Team

We are a diverse team of consultants, strategists, storytellers, and systems thinkers committed to amplifying impact.

Founder and CEO
Founding Team
Advisors
Pool of Expertise

Sushant Kumar

Founder and CEO

Sushant Kumar

Founder and CEO

A seasoned leader in social impact with two decades of global experience in philanthropy, impact investing, public-interest technology, and strategy consulting. Before founding Kalpa Impact, Sushant was the head of strategy at Omidyar Network India. A snapshot of his other experiences include:

Head of climate adaptation and resilience for Omidyar Network, India
Led funding in responsible technology, and fair data economy with a focus on the US and Europe
Member of global expert groups of the World Economic Forum and The Aspen Institute
Reviewer for TED Audacious Project
Ex-board member of Meridia, and member of the advisory board of IUDX — Data exchange for smart cities
Thought leadership published in multiple newspapers
Strategy consulting experience in India, Europe, and Asia Pacific

Education: MBA from London Business School, B.E. from IIT (BHU) Varanasi

Sectors: Climate, DPI, AI, air quality, education and livelihoods, agriculture

Expertise: Strategy, research, systems change, impact investing, impact management

Honey Agarwal

Consultant

Honey Agarwal

Consultant

A social impact consultant with five years of experience in systems change, digital transformation, and research. At Kalpa Impact, he supports research, strategy, and ecosystem engagement on projects that strengthen the digital and institutional foundations for impactful, inclusive development

Led a multi-district systems change initiative at Central Square Foundation, impacting over 300 thousand students in foundational learning through data-driven implementation and government collaboration
Co-developed strategy for state-level health governance transformation at Sattva Consulting. Led research for ecosystem landscaping, and supported institutional culture-building and business development
Selected for the Emerging Leaders Programme by the Ananta Aspen Centre and presented work on philanthropic flows at the Government Outcomes Lab, University of Oxford

Education: Chemistry at Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, Masters in Public Policy at the National Law School, Bangalore

Sectors: Education, governance, digital public infrastructure, public health, systems change, corporate social responsibility

Expertise: Project management, policy research, data analysis and visualisation, ecosystem engagement, stakeholder coordination

Jennifer Francis

Lead, Strategic Communications

Jennifer Francis

Lead, Strategic Communications

A strategic communications professional with over eight years of experience spanning community building, storytelling, and stakeholder engagement. At Kalpa Impact, she leads communications to creatively amplify insights, stories, and innovations that accelerate sustainable development.

Managed marketing and communications at Omidyar Network, leading digital strategy, media outreach, report launches, social media content, and an award-winning podcast that reached over a million listeners
At WhiteHat Jr, led a global teacher community of 12,000+ women, gamifying peer support to boost engagement and productivity. She also led a team of content strategists, community managers, partnership managers, and graphic designers
At Great Learning, built a 5,000+ member expert community of SMEs and lecturers for programmes and courses developed in partnership with universities such as Stanford, MIT, Wharton, IIT-Madras, and the University of Texas, managing communications and partnerships. She also led a team of community managers, and content managers
At 91springboard, nurtured a coworking community of startups, entrepreneurs, and freelancers through events, content, and engagement strategies

Education: BA in Psychology and Sociology from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai

Sectors: Education, technology, social impact

Expertise: Strategic communications, storytelling, content and brand strategy, project management, community management

Mallika Arya

Associate Partner

Mallika Arya

Associate Partner

A communications and campaigning professional with over 10 years of experience spanning across education, climate action, sustainable mobility, public health and waste. Her leadership skills are an extension of the 15+ years she spent playing various sports at the state and national level. Having studied and worked in India, Australia, and Thailand, she has the ability to view situations from multiple lenses, allowing her to work seamlessly on complex issues.

At Leading Purpose Campaigns, strategised and led over 15 city, state, and national campaigns. This included leading teams, identifying relevant partners, media engagement, government engagement, and events. She has worked with over 10 leading philanthropies and foundations
Strategised and anchored the Sustainable Mobility Network from 2020-2024, a pan India network of organisations working towards decarbonising the mobility sector
Part of the founding team of the Clean Mobility Collective, a global collective of organisations also working on decarbonising the mobility sector
Helped set up and establish the Museo Camera, Centre for the Photographic Arts. As a trustee of the India Photo Archive Foundation, she played a critical role in establishing systems and structures that have allowed it to become a leading cultural hub in India
Led community engagement and campaigns at Renew Oceans Foundation in Varanasi and created programs that engaged 1000+ students, 2000+ community members
Selected for the excellence path at Teach For India, with the students in her class showcasing high growth. She also designed and deployed teacher training programs

Education: BA in Psychology from Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Delhi University, and a Master of Sustainability from the University of Sydney, Australia

Sectors: Education, climate, sustainable mobility, waste, sports for impact

Expertise: Strategic communications, storytelling, project management, network and partnership management, creative content, events, campaigns, movement building

Niharika Singh

Partner

Niharika Singh

Partner

A business leader with 13 years of global experience across management consulting and high-growth, blue-chip investor-backed startups at various stages of scale. She specialises in strategy, commercial and P&L leadership, and portfolio management.

Led a national study evaluating demand-side challenges in on-the-job skilling in India’s manufacturing sector
At McKinsey & Company, she designed a Public-Private Partnership model for school education
As advisor to the CEO at ONE Championship, Singapore, she oversaw core operations and leadership alignment
As senior vice president at ONE Championship, she led product, technology, and gaming, building the company’s technology backbone
As head of sales at Treebo, she set up and scaled the B2B sales engine from the ground up

Education: MBA from IIM Bangalore, B.Tech. in Civil Engineering from IIT Delhi

Sectors: Sports, media, travel, technology, finance, education

Expertise: Strategy, portfolio management, P&L leadership, organisation design

Pranjal Kothawade

Consultant

Pranjal Kothawade

Consultant

An impact consulting professional with four years of experience spanning air quality, agriculture, social protection, government process improvement through technology and data, and stakeholder engagement. At Kalpa Impact, she brings a systems-thinking approach to help impact funders design and deliver programs that are data-driven, locally responsive, and built for scale.

Designed and implemented large-scale public programs at GDi Partners, including programs with the Government of Punjab to develop strategies for reducing stubble burning and improving air quality. Organised India’s first symposium to standardise burnt area calculation methodology
Contributed to one of India’s most ambitious agricultural transformation project—the Holistic Agriculture Development Program in Jammu & Kashmir. Led the design of a UT-level campaign to encourage women’s participation in the agricultural economy and laid the groundwork for building the agri-startup ecosystem in the region
Worked with senior bureaucrats and institutional leaders at the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. Strengthened the implementation and monitoring systems, and contributed to the design of the Seniorcare Ageing Growth Engine (SAGE) scheme

Education: B.Tech in Planning from College of Engineering Pune (CoEP), M.Sc. in Urban Policy and Governance from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai

Sectors: Climate, air pollution, urban planning, governance, policy, agriculture

Expertise: Strategy, program management, process reengineering, stakeholder management, qualitative and quantitative research

Purva Agrawal

Analyst

Purva Agrawal

Analyst

A purpose-driven strategist with cross-sector experience in education, sustainability, mobility, Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), and grassroots development. With a strong foundation in engineering from IIT Kharagpur, she combines systems thinking with creative problem-solving to drive high-impact outcomes.

Designed a fundraising strategy for the Centre for Data for Public Good, positioning it as a DPI-aligned data exchange platform for Smart Cities
Created a comprehensive landscape of the sports ecosystem in India, mapping 100+ stakeholders to identify funding gaps and drive gender-inclusive programming
Co-founded StrawDeshi, a sustainable fashion venture using agro-waste—won South Asia Regionals of the Hult Prize and secured seed funding from IIT-led incubation
As part of the Gopali Youth Welfare Society, scaled education programs across 12 centers and led fundraising, community events, and rural outreach

Education: Dual degree (B.Tech + M.Tech) from IIT Kharagpur

Sectors: Education, DPI, sports for impact, circular economy

Expertise: Project management, stakeholder engagement, campaign design, strategic communications, events

Vilas Thotam

Administrative Executive

Vilas Thotam

Administrative Executive

A seasoned administrative professional with over 15 years of experience in office management and administrative assistance. As an admin executive at Kalpa Impact, he ensures the office is well-maintained, manages logistics, and creates a space where the team can focus on their work. His work reflects the values of Kalpa Impact—continuous learning, ownership, and a commitment to driving impact.

He is actively expanding his skill sets in Microsoft Excel, office petty cash management, and travel liaisoning

Prior experience includes roles at:

Saint Gobain
Omidyar Network India
Bisleri

Education: Mumbai University

Expertise: Office management, administrative assistance, logistics and travel coordination, inventory and supplies management, vendor and facility management

Carolina A. Rossini

Director, PIT, UMass Amherst

Carolina A. Rossini

Director, PIT, UMass Amherst

A public interest tech leader with over 25 years in technology policy, nonprofit strategy, and digital rights. She has held roles at Facebook and Telefónica, and advises global organisations on governance, advocacy, and impact. She serves on multiple non-profit boards, and co-founded initiatives like the Datasphere Initiative and Portulans Institute.

Education: LL.B, University of São Paulo; Bachelor of Arts in International Relations, Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo (PUC-SP); MBA in E-Business, IE Business School (Spain); Master of Laws (LL.M) in Intellectual Property, Boston University School of Law

Sectors: Technology policy, digital rights, public interest tech

Expertise: Strategy, policy, program development, coalition building, fundraising

Rohan Vyavaharkar

Strategic communications, and sports advisory

Rohan Vyavaharkar

Strategic communications, and sports advisory

A strategic communications leader with 20 years of experience shaping brand narratives across sport, media, and impact. He has led storytelling, partnerships, and campaigns at Sports For All, Omidyar Network India, Twitter, Red Bull, and NDTV, and advises organisations like the Abhinav Bindra Foundation, and India SportsTech.

He is also a visiting faculty at Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication.

Education: MS, Broadcast Journalism, Syracuse University; BA, Economics, Ramnarain Ruia College

Sectors: Media, sport, social Impact

Expertise: Narrative strategy, strategic communications, brand building, content creation, partnerships

Sonny Bardhan

Managing Director and Chief Strategy Officer, Omidyar Network

Sonny Bardhan

Managing Director and Chief Strategy Officer, Omidyar Network

A strategy and philanthropy leader with over 25 years of experience across investment, policy, and social impact. He is Chief Strategy Officer at Omidyar Network, where he led the firm’s global strategic evolution and advises the CEO and board on governance, learning, and impact.

He previously held leadership roles at the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, McKinsey & Company, and Capital One, working across Africa, South Asia, and Europe. He also chairs the board of Partners for a New Economy and has advised multiple international philanthropic and economic change initiatives.

Education: MPA in International Development, Harvard University; MBA, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford; MA, Natural Sciences, University of Cambridge

Sectors: Philanthropy, impact investing, economic development

Expertise: Strategic planning, social investment, organisational design, policy and systems change

Sudha Srinivasan

Co-Founder of 2nd Careers, Ex-CEO of The/Nudge Centre for Social Innovation

Sudha Srinivasan

Co-Founder of 2nd Careers, Ex-CEO of The/Nudge Centre for Social Innovation

A health and technology leader with over two decades of experience spanning startups, nonprofits, and government partnerships. She works at the intersection of digital public infrastructure, women’s health, and inclusive innovation—through roles at iSPIRT and Samyak, and as Co-Founder of 2nd Careers, a platform for professionals over 50.

She previously led The/Nudge Centre for Social Innovation, supporting over 150 nonprofit tech founders, and held senior leadership roles at Intel and Verizon.

Education: MBA, Indian Institute of Management Lucknow; B.E., Sardar Patel University

Sectors: Health, technology, DPI, social innovation

Expertise: Program strategy, ecosystem building, digital health, organisational leadership

Sylvie Delacroix

Professor and Jeff Price Chair in Digital Law

Sylvie Delacroix

Professor and Jeff Price Chair in Digital Law

A legal scholar specialising in digital ethics, data governance, and emerging technologies. Sylvie is the inaugural Jeff Price Chair in Digital Law at King’s College London and a Fellow at The Alan Turing Institute. She serves on the advisory panel of the Data Empowerment Fund and has previously held fellowships with Mozilla and Harvard’s Radcliffe Institute.

She was Professor in Law and Ethics at the University of Birmingham, and founding director of the Centre for Ethics and Law at UCL.

Education: PhD in Law, Trinity College, University of Cambridge

Sectors: Law, digital ethics, data governance, technology policy, DPI

Expertise: Research, advisory, teaching

Akshita Kamthan

Public Health, DPI, climate, education, mobility, SaaS

Akshita Kamthan

Public Health, DPI, climate, education, mobility, SaaS

A strategy consultant working across public health, digital transformation, and climate action. She has held roles at YCP Auctus, CHAI, McKinsey Orpheus, and MPL, advising foundations, startups, and global firms. She scaled YCP Auctus’ social impact practice, led reproductive health pilots in 300+ tribal villages with CHAI, and delivered USD 50 million in savings through SaaS deployments at McKinsey Orpheus. At MPL, she led US expansion, adding USD 3.5 million in ARR.

She co-founded Ashna Foundation to mentor migrant girls during COVID and supports early-stage SaaS founders and angel investments in impact tech.

Education: B.Tech, Thapar University

Sectors: Public Health, DPI, climate, education, mobility, SaaS

Expertise: Strategy, systems thinking, market entry, program design

Anant Lalla

DPI, climate, responsible tech, financial inclusion

Anant Lalla

DPI, climate, responsible tech, financial inclusion

A program manager and strategist with 13 years of experience at the intersection of technology, sustainability, and social development. He blends consulting expertise with entrepreneurial ventures in climate tech and responsible innovation.

He led global data and product insight initiatives at Meta, shaping strategy for Facebook Groups and Learning Labs. At Dalberg, he advised USAID, Gates Foundation, World Bank, and Omidyar Network on digital payments and data protection. He co-founded Myco, a climate-tech venture producing mycelium-based packaging, and built Fortitude Creations to connect Khadi artisans with global markets. He also led operations at Sonadka, an MSME developing low-cost water purification technologies.

Education: BMS in Finance, Mumbai University

Sectors: DPI, climate, responsible tech, financial inclusion

Expertise: Program design, partnerships, data strategy, venture building, human-centered design

Natasha Uppal

Early childhood development, education systems, gender, social protection

Natasha Uppal

Early childhood development, education systems, gender, social protection

A development professional with 15 years of experience in early childhood development, education systems, and social protection. She has worked with governments, multilaterals, and nonprofits to design programmes, shape policy, and drive outcomes for children and low-income communities.

She led a USD 500 thousand early learning pilot with the World Bank and India’s Ministry of Education across eight states, reaching over 4 million children, and managed a two-generation Cash Plus Care pilot with support from the LEGO Foundation. She has contributed to national ECE policy inputs, FLN content, and M&E frameworks, and developed knowledge products with ILO, UNICEF, and the World Bank.

Her work has been featured at AECN Nairobi, the LEGO Idea Conference, and the Sesame Play Conference.

Education: UCL Institute of Education (University of London)

Sectors: ECD, education systems, gender, social protection

Expertise: Program design, policy, M&E, participatory research, storytelling

Navdha Malhotra

Climate, gender, public health, digital rights

Navdha Malhotra

Climate, gender, public health, digital rights

A strategic communications leader with over 15 years of experience across climate action, gender equity, public health, and youth development. She has led award-winning campaigns at Purpose, Greenpeace, and HelpAge, partnering with funders like USAID, BMGF, Porticus, and the Packard Foundation.

She secured and led Purpose India’s largest project, raised over USD 2 million across climate and health portfolios, and has been recognised by Anthem Awards, Cannes Lions, and Shorty Awards. She co-founded the Museum of Material Memory, a digital archive of South Asian material culture, and is a trusted advisor to nonprofits and philanthropy on narrative design and systems change.

Education: MA in Media and Cultural Studies, SOAS (London); BA in Sociology, Delhi University

Sectors: Climate, gender, public health, digital rights

Expertise: Campaign strategy, partnerships, narrative design, movement building, fundraising

Ntasha Bhardwaj

Gender, justice systems, urban safety, digital inclusion, public policy

Ntasha Bhardwaj

Gender, justice systems, urban safety, digital inclusion, public policy

A gender justice expert and mixed-methods researcher with 13+ years of global experience across South Asia, Africa, and the US. She blends academic rigour with field insight to shape inclusive policy and programs. She founded the South Asian Institute of Crime and Justice Studies and has worked with UN Women, Girl Effect, and the Vera Institute of Justice.

She led gender research and policy strategy with India’s Ministry of Women and Child Development and the Government of Goa, and managed Girl Effect’s TEGA program across seven countries. Her studies on women’s incarceration in India and Sri Lanka have been published in Feminist Criminology, European Journal of Criminology, and more.

Education: PhD and MA in Criminal Justice, Rutgers University; MA in Social Work, TISS; BA in English, St. Xavier’s College Mumbai

Sectors: Gender, justice systems, urban safety, digital inclusion, public policy

Expertise: Gender-based violence, participatory research, criminal justice reform, feminist policy, mixed methods research

Priyanka Sahoo

Education, skilling, digital economy, public policy, livelihoods

Priyanka Sahoo

Education, skilling, digital economy, public policy, livelihoods

A public policy professional with six years of experience spanning grassroots programs, think tanks, and multilateral institutions. Priyanka works at the intersection of research, operations, and strategy to advance evidence-based policymaking in education, skilling, and inclusive digital economies.

At the World Bank, she supported the design and implementation of large-scale education and skills projects in India, including a USD 250 million school education initiative in Andhra Pradesh and a USD 900 million national skilling programme. She has led research on digital economies and AI governance across Southeast Asia with the Tech for Good Institute, and managed M&E operations for Pratham, scaling foundational learning across two states with over 150 field team.

Her experience also spans AVPN, IIM Ahmedabad, Quantum Hub, UNDP, and NITI Aayog—shaping work across impact investing, rural livelihoods, land policy, and digital regulation.

Education: Master in Public Policy, Lee Kuan Yew School (NUS); B.Arch (Hons.) with Minor in Economics, IIT Kharagpur

Sectors: Education, skilling, digital economy, public policy, livelihoods

Expertise: Program management, impact evaluation, policy research, stakeholder engagement, data analysis

Ritesh Dogra

Healthcare, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, med-tech, AI

Ritesh Dogra

Healthcare, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, med-tech, AI

A healthcare and life sciences leader with over 15 years of experience across consulting, entrepreneurship, and AI-driven innovation. He specialises in GenAI strategy, product development, and commercialisation across the healthcare value chain.

At Indegene, he leads the global GenAI and MedTech portfolios, delivering AI solutions in medical content, regulatory automation, and labelling for over 15 life sciences clients. He founded TalkDoc.AI, India’s first healthcare-specific NLP platform, integrating conversational AI into hospital systems.

As Managing Partner at Medium Healthcare, he led over 100 projects across pharma, med-tech, and delivery for Fortune 500 clients. A recognised voice on GenAI in health, he has been featured by HFS Research and honoured with a Stevie Award for innovation.

Education: PGDM, ISB; BSc, T.S. Chanakya; Exec programs, IIM Ahmedabad, and Harvard Business School

Sectors: Healthcare, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, med-tech, AI

Expertise: GenAI strategy, product development, commercialisation, regulatory tech, healthcare consulting

Sonia Ghalian

Education, children’s media, culture and visual arts, higher education

Sonia Ghalian

Education, children’s media, culture and visual arts, higher education

An educator and researcher with over a decade of experience at the intersection of pedagogy, media, and cultural studies. Sonia brings an interdisciplinary lens to curriculum design, content strategy, and inclusive education, with expertise across higher education, children’s media, and creative learning.

At KREA University, she designed and taught flagship courses in design thinking, literature, and creative expression, blending real-world problem-solving with art-based inquiry. She previously led courses in film, media, and cultural studies at Christ University and convened national and international conferences on childhood and visual culture.

She has held visiting faculty positions at NLSIU and Manipal, and her writing on Indian childhoods, cinema, and media literacy has appeared in Palgrave Macmillan, Oxford Bibliographies, Outlook, and The Wire. She has also curated cultural programs and academic projects on children’s films, food, identity, and the arts across institutions in India and the UK.

Education: PhD in English, and MSc in Media and Communication, Manipal Academy of Higher Education Dubai; BA (Hons) in English, University of Delhi

Sectors: Education, children’s media, culture and visual arts, higher education

Expertise: Curriculum design, interdisciplinary pedagogy, media literacy, cultural studies, film analysis, research

Sreyan Chatterjee

Labour policy, platform economy, financial inclusion, DPI

Sreyan Chatterjee

Labour policy, platform economy, financial inclusion, DPI

A public policy and legal expert with over eight years of experience across employment regulation, technology, financial systems, and labour policy. He has worked with leading organisations including Cividep India, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, IT for Change, and Thomson Reuters, contributing to critical national and international discussions on decent work, ESG frameworks, and digital labour rights. He has advised multiple Government of India ministries, led empirical studies for the ILO, and published extensively in academic and media forums on technology, law, and labour.

Education: Doctoral Researcher – Decent Work and Productivity team at MMU Faculty of Business and Law (Ongoing), Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws (Honors), National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata

Sectors: Labour policy, platform economy, financial inclusion, DPI

Expertise: Legal and policy research, ESG and labour standards, public consultation, technology governance, sustainability reporting

Tanuja Kate

Social entrepreneurship, women empowerment, healthcare, livelihood

Tanuja Kate

Social entrepreneurship, women empowerment, healthcare, livelihood

An impact measurement and finance specialist with over seven years of experience across global development organisations, impact investment firms, and research institutions. She has managed evaluations and provided technical assistance for USAID, international foundations, and social enterprises, directly supporting 100+ ventures across diverse impact themes such as agriculture, climate, healthcare, and livelihoods. She secured and led a GBP 100,000+ funded research program in partnership with the International Growth Centre and Chicago Booth Business School, developing impact measurement training for 500 early-stage ventures.

She is currently working at Pyxera Global as a Program Manager, facilitating cross-sector partnerships for sustainable development impact. She has previously worked with the Villgro Innovation Foundation, and Moonshot Global LLC.

Education: MSc in Social Cognition, University College London; BA in Psychology, University of Mumbai

Sectors: Social entrepreneurship, women empowerment, healthcare, livelihood

Expertise: Impact measurement frameworks (IRIS+, SDGs), program evaluation, stakeholder management, research

Trina Talukdar

Youth empowerment, gender justice, public policy, civic systems

Trina Talukdar

Youth empowerment, gender justice, public policy, civic systems

A social entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience across gender empowerment, social justice, and governance innovation. She co-founded Kranti, a home for daughters of sex workers, designed SEL -social justice curriculum to empower survivors of trafficking. She held leadership roles at Ashoka, American Express Philanthropy, Fields of View, and LocalMotion UK, and currently leads partnership at Kshetra Foundation.

She also served on the board of Kuviraa, and Global Dialogue Collective, and was a fellow at WEF, Asia Foundation,and Unreasonable Institute.

Education: Masters in Social Work, Medical and Psychiatric Social Work, Christ University, Bangalore; BA with Honours, English Literature; Political Science and Sociology, St. Xavier’s College

Sectors: Youth empowerment, gender justice, public policy, civic systems

Expertise: Serious game design, entrepreneurship, systems thinking, governance facilitation, MEL innovation

Vivek Nair

Public health, livelihoods, governance, gender equity

Vivek Nair

Public health, livelihoods, governance, gender equity

A social impact assessor and MEL specialist with over five years of experience evaluating programs in governance, public health, child development, and livelihoods. He has worked with Centre for Budget and Policy Studies, CSRBOX, and International Migration Centre, Government of Karnataka. He has led the design of evaluation frameworks and reports, conducted research across sectors such as governance, child development, public expenditure, public health, and migration, and developed dashboards for real-time program monitoring.

Education: Master of Social Work, St. Joseph’s College Bangalore; B.Tech, University of Calicut

Sectors: Public health, livelihoods, governance, gender equity

Expertise: MEL frameworks, impact evaluation, data tools (SPSS, Looker Studio), policy research

Team

Partners

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