Global IndianstoryFive Indians make it to Forbes’ list of USA’s richest self-made women

Five Indians make it to Forbes’ list of USA’s richest self-made women

Written by: Namrata Srivastava

(July 8, 2022) The US stock exchange depends heavily on several Indian-American CEOs – many of whom are female. Breaking the barriers of gender, these female trailblazers have been at the helm of some of the biggest firms in the USA. Their soaring aspirations and the will to fight adversities have encouraged several other women in the industry to thrive for success. In its eighth annual edition of America’s Richest Self-Made Women, Forbes has recognised five such Indian American female business leaders.

Global Indian turns the spotlight on these business executives, who have not only managed to take their companies to new heights, but also amassed a fortune for themselves.

Jayshree Ullal, CEO, Arista Networks

Born in London and raised in New Delhi, Jayshree Ullal studied electrical engineering at San Francisco State University and later pursued her master’s at Santa Clara University. Always ambitious, Jayshree worked in a few companies – including Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and Fairchild Semiconductor – before joining the Crescendo Communications (later acquired by Cisco), where she grew to the position of vice president of marketing.

Jayshree Ullal | Self-made women | Global Indiale CEO | Global Indian

Jayshree Ullal, CEO, Arista Networks

In 2008, Jayshree joined the Arista Networks, a cloud networking company as the CEO and President. Interestingly, at the time of her joining, Arista was a tiny startup, with not more than 50 employees. After years of hard work, the 61-year-old business executive led the company to an IPO at the New York Stock Exchange in 2014. Currently one of America’s wealthiest female executives, Jayshree’s net worth stands at about $1.9 billion.

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Neerja Sethi, cofounder, Syntel

A Delhi University graduate, Neerja Sethi was always interested in pursuing a career in the IT industry. She moved to the United States of America for a master’s in computer science at Oakland University in the late ’70s. Soon after graduating, Neerja joined the IT firm Tata Consulting Services. And this is where she met her husband, Bharat Desai. In 1980, after the couple tied the knot, they co-founded Syntel – an IT consulting and outsourcing company – in their small apartment in Michigan.

Neerja Sethi | Self-made women | Global Indian

Neerja Sethi, cofounder, Syntel

From starting it with a tiny investment of $2,000, the couple ran the company successfully till French IT firm Atos acquired it for $3.4 billion in 2018. Neerja received an estimated $510 million for her stake during the acquisition, and decided to not continue her association with the company. With a net worth of about $1 billion, Neerja was ranked 24th in the Forbes America’s Richest Self-Made Women 2022 list.

Neha Narkhede, CTO and cofounder, Confluent

A Maharashtra girl, Neha Narkhede went to the Pune Institute of Computer Technology (PICT), where she earned an engineering degree. Her quest to become a software engineer took her to USA, where she pursued a master’s in computer science from Georgia Institute of Technology. Neha started her career as a principal software engineer at Oracle, and later moved to LinkedIn, where she created the open-source software platform Apache Kafka, along with Jun Rao and Jay Kreps.

Neha Narkhede | Self-made women | Global Indian

Neha Narkhede, cofounder and CTO, Confluent

In 2014, the three engineers cofounded Confluent, a company for real-time data and Apache Kafka in Palo Alto, California. Although, she started as the Chief Technology Officer, Neha later also served as the Chief Product Officer of the company till 2020. In 2021, the company went public at a $9.1 billion valuation. Serving as a board member of Confluent, Neha presently advises several techno startups. With investment in several tech companies, her net worth stands at $490 million according to Forbes.

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Reshma Shetty, cofounder, Ginkgo Bioworks

Synthetic biology is one of the fasted growing markets across the globe, and Utah-born Reshma Shetty was quick to realise its potential. After she received a Ph.D. in biological engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Reshma, along with four other scientists founded the Ginkgo Bioworks, in 2008. As synthetic biology was just an emerging technology at that time, the company was completely bootstrapped at the beginning.

Reshma Shetty | Self-made women | Global Indian

Reshma Shetty, cofounder, Ginkgo Bioworks

Slowly but surely, things started to change and Ginkgo managed to raise $45 million in its series B funding. By 2017, Ginkgo became one of most well-known companies in the sector and went public in 2021. Since she found the company, Reshma has received several awards and honors, including the Rosalind Franklin Award for Leadership in Industrial Biotechnology and Agriculture in 2019. Positioned at 97 in the 2022 Forbes America’s Richest Self-Made Women list, Reshma’s net worth is estimated to be about $220 million.

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Indra Nooyi, former Chair and CEO, PepsiCo

Indra Nooyi needs no introduction. The former chairperson and CEO of PepsiCo, this Indian-American business executive is ranked among some of the most powerful names in the corporate world. Born in Chennai, India, Indra moved to USA in 1978 to pursue a master’s in public and private management at the Yale School of Management. After working with companies such as Johnson & Johnson and Beardsell Ltd, Indra joined PepsiCo in 1994.

Indra Nooyi | Self-made women | Global Indian

Indra Nooyi, former Chair and CEO of PepsiCo

In 2006, she was appointed as the CEO of the multinational food, snack, and beverage corporation. In a tenure that lasted 12 years, Indra was honored with several accolades and awards, including the third-highest Indian civilian award, Padma Bhushan in 2013. With a net worth of $320 million, Indra is currently ranked 66th on the Forbes list.

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Published on 08, Jul 2022

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Dr Kalyani Gopal: Empowering sexual abuse and human trafficking victims globally

(April 24, 2024) “My team and I are in the process of exploring the purchase of a five-acre plot of land, which I plan to convert into an eco-village. Dedicated to my late mother it would help give a peaceful environment to victims of human trafficking and sexual assault,” Dr Kalyani Gopal tells Global Indian. She has already thought of the name of the project as SAFE Village - Unnati Sewa. It would be a unique residential restorative model to bring back the dignity of victims of human trafficking and sexual assault. With over three decades of experience in addressing issues such as child sexual abuse, human trafficking, and labour trafficking, the Indian-origin psychologist has garnered international recognition and is now giving back to her native land. Dr Kalyani Gopal is the first woman of colour and Asian American to earn the presidency of the Illinois Psychological Association which oversees the State of Illinois’ psychologists. She is also the first Asian American President of Division 12 of the APA, Society for Clinical Psychology, and has recently finished her term on the Committee of State Leaders, APA. [caption id="attachment_50926" align="aligncenter" width="475"] Dr Kalyani Gopal[/caption] In her service spanning continents, the ace

Asian American President of Division 12 of the APA, Society for Clinical Psychology, and has recently finished her term on the Committee of State Leaders, APA.

[caption id="attachment_50926" align="aligncenter" width="475"] Indians in USA | Dr Kalyani Gopal | Global Indian Dr Kalyani Gopal[/caption]

In her service spanning continents, the ace psychologist developed a Clinical Treatment Manual for Mongolian psychologists and clinicians, treated grieving Myanmar families during war, and created a tool for identifying potential victims of trafficking in Ukraine, and other regions.

In 2014, Dr Gopal established an initiative called, SAFECHR - SAFE Coalition for Human Rights through which she has worked for trauma patients and victims in the United States, Europe, and India.

Finding the purpose

After completing her postgraduate studies at Delhi University and the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore Dr Kalyani Gopal moved to the US for her doctorate. She aspired to pursue intellectual and cognitive neuropsychology. However, fate had some other plans in store. Dr Gopal encountered a case of sexual abuse involving a seven-year-old girl with whom she had grown acquainted. This experience brought the issue of child sexual abuse into sharp focus for her, redirecting her career trajectory.

Training professionals worldwide

In her three-decade career, the clinical psychologist has provided training to a diverse range of professionals, including foster parents, adoptive parents, administrators, judges in the US and the DRCongo Supreme Court, law enforcement agencies such as the FBI and police officers, attorneys, case managers, first responders, advocates, nonprofits, and ministries. She also trained government representatives of Albania, Uganda, and India.

“I have educated human trafficking experts and clergy on psychological trauma and issues concerning infants, children, adolescents, and adults,” tells the Indian-origin psychologist who is also associated as a consultant psychologist with SuDatta, an adoption agency in India that trains adoptive parents on helping their children come out of traumas.

[caption id="attachment_50928" align="aligncenter" width="706"] Indians in USA | Dr Kalyani Gopal | Global Indian Dr Kalyani Gopal at one of Illinois Psychological Association's Legislative Committee meeeting[/caption]

In fact, she introduced the term ‘Displacement Trauma’ to describe the intricate psychological effects that are the result of ‘frequent disruptions of bonds experienced by foster care youth and children separated from their parents’.

Awards and recognitions

In recognition of her extensive work, she was awarded the Indiana Lake County Award for Excellence in 2004 and the Indiana Attorney General’s Voices for Victims Award in 2015. She received the Congressman Danny T. Davis MEATF Medal in 2019 as the Top 20 Global Women of Excellence. In 2023, Dr Gopal earned the APA Presidential Citation Award for Human Rights.

Starting young

The psychologist discovered her calling when she was quite young - starting her journey at the age of 18 while engaging with human trafficking victims for a college research project.

At that time, she was pursuing her bachelor’s degree in India. One of her research works exposed her to the grim reality of young girls her age becoming victims of human trafficking. This revelation weighed heavily on her, even though she did not realise the severity of the problem completely, given her young age.

Later as a PhD scholar coming across a sexually abused little girl changed her career trajectory completely. She found herself drawn into the field of child sexual abuse.

“I was inspired by the trust placed in me by many other girls whom I met after that. They were victims too.” It was then that her professors in the US encouraged her to pursue the path of working with sexually abused children. Deeply immersed to uplift their lives as a young professional she had even started accompanying children she worked with when they needed to testify in court. The more she immersed herself in this work, the more intrigued and committed she became.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioNF2a6NI0M

Strong initiatives

Dedicating many years to victims of sexual abuse and trafficking Dr Gopal came across many harrowing instances of exploitation. In one of the most gruesome cases, she came across a family with four children in Indiana where the parents were trafficking their kids by making them perform indecently on their home-based stage, earning $10 per person from people who came to watch the performance.

“My efforts dragged the parents to court and for the first time in history in Indiana, parents got a life sentence in jail for 56 years,” she shares. That was her first independent case.

That proved to be the beginning of her image as a messiah of children who were being exploited. She started getting cases of child sexual abuse from across the United States. “A lot of the perpetrators were in powerful positions, even relatives of judges and politicians.” But Dr Gopal stood strong to fight for justice for young victims.

Author of bestsellers

She went on to write bestsellers - ‘The Supportive Foster Parent’, and ‘Foster Parenting Step-by-Step: How to Nurture the Traumatized Child’ and co-edited, ‘Handbook of Sex Trafficking: Feminist Transnational Perspectives’. Dr. Gopal has published several workbooks on the Child Sexual Abuse Series, including the grief and loss workbook ‘In My Heart’.

[caption id="attachment_50936" align="aligncenter" width="403"] Indians in USA | Dr Kalyani Gopal | Global Indian One of Dr Kalyani Gopal's books[/caption]

Associations with the United Nations

The psychologist with a knack for writing went on to write a chapter titled ‘Reducing Human Trafficking by 2030 and Beyond’ for the United Nations book, ‘Behavioural Science in the Global Arena: Addressing Timely Issues at the United Nations and Beyond’.

She has also co-chaired the United Nations Psychology Day highlighting the role of psychology in addressing concerns of global importance.

Other Illustrious associations

Until recently Dr Gopal served on the APA Commission on Accreditation. She is on the boards of Indiana’s Lake County Child Protection Team and Lake County Child Fatality Team, served as the Chair for the Illinois Psychological Association’s Working Committee on Hate and Harassment, specialises in gender-based violence, and served as Chair of the IPA Women’s Section. She has been serving on the Board of Directors of the Society of Clinical Psychology, American Psychological Association, and as Div. 12 Advocacy Chair.

“As the President of Mid-America Psychological and Counseling Services, I oversaw the management of mental health clinics in Indiana and Illinois,” she shares.

[caption id="attachment_50927" align="aligncenter" width="602"] Indians in USA | Dr Kalyani Gopal | Global Indian Dr Kalyani Gopal with Eyes Open International founder, Harold D'Souza[/caption]

Also Read | Fight against Modern Slavery: How Harold D’Souza brought the derailed American Dream on track

Uniting nations through SAFECHR

Dr. Gopal’s nonprofit organisation, Safe Coalition for Human Rights (SAFECHR) was formed in 2014 in response to the realisation that the voices of victims in foster care needed to be heard.

The non-profit has been hosting annual events since 2014 raising the number of participant countries from 10 nations in 2014 to 73 nations in one of its latest conferences.

“SAFE Conferences bring together organisations from around the globe working ceaselessly to form collaborative national and international coalitions from rescue to the rehabilitation of victims of human trafficking and violations of human rights,” she informs.

SAFE iACT Program – first to get global accreditation

The ace psychologist has created an evidence-based, international credentialing program to certify advocates, clinicians, attorneys, and law enforcement as trainers in human trafficking which she has named as the SAFE iACT Program. Ever since its inception, she has facilitated the training of over 20,000 people from more than 10 countries. It has become the first programme to get accredited globally.

In December 2020, she developed and implemented a program, THRIVE for adults from ACEs populations (childhood vulnerabilities) to provide wrap-around therapeutic services in transitional supportive housing. Victims get discharged after getting stable employment.

During COVID-19, Dr Gopal also launched an e-learning school-based program called SAFE Schools for the prevention of high-risk behaviors among youth by improving resiliency and teaching socioemotional skills.

[caption id="attachment_50935" align="aligncenter" width="613"] Indians in USA | Dr Kalyani Gopal | Global Indian Dr Kalyani Gopal at a Consulate General nof India, Chicago event[/caption]

More psychologists required for victims of abuse

Highlighting the field of child sexual abuse, and human and labour trafficking that she is working in Dr Gopal points out that there are not enough psychologists who work in the area looking at it as a social work issue.

“Traffickers treat the victims so poorly that they lose their identity and develop fragmented personalities.” To address their problem effectively Dr Kalyani Gopal has even modified existing treatments which have proven to be effective.

She believes that people who are victims of trafficking and other abuses have been manipulated so much that they need psychological help to feel confident and pull themselves out of the situation.

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Reading Time: 5 mins

Shoba Narayan: The Indian American who reprised Simran in musical adaptation of DDLJ

(November 16, 2022) "Jaa Simran Jaa, Jee le Apni Zindagi" has become an iconic dialogue, and almost every Indian girl at some point in her life has dreamt of having this Simran moment, thanks to Aditya Chopra's 1995 blockbuster Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge. And now 27 years later, the director decided to marry Broadway with Bollywood through the musical adaptation of Raj and Simran's love story. While Kajol has remained synonymous with Simran, Indian-American actor Shoba Narayan decided to give her own spin to the classic character in the Broadway adaptation of DDLJ, which had its world premiere at the Old Globe in San Diego this September. "The fact that we have an Indian musical headed to Broadway feels incredibly personal and monumental to me as an Indian American actor who grew up loving Bollywood films and musical theatre. It was only a matter of time before Broadway and Bollywood found each other and I am over the moon to be leading this exceptional production," she had told IANS during a media interaction. [caption id="attachment_31778" align="aligncenter" width="681"] Shoba Narayan playing Simran in DDLJ musical (Photo Courtesy: Variety)[/caption] Being the first Bollywood musical to make it to Broadway, Come Fall in

pg" alt="Indian American | Global Indian | Shoba Narayan" width="681" height="383" /> Shoba Narayan playing Simran in DDLJ musical (Photo Courtesy: Variety)[/caption]

Being the first Bollywood musical to make it to Broadway, Come Fall in Love explores the importance of inclusivity and diversity, and aims for cultural unification. "Come Fall in Love tells a beautiful story of uniting people from different walks of life. Given the narrative of division that has been running in our world today, Come Fall in Love is a heartfelt and relevant show that explores the importance of inclusivity and learning about a world beyond our own," added the 33-year-old.

A dream that began young

Shoba's love for acting and theatre began much early in life. While growing up in Bryn Mawr in Pennsylvania, Shoba would often perform much to the chagrin of her siblings. Though her brothers thought of her acts as a "daily torture", her parents saw the potential in her and soon enrolled her in music and dance classes spanning Indian and Western forms. Be it Bharatnatyam or ballet or violin or Carnatic music, she explored all aspects of performing arts, including musical theatre. "I knew I wanted to be on Broadway when I saw my first show in New York City as a child. I found myself completely taken by the calibre of the talent and production I saw on stage. I knew one day I wanted to be up on a stage and to make an audience feel what I felt during that show. Though I didn’t see anyone that looked remotely like me performing, I let myself dream," she told DeshVidesh in an interview.

[caption id="attachment_31779" align="aligncenter" width="714"] Indian American | Global Indian | Shoba Narayan Shoba Narayan is an Indian American actress.[/caption]

As young as nine, she made her debut in the musical The King and I, and since then, there has been no looking back for her. "Throughout school, I was involved in every music and theatrical group. Having art in my day made me feel alive. Growing up and feeling a bit like an alien and an outsider, art gave me a sense of belonging, purpose, and a way to express myself," she told the Brown Girl Magazine.

Turning dream into reality

Having found her calling, she wanted to dive deep into musical theatre as it was the right mix of passion, storytelling and performance for her. That's when she decided to choose a career in the arts at the Boston Conservatory in Berklee, where she majored in musical theatre and acting. Having honed her skills, she relocated to New York city to make her dreams come true.

It was in 2015 that she bagged a role in Growing Up Smith, a film about an Indian immigrant family who adopts a new lifestyle while maintaining their values and culture. Having earned her first Hollywood film was a validation for Shoba, who was called out in the eighth grade for wanting to perform the lead role in the production The Wizard of Oz because of her colour. "“The girls were telling me there was no one that looked like me on Broadway, so why would I play the role?” she told Glamour, adding, "I wanted to do it so badly that nothing could stop me." It was her mother who encouraged her to follow her dreams, despite the naysayers. She finally ended up getting the part.

Foraying into the mainstream

That willpower and perseverance helped her during the trying times in her career, especially the initial struggles. But she did find herself bag roles in good projects like Quantico, Gossip Girl, and Growing Up Smith. Being an Indian American, she did find underrepresentation a little unnerving. "The acting path is hard as is with the amount of rejection one faces, but being a minority actor can add more complexity, especially if you are gunning for lead roles. I think the first challenge to note it is that there is a lack of roles written specifically for Indian actors. Though we are getting better visibility on television, the majority of lead roles are still written and given to white actors," she told the website.

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However, she believes that it's "high time" cinema or theatre or television begins to redefine the way a typical American could look. "I hope to continue to play complex, three-dimensional women that break stereotypes for women of colour. It's an uphill battle, but an exciting one. Lots of glass ceilings to break," the Indian American added.

A South Asian taking the centrestage

Things started to shift for in 2017 when she returned to stage musicals with Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, thus becoming the only South Asian female in a leading role since Bombay Dreams was on stage in 2004-2005. While growing up she never saw anyone like her on the big screen or on stage. The closest was Aladdin's Princess Jasmine, a fictional character in a cartoon film. "To have someone who was strong, could sing, was beautiful, desirable, and brave, wanted to question authority and potentially rule a kingdom...I wanted to be her,” she told Glamour.

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A post shared by Shoba Narayan (@shoba_narayan)

Life had come a full circle for Shoba who got to essay the role of Princess Jasmine in musical - Aladdin - in 2021. The actor made sure that being a lead cast member, she was properly representing the background in which Aladdin is set - be it changing some lines or working on pronunciation. "Things like that, I wanted to make sure while I'm in the show, how can I help audiences who may be from our background feel a little bit more like they're being represented properly," she told NPR.

In 2022, she was yet again seen on Broadway - this time for Aditya Chopra's DDLJ that celebrates the theme if inclusivity. "It’s a great moment of pride to see our Indian culture celebrated and represented so authentically on the world’s biggest stage. This is something I’ve spent my life and career fighting for. Hopefully, this will be the first of many," the Indian American told ET.

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From performing for her family to now being a leading lady on a big stage, Shoba has come a long way. And she believes that her journey can be an inspiration for many girls from minority groups. "The performing arts are a steep climb and the opportunities for minorities and women to play leading roles are far and few between. In the face of constant rejection, you will ask yourself why you got into this business in the first place. Then you will remember that you can’t imagine doing anything else. That this is who you are. Never stop pounding the pavement. Doors will open for you."

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Mani Kishore Vajipeyajula and Rajkiran Madangopal: Transforming plastic recycling in India

(October 9, 2022) A Lok Sabha session in August this year saw Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change claim that around 34.7 lakh tonnes per annum of plastic was generated in India during 2019-20, out of which 15.8 lakh tonnes per annum of plastic waste was recycled. What began in the 1960s as a popular material for consumer products and a tangible sign of modernity has turned into an environmental hazard in the last few decades. While activists are continuously raising their voices against the use of single-use plastic, Hyderabad-based entrepreneurs Mani Kishore Vajipeyajula and Rajkiran Madangopal have already stepped on the gas, so to speak, with Banyan Nation, a startup that's helping global brands use more recycled plastic instead of virgin plastic. [caption id="attachment_30343" align="aligncenter" width="750"] Mani Kishore Vajipeyajula and Rajkiran Madangopalare the founders of Banyan Nation[/caption] "Recycling activities in India are driven by market forces that are informal, illegal, and largely invisible. Millions of ragpickers scavenge the streets or bins or the landfills collecting valuable materials, which they sell to the kabbadiwallahs, who then sell to backend aggregators, who finally sell to the recyclers. The goal of such an

driven by market forces that are informal, illegal, and largely invisible. Millions of ragpickers scavenge the streets or bins or the landfills collecting valuable materials, which they sell to the kabbadiwallahs, who then sell to backend aggregators, who finally sell to the recyclers. The goal of such an industry is to recover the material at the lowest possible costs, and at any cost," says Mani Kishore Vajipeyajula in a video on the company's website. That's when he decided to take things into his hands and started Banyan Nation in 2013 to convert post-industrial plastic waste into high-quality recycled granules – Better Plastic – comparable in quality and performance to virgin plastic.

Mani and Raj first met at the University of Delaware, where they were pursuing their engineering degrees. It was during his MBA at Columbia Business School that the idea of Banyan Nation struck Mani. "I always knew going into business school that I wanted to solve real-world problems plaguing developing economies. During one of my travels in India, the filth deeply disturbed me. However, I realised something amazing was happening underneath. India was recovering and recycling almost double that of any developed or developing economy in the world. Yet the benefits of such a system were not being felt. I wanted to solve all this and build an organisation that would fundamentally transform the way India saw recycling and plastic," the Global Indian says in the video, adding, "This is how my journey from Silicon Valley to the back alleys of Hyderabad began." After working at companies like Motricity, Saint Gobain, Infospace, and Qualcomm for years at length, the two quit their lucrative jobs in the US to launch their startup.

[caption id="attachment_30345" align="aligncenter" width="679"] Entrepreneur | Mani Kishore Vajipeyajula and Rajkiran Madangopal | Global Indian Plastic is an environmental hazard[/caption]

Such has been the impact of Banyan Nation that each year, it recycles 3600-tonnes of high-density plastic, which in turn saves huge carbon footprints. They have now recycled over one lakh tonnes of plastic, which also helped it bag the Circulars Awards at the World Economic Forum (2018) and World Economic Forum Global Technology Pioneers (2021). In 2020 itself, Banyan Nation helped to lead FMCG firms to make 100-million shampoo and lotion bottles using their recycled plastic. By 2030, they hope to replace 100,000 tonnes of virgin polymers with recycled plastics.

While Mani calls plastic "the most versatile invention of our time", the entrepreneur is aware of how single-use plastic has become "an ecological and environmental poison." It's this discernment that led him to take action as he calls a "formal recycling system" the need of the hour which ensures "a superior quality, and the ability to recycle the material that has entered the system more than once."

"We started by building a simple app in Hyderabad where we mapped over 1500 stationery recyclers. This data gave us a bird's eye view of the city such as the amount of waste coming out of the house, and data on local efficiencies of collection and transportation of waste. At Banyan, we have used thermal and mechanical testing to produce a high-quality recycle that rivals virgin plastic. When the product enters the waste value chain, its ability to be recycled increases by a factor of three," the entrepreneur explains.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtCpf32x3Vs&feature=emb_imp_woyt

Banyan Nation is changing the way India recycles and thinks about plastics and waste management. With the startup, Mani and Raj have found a way to convert plastic waste into reusable plastic, thus stopping it from making its way into landfills. “Our goal is to achieve scale and profitability while staying true to our core mission of solving the menace of plastic pollution and creating lasting environmental and social impact," Mani, whose company is now aiming to have an installed capacity of 50,000 tonnes by 2024, told Forbes India. The entrepreneurs believe that collaborations with policymakers, corporations, and other startups can bring a shift in how Indians view plastics.

Follow Mani Kishore Vajipeyajula on Linkedin
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Keeping abreast with cancer care: Dr Raghu Ram delivers early diagnosis, saves lives

(April 27, 2022) A woman gets diagnosed with breast cancer every four minutes in India, and one dies of it every 13 minutes, making it the most prevalent cancer among Indian women. Unfortunately, in India, most women are diagnosed at an advanced stage where prognosis is poor. A Hyderabad-based UK-returned doctor is working hard to change this reality. Dr Raghu Ram Pillarisetti has dedicated his life to make a significant and meaningful difference to the delivery of breast healthcare in India. Dr Pillarisetti's foundation, Ushalakshmi Breast Cancer Foundation (named after his mother), is working with a missionary zeal to make significant and meaningful difference to the lives of people affected by breast cancer or with breast-related health concerns. “Breast cancer is a huge concern today. However, the topic is still a closet issue,” explains Dr Pillarisetti, during an interaction with Global Indian, adding, “I am a living bridge between the UK and India, and on an endeavour to replicate the best of British practices into improving breast healthcare in my motherland.” [caption id="attachment_23764" align="aligncenter" width="412"] Dr Raghu Ram Pillarisetti[/caption] The highly-decorated doctor, who is the first surgeon of Indian origin to be conferred the honorary fellowship of the Association of

"412"] Dr Raghu Ram Pillarisetti[/caption]

The highly-decorated doctor, who is the first surgeon of Indian origin to be conferred the honorary fellowship of the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland, was recently appointed as an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The Padma Shri awardee, who believes that everything is part of god’s plan, shares that he was speechless when the British deputy high commissioner to India, Jan Thompson informed him about it. “Self-nominations are not allowed in the British honours system. So, I am not sure how my work got noticed by the British government. It was a surreal moment. I was, in fact, speechless,” laughs the doctor.

Inspired by his parents

Born in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh to a doctor couple – Prof PV Chalapathi Rao and Dr Ushalakshmi Kumari - who were working at the Guntur Medical College, soon after their son was born, they shifted to Hyderabad. This was where Dr Pillarisetti was brought up. A happy-go-lucky child, he was very inspired by his parents and their work.

“I studied at the Hyderabad Public School,” shares Dr Pillarisetti, “I wasn’t always at the top of the class; however I wasn’t a backbencher either. Mostly, I used to get first class, but never among the students who got distinction,” admits the doctor adding that he would play various sports for the fun and experience.

Following his parents’ footsteps, Dr Pillarisetti graduated in MBBS from Siddhartha Medical College. “The real turning point in my professional career came when I joined Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore to pursue master's in surgery (MS), in 1992. After my MBBS, I worked at the Osmania General Hospital in the general surgery department. I had applied for a six-month exemption at the Kasturba Medical College and gave my exams with seniors, and stood first. I was very studious during my master’s,” shares the doctor.

The Great British Isles

In 1997, Dr Pillarisetti went to the United Kingdom for FRCS. During his first visit, he impressed the Brits. “I was able to satisfy about 100 examiners in three out of the four Surgical Royal Colleges in the British Isles - Edinburgh, Glasgow and Ireland, in just two months. That is a record, which is still not broken by anyone else,” avers the doctor, who couldn’t sit for the London FRCS, since the dates clashed with his other exams. However, he was conferred the FRCS London, without sitting for the exam in 2010.

He then worked in the UK for about a decade, subsequently completing higher surgical training, and training in oncoplastic breast surgery at the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust in London, and at the Nottingham Breast Institute.

While all looked peachy, an incident changed the course of his life. In 2002, while Dr Pillarisetti was working at the Cardiff Breast Unit, one of the foremost breast health centres in the UK, his mother, Dr Ushalakshmi was diagnosed with breast cancer in India. “Being an only child, I was profoundly affected by her illness. While she was undergoing treatment in the UK, I started enquiring about the situation of breast cancer treatment in India. I realised that due to the lack of awareness and absence of an organised screening programme, more than 60 per cent patients of breast cancer are diagnosed at the advanced stages,” he explains.

Homecoming

Although he and his wife, Dr Vyjayanthi, had several great opportunities in the UK, they moved back to India. “My wife, Dr Vyjayanthi, obtained her MRCOG on the very first attempt in London in 1997. She then completed structured training in obstetrics and gynaecology in the United Kingdom & subspecialty training in Reproductive Medicine, leading to CCT (certificate of completion of training), which is essential to work as a consultant Fertility Specialist in the UK. She has established one of the largest Fertility Centres in Telangana & Andhra Pradesh at KIMS Hospitals in 2009,” he shares.

[caption id="attachment_23766" align="aligncenter" width="631"] Dr Raghu Ram with his wife, Dr Vyjayanthi, after being appointed as an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire[/caption]

After returning to India in 2007, their vision was to start a free-standing, purpose-built, comprehensive centre for breast health. “People assume that breast disease is just breast cancer alone. However, nine out of 10 women who present themselves with a lump, do not have cancer. They require reassurance about the process. So, the first step was to establish a breast centre - so that when a lady walks in the entire medical process to check her breast's health happen under one roof, including mammography, ultrasound-guided breast biopsy, and even counselling,” shares the doctor.

KIMS-Ushalakshmi Centre for Breast Diseases was established in Hyderabad. Dr Raghu Ram shares that while he envisioned and designed it, Dr B Bhaskar Rao, who is the founder of KIMS Hospitals, played a pivotal role in ensuring that the Breast Centre became a reality.

[caption id="attachment_23767" align="aligncenter" width="6000"] His Royal Highness Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, conferring the OBE to Dr Raghu Ram, at the Windsor Castle[/caption]

“I also, however, wanted to establish a not-for-profit organisation under my mother’s name, who is 90 now. So, I established the Ushalakshmi Breast Cancer Foundation, under which I have been able to create the much-needed awareness about breast cancer, through a number of unique activities, over the past 15 years,” he shares. The foundation hosts a pink ribbon walk in Hyderabad during the month of October, which sees a huge participation from people from various walks of life, including breast cancer survivors.

Family first

A tight schedule and numerous patients, that never stops him from spending time with family. “I value my family. I am not in the rat-race of private practice. I never start early and work till late. I spend quality time with them. I have two sons, and would give them both evening baths every day. My older son is studying medicine in the UK, and the younger one in the XII standard, and wants to pursue a career in law,” shares the doctor who spends a hour-and-a-half in the prayer room, meditating, daily.

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Reading Time: 7 mins

War on drugs: Indian American researcher Nabarun Dasgupta’s fight against overdose deaths

(September 20, 2023) It was the year 2002, a time when a surge of federal funding was being channelled toward the battle against terrorism. Amidst this, Indian American researcher Nabarun Dasgupta, then a student pursuing a master's degree in public health at Yale University, found himself on the hunt for a summer internship. Little did he know that government agents would soon approach him with a unique proposition: an opportunity to be part of a specialised team preparing for the unlikely but chilling prospect of a bioterrorist threat - in the heart of Wyoming. [caption id="attachment_45144" align="aligncenter" width="625"] Dr. Nabarun Dasgupta[/caption] “To be honest, I didn’t think Wyoming was a real target for bioterrorism,” the researcher said in an interview, "So I started to look for a place where I could make a more immediate impact." Since then, Dr. Dasgupta's keen focus has been on exploring the synergies between informal information sources and conventional public health surveillance to enhance the development of resilient drug safety treatments and solutions. Over the moon to be on #TIME100Next list of emerging leaders globally. Amazing company to keep! So much love to teams @RemedyAlliance @UNC who make the #harmreduction and science happen. https://t.co/FX9eB5nTT7@ejwheeler9 @UNCpublichealth

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Over the moon to be on #TIME100Next list of emerging leaders globally. Amazing company to keep! So much love to teams @RemedyAlliance @UNC who make the #harmreduction and science happen. https://t.co/FX9eB5nTT7 @ejwheeler9 @UNCpublichealth @UNC_IPRC @TIME @TaraLaw27 pic.twitter.com/0NsDzmcnWq

— Dr. Nabarun Dasgupta (@nabarund) September 13, 2023

And after working in the field of drug safety for years, Dr Dasgupta, now a senior scientist at the University of North Carolina Injury Prevention Research Center, and an Innovation Fellow at the University of North Carolina’s Gillings School of Global Public Health, recently got recognised on the ‘Time 100 Next 2023,’ a list of rising leaders “for shaping the future and defining the next generation of leadership.” An elated Dr. Dasgupta took to Twitter to share the news and wrote, “I’m delighted to be selected as part of the Time100 Next cohort. While this may appear to be a singular honor, I am humbled to highlight the compassionate heroes who care for our loved ones and offer practical solutions (sic).”

A journey for the people

An alumnus of the prestigious Princeton University, the Indian-American researcher became aware of the rising issue of drug overdose in the United States of America when he was in his late teens. His calling came, unfortunately, after losing a very close friend to this epidemic. "So I was working in a cardboard box factory in Maine, and it was between my college and grad school, and I saw people using OxyContin to be able to function at their job. At the same time, I had friends from high school who were using OxyContin in ways that you know, made them more at risk and were causing all sorts of problems in their life." the researcher said, adding, "When I got to grad school, I had to do an internship and ended up going back to Maine and studying OxyContin and heroin as a problem, and ended up losing a friend of mine to an overdose. And it was at that point that I realised this was a real thing. That was around 2002. And so for the last 20 years almost, this has been my focus, to prevent overdose deaths."

[caption id="attachment_45146" align="aligncenter" width="631"] Researcher | Nabarun Dasgupta | Global Indian Dr. Dasgupta with his team[/caption]

After completing his Master's from Yale University, the researcher was hired by Purdue Pharma to spearhead their epidemiological initiatives. The task proved to be captivating, immersing Dr. Dasgupta in an in-depth analysis of the impacts of OxyContin and various other opioid medications. Their collective goal was to enhance both physician and patient education and information, to address addiction issues and mitigate overdose incidents. In the course of his work, the researcher also delved into the realm of highly effective antidotes for overdose emergencies. “If administered in time, naloxone [the antidote] reverses the effects of most opioid overdoses,” he said, “It is also relatively safe. For instance, if an overdose is suspected but in reality hasn’t happened, administering naloxone won’t harm the patient.”

Giving back to the community

For nearly four years, the team dedicated their efforts tirelessly to tackle the issue. Unfortunately, shortly after the drug lost its patent protection and transitioned to generic status, the company made the difficult decision to dissolve the group. In search of the next chapter in his career, Dr. Dasgupta embarked on a journey of applying to doctoral programs. As he secured admission to UNC, a senior colleague from his former group, Dr. Curtis Wright, took him aside for a conversation.

"Dr. Wright had spent much of his career in the Navy and the Food and Drug Administration,” the researcher mentioned, "He told me, ‘Nab, you went to great private schools, but attending a public university involves something different. The people of North Carolina are giving up resources and opportunities just to educate you. Your tuition does not repay that debt. It is your responsibility to find ways to give back to that state.’ To be honest, I never thought of my education in this way, but I took it to heart, and when I got to Chapel Hill, I was determined to do just that.”

[caption id="attachment_45145" align="aligncenter" width="624"] Researcher | Nabarun Dasgupta | Global Indian Dr. Dasgupta assembling overdosing prevention kits in Wilkes County, North Carolina[/caption]

Soon, the researcher started working on the drug overuse issue - which, at the time, was claiming about 47 deaths per 100,000 people in a single county of North Carolina alone. And that's how Project Lazarus came to be established. "Project Lazarus is a nonprofit that we started in the Appalachian foothills of western North Carolina. It is this comprehensive, community-based programme that works to help people who have pain conditions and help people who have an addiction get treatment and prevent overdose deaths," explained the researcher, whose efforts were able to drop the drug overdose death rate in the country by 69 percent over three years.

But he didn't stop his work just at that. Over the years, Dr. Dasgupta has analysed several samples submitted by public health programs in his laboratory, to determine the composition of illicit street drugs. Additionally, his team provides vital support to experts working on harm reduction strategies and offers educational resources to inform community members about the risks of drug overdose. Since 2021, the lab has examined drug samples sourced from 32 different states.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLM-WXQdH-w

In the year 2022, Dasgupta took a pioneering step by co-founding the non-profit organization known as the Remedy Alliance For The People. This organisation operates as a major distributor of naloxone, the opioid reversal drug. To date, they have successfully shipped over 1.6 million free and low-cost doses of naloxone to 44 states, making a significant impact in combatting opioid-related emergencies.

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Reading Time: 5 mins