Global IndianstoryJayshree Seth: 3M’s Indian-origin chief science advocate who also holds 72 patents

Jayshree Seth: 3M’s Indian-origin chief science advocate who also holds 72 patents

Written by: Global Indian

Surround yourself with those unafraid to ask questions, solve problems, and dig deeper. That’s been the mantra for Dr Jayshree Seth, corporate scientist and chief science advocate at US-based 3M. The Indian American, originally from a Rajasthani Marwari family, has 72 (and counting) patents to her name. She is at the highest technical designation within the $32 billion company and the first female engineer to get there. She juggles multiple hats – works with other engineers and scientists to find solutions to complex problems in 3M’s adhesives and tapes division, besides advocating the importance of science in people’s lives. The girl who grew up thinking science and engineering were not for her, recently won the Society of Woman Engineers (SWE) Achievement Award 2020 (SWE’s highest accolade). Quoting from 3M’s State of Science 2021 report, Seth took to LinkedIn recently and wrote,

“If the virus is the villain, science can be called the hero. In 2021, 85% say that science will save us from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Love for problem-solving

Even as a child, Seth had an insatiable urge to solve problems. It helped that she and her brother were nurtured under the scientific mind of a father who did his Ph.D. on a Commonwealth Scholarship at the University of Manchester in England. As a child, Jayshree found herself in the august surrounds of IIT Roorkee where her father was a professor in civil engineering (later he retired as director at National Institute of Hydrology). “I am a beneficiary of visionary parents,” she told Global Indian.

Seth followed her parents’ advice and tried for IIT Roorkee. She didn’t get through and instead went to the National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli. Later, she went to graduate school at New York’s Clarkson University.

In a write up for British Science Week, Seth wrote: “It was actually at university, when I started doing experimental work on hard coatings to protect surfaces, that I realized for the first time how excited I was to plan my experiments, conduct them and write up the results to communicate in an understandable way.”

Computers to chemicals

She has worked at 3M for 28 years.

At Clarkson, she had to take her life’s first major decision on her own. While working on computer modeling for her masters, an incongruity hit her hard: Her desire was to make the world a better place but she was pursuing something unrelated.

“I thought ‘is this what I want to do in life? I made the scary decision to switch topics for my Ph.D.,” she adds.

While still a Ph.D. candidate, 3M came knocking with an internship and that put her on a path to conquering the mercurial and invigorating yet gender-biased world of science. She has been with the same company for 28 years.

Jayshree Seth with Indian-origin teen innovator Gitanjali Rao in 2018.

Patents for diapers

Many of her early patents were on closures for disposable diapers, although she had never seen a diaper before joining 3M.

Ask her if she has any favorite patents and pat comes the reply: “They were all equally rewarding because of the journey, and the people I got to brainstorm with and learn from.”

She also shares a patent with her husband, (a fellow 3Mer with a PhD in Chemical Engineering) on window films. The mother of two, a boy of 23 and a girl of 19, feels her children are an inspiration who have taught her the importance of having an open mind.

Scholarships for under-represented communities

Honored to be featured in “Not the Science Type” – a @3M docuseries to help shatter stereotypes and spark a deeper conversation on #diversity, #equity and #inclusion to inspire #girlsinstem #womeninscience #womeninstem #future #science #technology #innovation.
Trailer below:

— Jayshree Seth (@jseth2) June 10, 2021

In December 2020, she created an anecdotal compilation of her journey in a book ‘The Heart of Science – Engineering Footprints, Fingerprints & Imprints.’ Proceeds from its sales are going towards a scholarship for under-represented minorities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, administered by the SWE. Today, Seth also mentors and encourages girls in STEM. It’s almost unreal to hear her admit that she was not the “science type.” She reiterates that it is possible to carve out a path to success even if you aren’t as smart as some of the others. She calls out to girls who are missing out on science because of the way the world “talks, teaches, trains, tracks and typifies education, career and success – very male-centric.” Her journey, she hopes will inspire change in STEM for girls. A song she had written and put to music raised funds for United Way, one of the US’ largest non-profits.

Life is like a donut… there’ll always be a hole. 2020 may have created a void in our lives but like the donut metaphor this hole also serves to make us whole. We can all step up and support each other #Community #Cause #DonutLifeSong pic.twitter.com/HyYDHV0EYI

— Jayshree Seth (@jseth2) May 10, 2021

Gender bias in science

She has battled the science industry’s legacy of bias and admits to feeling a lack of self-assuredness which fuels her to gain knowledge.

“You have to discover your ‘virtuous cycle’ that allows you to be authentic. Understand that the typical male projection of outward confidence may not be the only indicator of talent and skills,” she adds.

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Published on 28, Jun 2021

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Nimal Raghavan: The ‘Son of Rain’ transforming lives and revitalising agricultural cycles in India and Kenya

(January 3, 2024) Environmentalist Nimal Raghavan, who has revived 180 lakes in India, has won people’s heart in Kenya as well. He has earned himself the moniker ‘Wa Muva’, or ‘Son of Rain’ in the drought-stricken country, through his efforts to tackle water scarcity. “I have revived six lakes so far in Kenya, working along with the Ministry of Water,” Nimal tells Global Indian. “I was invited by the Green Africa Foundation to collaborate on their lake revival drives.” Leaving behind a thriving career in Dubai, Nimal redirected his efforts to environmental activism, focusing on causes like organic farming and the rejuvenation of water bodies, along with tree planting, rainwater harvesting and the fight against climate change. So far, Nimal has overseen lake restorations in seven states across India and the planting of over 1.8 million saplings. Now, he aims to restore water bodies in 10 African countries, especially in areas where the water scarcity problem is most acute. “Last year, we brought water to one of the driest places in India (Ramnad) and to drought-stricken Kenya.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nimal Raghavan (@being_nimal) Recently, Nimal was awarded the title of Jal

ya ayb ayc ayd aye ayf ayg ayh ayi ayj ayk ayl aym ayn ayo ayp ayq ayr ays ayt ayu ayv ayw ayx ayy ayz aza azb azc" dir="ltr">water bodies in 10 African countries, especially in areas where the water scarcity problem is most acute. “Last year, we brought water to one of the driest places in India (Ramnad) and to drought-stricken Kenya.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Nimal Raghavan (@being_nimal)

Recently, Nimal was awarded the title of Jal Prahari here in India, a recognition by the Ministry of Jal Shakti. “It was an immense pleasure to have received the award from ‘The great Waterman of India’, my inspiration Rajendra Singh,” he remarked.

Rising above odds

Born in Nadiyam Village, nestled in Tamil Nadu's Peravurani district, often known as the ‘rice bowl of Tamil Nadu’, Nimal’s childhood came with challenges. When he was six months old, his father was diagnosed with a brain tumour and the family’s financial stability crumbled.

“My family spent everything on his treatment. Although we managed to save him, people began seeing me as a bearer of misfortune," Nimal recalls. "Passers-by would deliberately alter their paths upon seeing me on the streets."

[caption id="attachment_47946" align="aligncenter" width="570"] Environmentalist | Nimal Raghavan | Global Indian Nimal Raghavan[/caption]

Determined to rise above adversity, Nimal pursued engineering and secured his first job in Pune and eventually relocated to Dubai. His life took a positive turn financially after this move, allowing him to even construct a house in his native village.

The twist of tale

When he was on a vacation in his village in 2018, he witnessed devastation caused by a cyclone. The place was severely affected. In every house that Nimal visited he saw people crying and sobbing due to the misfortune caused by nature. “90 percent of the livelihood got affected,” he shared.

Deeply in love with his native place, Nimal extended his leave. “Instead of retreating, I rallied a team,” he says. Starting from his own village, he lent a helping hand to 90 nearby villages affected by the cyclone. This natural calamity unveiled an overlooked crisis—the mismanagement of water resources due to poor knowledge on the part of the villagers.

Realising the severity of water wastage in his region, Nimal embarked on a mission – to manage the water resources. His efforts didn't just revive lakes, rather they resurrected hope. With meticulous planning, Nimal's team rejuvenated water bodies, elevating water levels from 700 to 60 feet within six months, revitalising agricultural cycles in the process.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Nimal Raghavan (@being_nimal)

“We realised that due to poor management of water resources, the farmers who previously cultivated crops thrice a year could barely manage once annually, Nimal says. Their efforts involved desilting, erecting boundaries, establishing inlet-outlet connections, and facilitating water retention. “Gradually, we successfully escalated the water level from 700 feet to 60 feet within a mere six months. This success sparked a realisation that if six months of dedicated work could resolve a three-decade-old problem here, why not replicate this in other regions?” remarks Nimal.

The power of action

Each revitalised lake symbolised more than water; it represented restored livelihoods. Nimal's impact echoed when a grateful elder, previously unable to farm for many years due to water scarcity, handed him the first produce from his revived land—a gesture that remains Nimal's most cherished moment. “The old man said I have been offering my first harvest to God since I have been farming but this time I'm giving this to you.” This gesture meant a lot especially when Nimal had seen times when people used to change their paths when they saw him coming.

Driven by a simple yet profound belief—no one should go hungry, no one should pay for water—Nimal's vision is colossal. He yearns for a world where simplicity sparks profound change. He believes that even a drop of effort can cause ripples of transformation.

[caption id="attachment_47953" align="aligncenter" width="586"] Environmentalist | Nimal Raghavan | Global Indian Nimal Raghvan in Kenya[/caption]

“I work with the simple goal that no one should die of hunger. I don't want anyone to pay for water. Through simple mind-set, we can bring powerful changes. With this attitude, I have set to achieve my big dreams,” he signs off.

Follow Nimal Raghavan on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and X

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Dean Rakesh Khurana: Changing the world of education

(November 30, 2022) The official page of Rakesh Khurana on the Harvard College website describes him as "Not just a Dean, but a friend", adding, "When Dean Khurana walks into a room, the energy shifts to a more positive, welcoming environment. Khurana, a former Faculty Dean of Cabot House, exemplifies the mission of Harvard College; he transforms the lives of students daily through the connections he makes and the photos he posts on Instagram." The Dean of Harvard College Rakesh Khurana - an award-winning teacher and widely recognised scholar - has pioneered several changes in the modern education system to make it more inclusive and fun. His innovative methods in pedagogy and practice adaptability have made him one of the favourite teachers of his students. [caption id="attachment_32278" align="aligncenter" width="656"] Dean Rakesh Khurana[/caption] "The faculty needed to act to create a psychologically safe environment for engagement," Dean Khurana had said during an education conference, adding, "Where silence was not interpreted as agreement, where there was no pressure to behave simply to create unanimity, and where people were not judged for raising ideas before they were fully formed." Deeply involved with undergraduates’ daily lives outside the classroom, this Global Indian is changing

was not interpreted as agreement, where there was no pressure to behave simply to create unanimity, and where people were not judged for raising ideas before they were fully formed." Deeply involved with undergraduates’ daily lives outside the classroom, this Global Indian is changing the way educational institutions work, giving the mundane experience a more humane touch.

A man of knowledge

While not much is known about his childhood, Dean Khurana shared that his family moved from New Delhi to Queens, New York when he was just a toddler. Brought up in the largest of the five boroughs of NYC, the young kid was sharp and very observant of human behaviour, and that is what led him to pursue a bachelor's degree in industrial relations from Cornell University. He later earned an MA in sociology from Harvard and his Ph.D. in organisational behavior through a joint program between the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences and Harvard Business School in 1998.

[caption id="attachment_32279" align="aligncenter" width="632"] Rakesh Khurana Rakesh and Stephanie Khurana at Cabot House[/caption]

Since a young age, Dean Khurana was interested in pursuing a career in the field of education. And soon after he earned his doctorate, he became the founding team member of Cambridge Technology Partners and from 1998 to 2000 he taught at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. After spending a decade at MIT, Khurana and his wife Stephanie were named master and co-master of Cabot House at Harvard University, and the couple still holds the position.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgSy72QVBLA

Later the same year Dean Khurana became the Marvin Bower Professor of Leadership Development at Harvard Business School and professor of sociology in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. "Most of the significant challenges and opportunities we face in the world are not things that anybody faces alone. They require building a foundation of trust and understanding, while also finding common ground with others. It’s hard for me to separate students, faculty, and administration — and while I know different people play different roles, ultimately I believe we are all 'Harvard'. How we work together and how we share our diverse perspectives have led to a deeper understanding of each other. This type of capacity-building has been central to creating a supportive and diverse living environment where students can safely embark on their journey of intellectual transformation," the Dean had told Legal Desire magazine when asked about why he includes his students' opinions for every small decision.

At the helm of Harvard

In 2014, Rakesh became the Dean of Harvard College. In his announcement, former Dean Michael D. Smith said, "Khurana brings to the deanship an intimate understanding of the Harvard College experience, a profound commitment to the values of a liberal-arts education, and a warm and compassionate personality that accompanies his belief in the importance of community and an inclusive approach to decision-making."

[caption id="attachment_32280" align="aligncenter" width="758"] Harvard University President Drew Faust greets Dean Rakesh Khurana at a recent graduation ceremony[/caption]

But, even when the students and faculty members were gearing up to welcome their new head, Dean Khurana was working on college policies to ensure that diversity and inclusion at Harvard. "Our diversity is our strength. To me, diversity of intellectual thought, which is deeply enriched by people who bring different cultural perspectives and lived experiences, is what is most valued here at Harvard College. We are educating our students to be citizens and citizen-leaders in one of the most diverse societies in the world, one that is becoming even more diverse, and the challenge for the American experiment — the challenge for the global experiment — is how we continue to thrive in that world, rather than retreat into tribalism, conformity of values, and closed-minded thinking," the dean had said during one of his initial speeches at the University.

[caption id="attachment_32281" align="aligncenter" width="645"] Dean Rakesh Khurana Dean Khurana with President Joe Biden[/caption]

A strong leader, and a dear friend to his students, Dean Khurana has been working hard so that Harvard students and faculty members find the opportunities to ensure the mission of the college is accomplished in a way that is both consistent with its values and meaningful within the current educational landscape. Even during the global pandemic, when other educational institutions were struggling, Harvard, under Dean Khurana's leadership, reported increased levels of participation among their students by the third week of online classes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJKAGC6nvXA

“Leadership, ultimately, is the ability to be comfortable with being uncomfortable,” adding, "It's the willingness to adapt and change to circumstance, but be steady in your values," the dean believes.

Follow Dean Rakesh Khurana on Instagram and LinkedIn

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Jyotsna Pattabiraman: The ambidextrous entrepreneur making India healthy

(November 19, 2021) From one’s own inner yearnings comes change. That would be an apt way to describe health startup GrowFit founder and CEO Jyotsna Pattabiraman who has taken the onus of making India’s health her priority. Be it lean machine keto programmes for lunch or a low-carb high-fat diet that blasts fat, Pattabiraman’s Grow Fit offers diet charts, nutrition-based meals and fresh food, a click away. With the world turning health-conscious, every calorie and ingredient be it tempeh or plant-based foods, has a place on the food chart, and the Stanford graduate ensures that each ingredient and plan helps one “Grow Fit.” The entrepreneur on a mission to create wholesome health quit a career in the internet space to startup a business that helps wellness. Stints at various IT biggies before health solutions became her zeitgeist, she calls this journey a progression. “Working with internet companies for the larger part of my career, I learnt the impact that the web can create. When I decided to start Grow Fit, I knew that an app would be the right way to reach out to millions,” she tells Global Indian in an exclusive interview. Her brainchild is today a popular name

="noopener">Global Indian in an exclusive interview.

Her brainchild is today a popular name in the start-up healthcare sector. And it took Jyotsna years of learning the internet of things to find a space where she can create greater impact.

Born in Bengaluru, she always had a taste for the new thanks to parents who worked for State Bank of India. Thus, her childhood was spent across nine school and different cultures. Tennis and drama in school, her upbringing helped her embrace change as she “never liked to be in one place for too long.”

[caption id="attachment_16140" align="aligncenter" width="742"] Jyoti Pattabiraman Jyotsna Pattabiraman[/caption]

This sense of adventure took her to the US in 1998 after a short stint at Cybercash. “My fiancé (now husband) moved to the US in the late 90s. I followed suit as it was a place of opportunities,” she recalls.

At the Silicon Valley, Jyotsna learnt her trade in the mobile and internet space at marquee companies like Oracle, eBay, and Yahoo, which helped her understand the industry better. After a decade-long stint in the US which included a great career, marriage, MBA at Stanford University, and the birth of her son Nandan, Jyotsna moved back to Bengaluru to be closer to her roots.
About her experience at Stanford, she says, “It was very open and welcoming. I was one of the very few women from techno engineering at my MBA.”

Armed with all the knowledge, Jyotsna came back to find family members and friends facing worrying health issues. She herself faced complications during her pregnancy in the US, and couldn't fathom this generic unhealthy lifestyle pattern. “Everyone was taking pills for something or the other. Despite having access to the best healthcare infrastructure, many of them were unhealthy and it made no sense,” recalls Jyotsna.

[caption id="attachment_16141" align="aligncenter" width="606"] Jyotsna Pattabiraman with husband and son.[/caption]

This nudged her towards the perfect solution - nutritious meals, diet charts and in 2015, Grow Fit, a health and calorie-tracking app began, and it has since raised $6.5 million in funding over five years, with plans for expansion underway. “My experience with internet companies helped me understand the power of the internet and how it could reach out to a large population and make a change,” reveals the entrepreneur.

Grow Fit tapped into a niche market by providing customised diet charts with the help of nutritionists, doctors and food technologists. The word-of-mouth publicity catapulted the app into the league of the best, and soon diversified into food delivery and packaged foods. “When we started, there were very few such apps. We were one of the pioneers, and this helped us gain the right traction. It wasn't just the people from big cities who were downloading the app but we managed to engage Tier-II and Tier-III cities as well,” says the Melton Fellow.

[caption id="attachment_16142" align="aligncenter" width="466"] Jyotsna Pattabiraman[/caption]

A year later, Grow Fit became a comprehensive health companion, and she launched Grow Self, a mental wellness app which shut a year later, and she is hoping to get that back on when the time is right. “We realised that there is so much stigma around mental health. People don’t talk about mental health issues in public. We were surprised to find people from Tier-II cities downloading the app. They could finally speak about their issues without the fear of judgment,” she says.

The pandemic was the perfect opportunity for this ambidextrous startup to scale up. With Indians feverishly tuning into their health-o-meter, Grow Fit got its moment in the sun, and the cloud kitchen also got a huge boost.
“Earlier, people thought that there were no consequences to their choices. But during the pandemic, things started to become real, as people started to take responsibility. They knew they had to make healthier choices as the pandemic made them aware of their mortality. They realised that life is fragile, and we need to take care of ourselves,” she adds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kygAypsq1dM

For someone who did not set out to be an entrepreneur, Jyotsna is now a name to reckon with. “When I started, I didn't know anything about food. But the desire to make my family members and friends healthy led me on this path. I learned on-the-go. Seeing my family healthy brings me great satisfaction. I am now reaping the fruits of the seeds that I planted almost six years ago,” says the founder of the Stanford Alumni Association in South India.

Advice for young entrepreneurs? “Invest in yourself. Find meaning in your life. Entrepreneurship is a skill that no one can teach you, it can be self-learnt. Do something that makes a difference to yours and somebody else’s life,” says the girl who loves travelling, reading and binging on Korean dramas. For someone who simply wanted a meaningful life without august goals, she is well on her way to creating such a life.

Follow Jyotsna Pattabiraman on Linkedin

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Ananya Tiwari: Texas academic promoting STEM among rural Indian girls with SwaTaleem

(May 20, 2024) “I believe we are the only ones from India to have ever received this honour and so we'll make sure that we kind of rise up to it. Our plan is to make our advocacy stronger around STEM and the under representation of women in STEM, not just in India but also globally,” said Ananya Tiwari, soon after receiving the 2023 Inspiring Women in Science Award by Nature Portfolio and The Estée Lauder Companies Inc – which saw nominations spanning 45 countries across six continents. The award ceremony was held at New York in presence of the UN under-secretary general for global communications, Melissa Fleming. This is one of many achievements for Ananya, who is an assistant professor at the Texas A&M University and the founder of the non profit, SwaTaleem. The foundation focuses on increasing STEM participation and aiding retention of adolescent rural girls in STEM education. In 2022, Google named Ananya as one of seven rising changemakers and a ‘Leader to Watch’. [caption id="attachment_51731" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Ananya shared the 2023 Nature Inspiring Women in Science Award with Dr. Hortense LE FERRAND[/caption] “One of the things that we want to do very strongly is to take this programme to as many girls as possible

ds-2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-loopstyle="linkonly" data-linkindex="2">The Estée Lauder Companies Inc – which saw nominations spanning 45 countries across six continents. The award ceremony was held at New York in presence of the UN under-secretary general for global communications, Melissa Fleming.

This is one of many achievements for Ananya, who is an assistant professor at the Texas A&M University and the founder of the non profit, SwaTaleem. The foundation focuses on increasing STEM participation and aiding retention of adolescent rural girls in STEM education. In 2022, Google named Ananya as one of seven rising changemakers and a ‘Leader to Watch’.

[caption id="attachment_51731" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Indian Social Entrepreneur | Ananya Tiwari | Global indian Ananya shared the 2023 Nature Inspiring Women in Science Award with Dr. Hortense LE FERRAND[/caption]

“One of the things that we want to do very strongly is to take this programme to as many girls as possible and so we are of course expanding in India. We are also very interested in collaborating with different entities across the world and are looking at a global expansion,” said Ananya.

SwaTaleem

“Over 53 million Girls between the ages of 12 to 18, many of whom are first- generation learners, hail from low socioeconomic backgrounds, rural and tribal areas. As of 2015, their school dropout rates are on the rise and over 13 million have been pushed into child marriages. SwaTaleem helps break this cycle of oppression and empowers these young Girls of tomorrow with the necessary skills and long-term support,” reads the SwaTaleem website. The initiative is running for the past six years in India.

SwaTaleem collaborates with Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) school girls their families, educators, and community women. These residential schools meant for the poorest of the poor were established by the government of India to provide quality education to girls from underprivileged communities. SwaTaleem has been working with 31 KGBVs in Delhi and Haryana – the state with one of the lowest literacy rates of girls.

https://youtu.be/J6xlxkTcMl0

The SwaTaleem empowerment story

Ananya Tiwari adopted the approach of empowering KGBV teachers and local women to support young girls by forming school clusters. Through the use of IVRS technology, SwaTaleem enables girls, parents, and teachers to participate in the development of life skills content collaboratively. This interactive engagement equips young girls to learn life skills easily, feel empowered and build aspirations.

SwaTaleem also works towards improving the skillsets of skill providers and educators in the villages. “Some of the best days in SwaTaleem are when the team members across villages and districts come together to learn and grow, and find new ways to work with girls, teachers, parents and education system’s officials,” the Global Indian said.

The foundation conducts Internal Team Readiness Workshops for all the field team members, including Cluster Leads, Associate Cluster Leads, and Field Coordinators. The primary aim for these workshops is to establish strong connections among team members, enhance unity, encourage reflection on experiences and lessons learned from various field projects, prepare for upcoming interventions in the coming months, and review the annual calendar.

Since most field team members are women, when young girls see so many women facilitating education to them, they get empowered as they have grown up in environments where they have not seen women working.

Ananya Tiwari

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWXN0SzeZd4

Mai Bhi Curie

The foundation’s programme ‘Mai Bhi Curie’ which translates to ‘I can also be Curie’ in Hindi,” is named after Nobel Prize winner Marie Curie, who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity. This programme has played a big role in making SwaTaleem earn international awards and recognitions. The programme integrates science, gender, and life skills curricula for young girls. These girls often belong to first-generation learner families, marginalized castes, religious minorities, and face high rates of high school dropout and early marriage.

They face a number of barriers in terms of not just completing their schooling but also choosing science. What is interesting is that we recruit local village women to get trained and do the sessions with the girls in the schools.

Ananya Tiwari

After the end of the academic session every year, the girls get to display their scientific projects to the villagers including their parents, family and the government officials at a science fair. This initiative has facilitated scientific knowledge and is playing a role in changing cultural norms, ultimately aiding in the retention of more young girls in STEM fields.

[caption id="attachment_51733" align="aligncenter" width="685"] Indian Social Entrepreneur | Ananya Tiwari | Global Indian Glimpse of the Main Bhi Curie initiatives[/caption]

The impact

SwaTaleem has impacted 250,000 girls in Delhi and Haryana. The foundation not only observes but also quantifies the changes in behaviour and impact, such as improvements in self-esteem, confidence, and assertive communication levels. Ananya emphasizes the profound connection between these changes and scientific knowledge.

“When a girl feels proficient in subjects or areas typically considered difficult by society, she gains the ability to advocate for herself within her family. Numerous studies, including internal research conducted by the foundation, highlight a strong correlation between these factors,” she explains. Along with the evidence-based data, the foundation boasts of anecdotal data of girls that highlight how SwaTaleem has helped navigate their lives in a better direction.

A fun fact is that the schools we work with are nearly two decades old but the girls for the very first time after participating in our programme worked on any science project and submitted in government competitions.

Ananya Tiwari

"These competitions were first held at the block level where they competed with boys and won,” Ananya shares adding. “Their wins have been across gender, across cast, across class, and across the rural urban divide at the block levels, after which their projects went up to the district level and that has been a historical moment for us, something that we've taken huge pride in,” Ananya mentions

[caption id="attachment_51734" align="aligncenter" width="725"] Indian Social Entrepreneur | Ananya Tiwari | Global Indian SwaTaleem Girls[/caption]

The joy of giving back

Ananya gives full credit to her team for the huge impact that SwaTaleem Foundation has hade. The Texas-based educationist believes that had it not been for them, coming so far would have been impossible.

I have grown up in India and I was very fortunate to be able to go to school, to be able to study. I don't come from a very wealthy family but I always had food on table and my parents took really good care of me, so I think it's very important for me as a person to give back and that is why girls education is extremely important to me something that I have been involved with not just through SwaTaleem but also my own research areas here in the US.

Ananya Tiwari

Ananya has studied on numerous scholarships throughout her educational journey. She earned the Margaret McNamara Education Grant (MMEG) to support her studies in the US. MMEG is a nonprofit, public charity founded in 1981 that awards education grants to exceptional women from developing countries.

After completing a BSc from St Stephen’s College, Delhi, Ananya pursued her MA in psychology from Kanpur and graduated as a gold medallist. She did a postgraduate diploma course in liberal studies from Ashoka University on a Russel Mehta Scholarship and earned the Outstanding ELM Award. Following that, Ananya went on to pursue her MS and PhD in educational psychology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she was the recipient of the outstanding doctoral medallion.

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Srikanth Bolla: An entrepreneur, a leader, and a visionary

(April 17, 2024) Born into a family of rice farmers, entrepreneur Srikanth Bolla's arrival in the world wasn't met with the joyous anticipation one might expect. Visually impaired from birth, some relatives suggested that his parents should abandon him, deeming him as someone who wouldn't be able to help them in their later years. Classmates scorned him as he was visually challenged. He decided to turn his disadvantage into an opportunity and there is no looking back for him. After having fought thousands of odds, today Srikanth serves as an inspiration for countless students and adults. Despite facing numerous challenges, the Global Indian has emerged as a young and prosperous entrepreneur, running Bollant Industries, which has an impressive turnover of ₹150 crore - which incidentally was also funded by former President of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. "I lack eyesight, but not vision. An entrepreneur's life's a roller-coaster and one needs self-belief," said the MIT alum, whose only aim in life right now is to elevate his company's turnover to ₹1,000 crore within the next three years. Beyond that, he envisions taking the company public through an IPO and securing a listing on the stock exchange. And now, one of

sion. An entrepreneur's life's a roller-coaster and one needs self-belief," said the MIT alum, whose only aim in life right now is to elevate his company's turnover to ₹1,000 crore within the next three years. Beyond that, he envisions taking the company public through an IPO and securing a listing on the stock exchange.

And now, one of India's biggest production houses, T-Series Films, is ready to release a biopic on his life. Titled Srikanth, the movie stars Rajkummar Rao and Jyothika. "I would like for more and more people to know about my journey," said the entrepreneur during the trailer launch of the movie, adding, "I can't wait for the movie to release."

Facing rejections

Picture this: every day, navigating through a maze of muddy puddles, dodging vehicles that seem intent on hitting you, all along a journey spanning four to five kilometers. Now, envision undertaking this daunting task regardless of the season – whether scorching summer, chilly winter, or torrential monsoon – all while coping with visual impairment. Srikanth has done it all.

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"I had a clear vision since I was a young kid. When the world looks at me and says, ‘Srikanth, you can do nothing,’ I look back at the world and say I can do anything.”," shared the entrepreneur. "Initially, when I was in my village, I didn't have any friends. No one wanted to play with me since I was visually impaired. But, that loneliness made me concentrate on my studies." When Srikanth was seven years old, he enrolled in a school for the visually impaired in Hyderabad. There, he began to flourish academically, receiving the education he rightfully deserved.

Starting with Braille, Srikanth gradually mastered English and computer skills. His journey of learning was remarkable, marked by victories in debating, creative writing, chess, and blind cricket, earning him recognition as the school's top student. Srikanth excelled academically, achieving 90 percent marks with distinction in his matriculation from Devnar School in Hyderabad.

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Challenging the world

He was the happiest that day, but little did he know that the real battle was only just beginning. Despite his academic achievements, Srikanth faced a daunting challenge: his school's policy restricted blind students from studying science and mathematics due to concerns about handling diagrams and graphs. Encouraged to pursue arts, languages, literature, and social sciences instead, Srikanth refused to accept this limitation. With determination, he sought justice through the legal system, supported by a teacher. Ultimately, he emerged victorious as the court ruled in favor of blind students' rights to study science and maths in senior years across all state board schools in Andhra Pradesh.

Entrepreneur | Srikanth Bolla | Global Indian

It was during this time that he got an opportunity to work for Lead India Project, a movement to empower the youth through value-based education, with former President Late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. The entrepreneur believed, "No one should let their disability interfere with their dreams. One doesn't need eyes to have visions of their career." Undeterred by the obstacles, Srikanth continued to excel academically, achieving a remarkable 98 percent in his XII board exams, leading his class with distinction.

However, despite having the percentage and required qualifications, the entrepreneur was denied admission to the Indian Institute of Technology, where he wanted to study engineering, because of his blindness. "If IIT did not want me, I did not want IIT either," the entrepreneur shared during an interview, adding, "I knew the world had put many obstacles in my path, I just needed to learn to cross them without falling."

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And so, he started applying to various foreign Universities or an undergraduate programme. Interestingly, he was able to secure admission to four of the top schools, MIT, Stanford, Berkeley, and Carnegie Mellon in the United States, and in 2009 he eventually chose to get admitted to MIT, which proudly recognised him as their first-ever international blind student.

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A visionary

Upon completing his education, Srikanth returned to Hyderabad and founded Bollant Industries in 2012. The company specializes in manufacturing areca-based products while also prioritizing employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Bollant addresses a range of concerns including employment, economics, and environmental sustainability. "I left behind a good future in the USA as I wanted to make products using renewable energy, made by the people considered useless, like me. I want to be a leader working to build a future with equal opportunities for everyone, which means providing work for the abled people also, as Bollant is not a commercial enterprise or a charity home, but a social enterprise working for everyone."

The company produces eco-friendly recycled Kraft paper from municipal waste, crafts packaging items from recycled paper, creates disposable products from natural leaves and recycled paper, and transforms waste plastic into usable goods. The company's impactful endeavours attracted the attention of investors, eventually securing funding from renowned businessman Ratan Tata.

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"I feel god can give us only starting circumstances, but we make our own destiny. The future is in our hands, we can craft it however we wish. if you want your kids to be in a future where there is equality, you can also craft that future. I have been bothered with the question about what kind of future I want for myself for a long time. I had two choices, I could join a well-established firm, or create my own company - and I chose the latter," said the entrepreneur, adding, "No power in the world can stop an ambitious person from finding success. Disability is when you have sight, but do not have vision."

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