DeskJune 5, 2022this week, THIS WEEK, Homepage Featured, Homepage Hero, Akshaya Patra, AP Featured, HPC - Trailblazers

Driving Change in the Workplace: Sona Menon Reflects on Her Inspiring Career Journey, Vision for DEI, and How She Gives Back

Business - LeadershipWomen Who Win News DeskApril 24, 2022this week, THIS WEEK, #careergirlfall, Akshaya Patra, AP 2, HPC - BL

Women in Philanthropy: Sapna Saxena Shares How Young Professionals Can Give Back

“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!

Women Who Win News DeskApril 14, 2022this week, THIS WEEK, Akshaya Patra, AP Young, HPC - Social

Creating Change - Boston Nonprofit Leader Ajita Bhat Shares Key Lessons from Akshaya Patra Foundation and More

“Women empowerment happens when one can become stronger and more confident in their own life. It could also mean helping others to become stronger either mentally, socially, or economically.” Today’s woman dreamer, Ajita Bhat, has been working with NGOs for over 30 years, and is currently the Co-Chair of Akshaya Patra Foundation Boston Chapter, and is the President of Chinmaya Mission Boston temples. She reflects on her journey with these empowering organizations and shares her top tips to women looking to get involved in nonprofits and leadership. A true changemaker - we are excited to share her story!

policy women, CMaker - Non-ProfitWomen Who Win News DeskJanuary 23, 2022Akshaya Patra, AP 3, AP 4

Dr. Rachana Kulkarni Shares Journey as a Woman in Cardiology and Philanthropy

“I realized how heart disease in women is misunderstood and undertreated and that the lack of female cardiologists has compounded the problem. That was my inspiration to go into cardiology, and I would do it again in a heartbeat!” For this week’s Women’s Health Wednesday, we are excited to introduce today’s woman dreamer, Dr. Rachana Kulkarni. A cardiologist with a passion for empowering women and chldren, Rachana is the President of American Heart Association - New Jersey, and a proud board member of The Akshaya Patra Foundation, helping the organization in its mission to provide meals to millions of school children across India. Rachana shares the lifestyle tips that every woman must follow for a healthy heart!

Women Who Win News DeskSeptember 14, 2021providers, heart health, Akshaya Patra, AP 2

Giving Back At a Young Age: Poonam Kamdar on Being a Youth Ambassador for Akshaya Patra and How She Strives to Always Give Back in Life.

“ 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!

arts & life, millennial, season of givingWomen Who Win News DeskNovember 8, 2020Akshaya Patra, AP Young