Avanti: Yes She Can

Anu Menon is an award-winning film director and writer who brought the extraordinary story of mathematician and astrologer Shakuntala Devi to life. As a child, Anu was always drawn to storytelling but never imagined that she would enter the world of filmmaking. She talks to Vandana about being one of the few women in India to hold directing and writing positions in film and TV, and reflects on what it will take to in...

Prashasti Singh is a standup comic who came from the small town of Amethi, and claimed fame with Comicstaan. Prashasti opens up about her start at Indian Institute of Management to making the bold leap into the world of comedy. She talks to Vandana about how no matter what career path we choose, showing up and giving it our best shot is vital.

CREDITS:

Host & Creative Director: Vandana...

Noorain Khan, the daughter of Pakistani immigrants, has risen to become the first Muslim American to serve as the National President of Girl Scouts of the USA. With a successful career in corporate law, non-profits, and public policy, Vandana explores Noorain’s story and how it reminds us that we can achieve anything we set our mind to, as long as we believe in our capabilities. 

CREDITS:

...

Meena Lakdawala-Flynn shares her journey from being a talented young gymnast dreaming of Olympic glory, to her influential role as the Partner & Co-Head of Private Wealth Management at Goldman Sachs. She talks to Vandana about her upbringing as the daughter of first-generation Indian immigrants in Texas, who supported her every dream; and emphasises the need to inspire our daughters to pursue their own paths to s...

Paulomi Shah is a Partner & Head of Enterprise Risk and Trade Operations at Apollo Global Management, a firm that has $28.41 billion in net assets. As a naturally curious and determined student, Paulomi's passion for learning led her to Barnard College at Columbia University. Having spent several years in the banking sector with firms like JP Morgan and HSBC, Paulomi reflects on her career and talks to Vandana ab...

Gayatri Shenai is a Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company. Growing up with a twin brother, Gayatri’s parents ensured both their children were treated equally - a value that has shaped her into the person she is today. As a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, Gayatri has conducted research on women's advancement in the workplace and spearheaded an annual conference for women executives in tech and oper...

Ruchi Sankhe is the founder of Infinity Investment Advisors and LuxeList. Born to grandparents who were refugees from Pakistan, Ruchi's early years were spent constantly moving across India. Despite the challenges, she excelled academically, earning a Master’s in Finance in the USA, where less than 10% of her class were women. With a career spanning nearly three decades in wealth management, Ruchi shares her insights on building a ...

Sumitra Pasupathy is a Malaysian engineer turned social entrepreneur, who went from a boisterous girl in convent school, to winning a British Council scholarship to attend the prestigious Cambridge University. Starting from her role as a founder of Playeum, an NGO focused on children's play and education, Sumitra talks to Vandana about what we can do to help women overcome cultural barriers in their pursuit of STEM education and ca...

In the first episode, Jyoti Chopra, currently the Chief People, Inclusion, and Sustainability Officer at MGM Resorts International, shares her transformation from a shy young girl to a leader of a billion-dollar company. She reflects on how her immigrant parents shaped her work ethic and how her time at the United Nations drove her to make real change in the world. As one of the few women in America to hold a C-suite role, Jyoti al...

“There is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women” 

-- Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary-General (May 2016)

Education non-profit Avanti Fellows works to help young Indian students - especially girls-  lift themselves and their families out of poverty in a single generation through access to quality careers in STEM. In this podcast, join Vandana Goyal, co-CEO of Avanti Fellows, as she explores the journe...