Executive Team
Shashank Mani
Founder - Jagriti Yatra, Jagriti Enterprise Centre PurvanchalAn Author, an economic thinker, a “Yatri” at heart and a man on a mission, Shashank Mani straddles several worlds and experiences. He is the founder of Jagriti Yatra and Jagriti Enterprise Center – Purvanchal (JECP) and also a Partner with a well-known consulting firm, where he is the Government Strategy and Transformation leader and Aerospace and Defense Leader.
Shashank belongs to Deoria, Uttar Pradesh and was educated in both India and Switzerland. He completed his schooling from Colvin Taluqdars' College (Lucknow), BTech from Indian Institute of Technology(IIT) Delhi and MBA (Hons) from IMD Lussanne. He has spent over 18 years in an international business environment, starting with Schlumberger, an international oil services company; consulting firms, and as the CEO of a BPO company he founded.
Shashank has written for the Times of India, the Asian Age and authored the Book titled “India –A journey through a Healing Civilisation”—published by Harper Collins, which launched the Jagriti Yatra in 2008.
Ashutosh Kumar
Executive DirectorExceptionally bright and dedicated to the vision of Enterprise-led-development, Ashutosh joined Jagriti in 2008 in the founding year. He was an integral part of the team, playing the role of Executive Director from 2012 till 2015. He now advises the executive team in strategy. An IIT Kharagpur alumnus, he is a theatre enthusiast and has also made several short films.
Ashutosh brings great creativity and humour to the team. He has led Jagriti Yatra successfully for the last 4 years.
Chinmay Vadnere
Chief Operating OfficerChinmay is a chemical engineer by education, entrepreneur by passion. He joined the Jagriti Yatra in 2008 as a participant and soon after as an extended team member. He headed Railway Operations and Punctuality for the Yatra for 10+ years from 2009 - 2019. Today, he is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and an integral part of the core team of all Jagriti activities. He brings in a rich and rounded experience of Operations, Finance, Programming and Marketing.
Pankaj Mane
Head of Operations & AwarenessPankaj has completed his MCA from Pune University. He has previously worked as Software developer and team leader. He is a District Community Service Director of Rotaract Pune. Pankaj is passionate about body building, personal health and wellness.He is a national level Shotput player.
Lalitha Prakash
Manager FundraisingVeteran in Pharma sector with more than 20 years of experience. Successfully accomplished setting up Animal health division in Africa and South East Asia. Currently working with Jagriti as fund raiser.
Shraddha Kalani
Program ManagerShraddha Kalani is a Chartered Accountant with a Master's degree in Social Entrepreneurship from Tata Institute of Social Sciences. With over 8 years of multifaceted experience across startups, corporates, and venture capital, Shraddha has a proven track record in business strategy, execution, finance, and communications.
She came in as a yatri in 2015 which was a life transforming experience for her as it helped her discover her passion for entrepreneurship. After being associated with the yatra in various capacities since then, she has joined us as a team member to create an outstanding yatri experience by curating the Programming for 2024 Yatra.
She is also the Founder and Chief Coach at Livin’ My Dream, a career accelerator platform for women. She helps women in early stages of their careers conquer self-doubt, build a robust career trajectory, and achieve success in their chosen fields.
Akash Goswami
Administration OfficerAkash from Nashik Maharashtra, a team since 2014 and now, Akash's story has been full of continuous climbs. He has a chain of trekking groups in Maharashtra; has himself been part of activities like paragliding and is even going for an Everest expedition. Akash is a state level jawline throw player, A passion entrepreneur who knows how to live life to the fullest.
Gala Soler
International RelationsHi, I'm Gala, a professional saxophonist with a background in international relations and social studies. I’m from Argentina, but I’m currently based in India. I am passionate about music, cultures around the world, travels and art as a medium for social change and awareness as well as cross border collaborations.
I studied Music and International Relations which has helped me to have a global vision about many issues and contribute to my work and projects.
I’ve travelled across 22 countries in South America, Africa and Asia, participating in different social and artistic projects like "Jagriti Yatra", "The Road Trip Experience" in India and "The Great African Caravan" in 10 African countries with the support of UNESCO and Mahindra Adventure.
Jagriti Yatra Board
The Jagriti Yatra Board comprises of international experienced professionals with high calibre who define the ethos of Jagriti Yatra.
Shashank Mani
Founder - Jagriti Yatra, Jagriti Enterprise Centre PurvanchalAn Author, an economic thinker, a “Yatri” at heart and a man on a mission, Shashank Mani straddles several worlds and experiences. He is the founder of Jagriti Yatra and Jagriti Enterprise Center – Purvanchal (JECP) and also a Partner with a well-known consulting firm, where he is the Government Strategy and Transformation leader and Aerospace and Defense Leader.
Shashank belongs to Deoria, Uttar Pradesh and was educated in both India and Switzerland. He completed his schooling from Colvin Taluqdars' College (Lucknow), BTech from Indian Institute of Technology(IIT) Delhi and MBA (Hons) from IMD Lussanne. He has spent over 18 years in an international business environment, starting with Schlumberger, an international oil services company; consulting firms, and as the CEO of a BPO company he founded.
Shashank has written for the Times of India, the Asian Age and authored the Book titled “India –A journey through a Healing Civilisation”—published by Harper Collins, which launched the Jagriti Yatra in 2008.
Sharat Bansal
ChairmanSharat Bansal has been a Partner, Management Consulting Leader, Advisory Leaders, Global Relationship Partner and member of PwC’s India Leadership Team. In PwC, he established several new practices like Strategy, Supply chain and Operations, Customer Relationship Management Human Capital Management. Sharat also led IBM Global Business Services in India for five years.
Sunil Pangarkar
Board MemberSunil Pangarkar has been an Oil and Gas Executive for 30+ years. He has lived and worked globally. He was a co-founder of one start-up that had a successful exit in 2015. He completed his mechanical engineering degree from MS University , Baroda and an MBA from Sloan school, MIT , Boston. He is currently the executive Chairman of Ecomax Solutions Pvt Ltd out of Pune.
Raj Krishnamurthy
Board MemberRaj is a thinker, leader and an innovator. He has worked for several multinationals including Applied Materials, BOC Group and UTC. He is the founder of a consultancy in London - Enria Limited. He currently works for Rentokil-Initial as their Innovations Director and is passionate about supporting startups. Raj is the architect of Biz Gyan Tree, the business plan competition in the Yatra and credited with several other creative excesses. He has a Bachelors from IIT Bombay, MS from Purdue University and an MBA from Santa Clara University.
Rewati Prabhu
Board MemberRewati has worked for over 15 years as an urban designer in the USA, Europe, Africa and India. A gold medallist B.Arch graduate from Pune University and a fellowship awardee in her Masters in Urban Planning from University of Michigan, USA, she is a Director of Frischmann Prabhu India, a 400 strong multidisciplinary design consultancy based in Mumbai. Rewati has led several award-winning development projects and is passionate about urban regeneration in India.
Surendra Sharma
Board MemberAn alumnus of IIT Kharagpur, he is an ex-technocrat and consultant from the Nuclear Energy field. Interested in social welfare and nation building activity, he is closely associated with Jagriti Yatra and is contributing to its success from the very inception in 1997
Vanita Viswanath
Board MemberVanita conceptualized and led Udyogini, an NGO based in Delhi. She is Founding Trustee and currently Chairperson of Aajeevika Bureau. She was previously with the World Bank, Washington D.C in various positions, including as co-director of a four-year Women's Enterprise Management Training program operational in three Asian countries. She also authored the first policy document on the Asian Development Bank's collaboration with NGOs. She has published widely lectured in leading US universities such as Yale and Columbia and presented papers in conferences worldwide, most recently at the Sixth Subsistence Marketplaces conference at the School of Business, University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign, USA. She was recognized as a finalist of the Schwab Foundation India Social Entrepreneur of the Year award 2012 and recipient of The International Alliance of Women, Washington D.C, World of Difference Award 2013. She received her PhD from the University of Texas, Austin, USA.
Extended Team
Gauri Sharma Tripathi
A Kathak dance artist, perfomer, choreographer and artist in residence at Southbank Centre, London, Gauri is associated with Jagriti Yatra since its inception. She has done the choreography for Jagriti Geet that beautifully reflects Prasoon's lyrics and which Yatris could perfom all together.
She is curator of Alchemy festival and Women of World (WOW) at SBC.
Ananth Krishna
Ganesh Singh
Advisory
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A P Misra
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Ashish Chauhan
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Chetna Sinha
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Claude Smadja
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Murali Talsila
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Rohit Bhag
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Sunil Shukla
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Vijay Mahajan
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Pooja Nayar
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Swapnil Dixit
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Vibha Joshi