Suhani Jalota’s Myna Mahila: The non-profit that caught Meghan Markle’s attention

(January 25, 2025) On May 19, 2018, Suhani Jalota stood in Windsor Castle, surrounded by global dignitaries, celebrities, and royalty. As Meghan Markle and Prince Harry exchanged vows in a ceremony watched by millions, Suhani was one of the few Indians present. Her invitation wasn’t a product of fame or fortune but recognition of her groundbreaking work with the Myna Mahila Foundation. Meghan Markle had taken a personal interest in Suhani’s mission, not only visiting Myna’s operations in Mumbai but also naming it as one of seven charities to benefit from donations in lieu of royal wedding gifts. By then, Suhani had already been named to Forbes Asia’s 30 Under 30 list for social entrepreneurs, an accolade that recognized her efforts to create systemic change in her community and beyond.

“It was surreal,” Suhani recalled. “More than anything, I was excited for the women from Mumbai’s slums who accompanied me. They had never even stepped outside India before. Seeing their worlds expand was the most rewarding part of it all.”

This moment was a high point in a journey that began in the crowded streets of Mumbai, where Suhani grew up witnessing stark inequalities that shaped her path toward change.

Suhani Jalota

A Childhood Amid Contrasts

Born and raised in Maharashtra, Suhani’s upbringing exposed her to the deep disparities in Indian society. Her father, a civil servant who rose from humble beginnings, and her mother, who worked in corporate social responsibility, often discussed issues of inequality at the dinner table. However, it wasn’t until Suhani began attending school in Mumbai, near Dharavi, one of Asia’s largest slums, that the realities of urban poverty struck her on a personal level.

“Every day, I walked past slums where people lived without basic amenities like water, electricity, or toilets,” Suhani said. “It felt like there were two parallel worlds, and one of them was invisible to the rest of us.”

Her early experiences with grassroots activism began when she volunteered with Mahila Milan, a women’s self-help group. At 15, she met a woman who sought her help convincing her daughter to eat. The girl had vowed to stop eating because her mother had asked her to choose between going to school and having enough food at home. “It was devastating, but it also made me realize that women in these communities had the potential to create change—they just lacked the systems and support,” the Global Indian said​.

The Spark at Duke University

After graduating from the Dhirubhai Ambani International School in Mumbai, Suhani pursued her undergraduate studies at Duke University, majoring in global health and economics. The transition to Duke was transformative. “It was the first time I had access to incredible resources and an environment where scarcity wasn’t the central mindset,” she recalled. “It shifted how I thought about systemic change.”

Suhani Jalota with Queen Elizabeth

At Duke, Suhani began researching the links between women’s health, poverty, and dignity. Through academic projects, she conducted surveys in Mumbai’s slums, where she found that while 80 percent of women had access to sanitary pads, most lacked education about proper usage. Many wore the same pad for 24 hours to save money, leading to severe health risks. “It wasn’t just about access—it was about awareness, and that’s what we needed to address,” she said​.

A turning point came when a professor challenged her to take her ideas further. “He asked, ‘Why don’t you start something tangible?’ At the time, I didn’t know what being a social entrepreneur meant, but I knew I wanted to work with these women,” Suhani said.

With mentorship and funding from Duke’s Melissa & Doug Entrepreneurs Program, Suhani founded the Myna Mahila Foundation in 2015. Named after the myna bird, known for its loud chatter, and “mahila,” meaning women, the foundation aimed to break the silence around menstruation and other stigmatized topics. “We wanted women to speak up about what mattered most to them,” Suhani explained.

Building Myna Mahila: A Model of Change

Starting with a small team, the foundation employed local women to produce affordable sanitary napkins and sell them door-to-door. This model not only provided women with employment but also created a channel for open conversations about menstruation, health, and hygiene.

Myna Mahila Foundation

“Our goal was never just to sell pads,” Suhani said. “It was to create a network where women could support each other and feel empowered to make decisions about their health.”

Over time, Myna Mahila expanded its scope. The organization introduced health workshops, telehealth services, and digital platforms like Queen, which allowed women to earn money through smartphone-based micro-tasks. The integration of employment and health services created a holistic approach to empowerment. “Health and economic independence go hand in hand. You can’t address one without the other,” Suhani said​.

A Royal Connection

In 2016, Suhani’s work caught the attention of Meghan Markle at Glamour’s College Women of the Year Awards in New York. Suhani, one of the honorees, spoke about the challenges women in India faced, from menstrual stigma to lack of access to toilets. Meghan was deeply moved. “She listened intently and asked thoughtful questions. I had no idea that meeting her would lead to such a profound partnership,” Suhani said.

Suhani Jalota and Meghan Markle

Months later, Meghan visited Myna Mahila’s headquarters in Mumbai. “She spent two days sitting on the floor, eating local food, and speaking to the women. Her humility and genuine curiosity were incredible,” Suhani recalled. Meghan’s visit not only inspired the community but also brought global attention to the foundation. In 2018, Meghan and Prince Harry selected Myna Mahila as one of seven charities to receive donations in lieu of wedding gifts. Suhani and two women from Mumbai’s slums were invited to the royal wedding, a moment that highlighted the foundation’s transformative impact​.

Scaling Impact Amid Challenges

Today, Myna Mahila employs over 80 people and has reached more than 2 million women through its programs. The foundation has distributed over 500,000 sanitary napkins, ensuring affordable and hygienic menstrual products for underserved communities. In addition, it has conducted workshops and awareness programs on health and hygiene, impacting more than 50,000 women directly and indirectly educating thousands of adolescent girls about menstrual health​.

Myna Mahila’s telehealth platform has connected over 10,000 women to medical professionals, offering consultations for menstrual and general health issues at minimal costs. The organisation’s economic empowerment model has provided employment opportunities to over 400 women, many of whom have gained financial independence for the first time. “We’ve seen remarkable transformations—women who were once hesitant to even leave their homes are now earning incomes, contributing to their families, and making their voices heard,” Suhani shared.

Myna Mahila

However, the journey hasn’t been without obstacles. “We’ve faced resistance from communities, particularly from men who fear the independence we’re fostering in women,” Suhani said. Despite this, the foundation has persisted, using data-driven approaches to measure its impact and refine its initiatives. Through a recent pilot project involving 500 women, Myna Mahila demonstrated that women could boost household income by 20 percent through participation in its employment platform. This combination of health, education, and economic support continues to empower women and shift societal norms​.

Suhani completed her Ph.D. in Health Policy and Economics at Stanford University in 2024, focusing on scalable solutions for women’s employment and health. Most recently, she worked on sanitation evaluation projects with IDinsight, UNICEF, and the Department of Education in the Philippines. Over the past few years, she has also brought her expertise to global contexts, including South Africa, Thailand, the Philippines, and cities across India, strengthening her ability to create culturally sensitive interventions​​.

Reflections and the Road Ahead

For Suhani, the women she works with remain her greatest source of inspiration. “They’ve taught me that change doesn’t happen overnight, but it’s worth every effort,” she said. Looking ahead, she envisions Myna Mahila becoming a self-sustaining social enterprise, expanding its reach across India and beyond.

As Suhani Jalota continues to tackle systemic inequalities, her journey serves as a powerful reminder of what’s possible when empathy meets action. Suhani’s story is proof that small steps, when taken with purpose, can lead to transformative change.

• Follow Suhani Jalota on LinkedIn