Advisors & Partners
Key Advisors
Guiding Our Vision, Shaping the Future
Our Key Advisors are visionary leaders who play a strategic role in shaping Ekya Nava’s mission, providing insights on growth, operations, and partnerships. As trusted advocates, they support our commitment to reimagining education and building a purposeful learning community.
Dr. Nandlal. L. Sharda
Dr. Nandlal L. Sarda is an esteemed academic and expert in Database Management and Software Engineering. Formerly a Professor at IIT Bombay, Dr. Sarda has over four decades of experience in research and teaching, with interests spanning spatio-temporal and geospatial databases, information systems, and software engineering. He has held leadership roles, including Head of the Computer Science Department, Dean of Academic Programmes, and Professor-in-Charge of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at IIT Bombay. Currently a Visiting Professor at IIT Dharwad, Dr. Sarda also serves as a technical advisor to organizations like NPCI and NSE, and holds board positions in prominent companies
Pathway Advisors
Experts Inspiring Excellence Across Disciplines
Pathway Advisors are industry experts guiding specific areas of our curriculum, from Information Technology to Design. Their mentorship and expertise enhance our pathways, bringing real-world insights that prepare our students for meaningful and impactful careers.
Vikram Vaidyanathan
Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Vikram Vaidyanathan is the Managing Director at z47 (formerly known as Matrix Partners) and a passionate advocate for India’s entrepreneurial future. With a career spanning product development, startups, non-profit management, FMCG marketing, and consulting, Vikram brings a wealth of practical insights on building businesses in India. He holds an engineering degree from RV College of Engineering, Bangalore, and an MBA from IIM Bangalore. Vikram has worked globally with companies like Samsung, IBM, and News Corp’s NDS, gaining deep experience in scaling ideas. As an investment professional, he partners with driven founders to create impactful, market-leading businesses for tomorrow’s India.
Mary Li
Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Mary Li is the founder and CEO of Atlas, a travel technology company that provides advanced infrastructure to travel sellers and over 150 low-cost airlines worldwide. A seasoned entrepreneur, Mary previously founded Wingon Travel and ASLAN, China’s largest B2B air ticket platform before it was acquired by Alibaba’s Fliggy. With her team spanning nine countries, Mary champions a diverse and global approach to innovation. Driven by a deep belief in travel’s power to connect and transform, she brings her expertise and vision to Ekya Nava as an Entrepreneurship and Innovation Pathway Advisor.
Mekin Maheshwari
Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Mekin Maheshwari is the founder and CEO of Udhyam Learning Foundation, a nonprofit fostering entrepreneurial mindsets in over 1.6 million students across India and uplifting the incomes of thousands of micro-entrepreneurs. Passionate about impactful solutions, Mekin also co-founded Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship (G.A.M.E.) and Social Change at ACT Grants, focusing on scalable change. Previously an early leader at Flipkart, Mekin shaped its tech and people strategy through rapid growth. As an angel investor and board member, he supports human capital and ed-tech innovations. Mekin’s work reflects his deep belief in people’s potential and his dedication to creating lasting social impact.
Rajan Patel
Making
Rajan Patel is a co-founder and CEO of Dent Education, where he empowers under-resourced youth through design thinking and entrepreneurship, promoting equity and real-world skills. He co-invented the Embrace incubator, a life-saving product impacting over 250,000 babies globally, born from empathy-driven design. Rajan’s career spans roles as a design thinking leader, workshop facilitator, product manager, and business developer across organizations like Root Ventures, ATÖLYE Istanbul, and the Deshpande Foundation. With a BS in Biomechanical Engineering and an MBA from Stanford, as well as an MPA from Harvard, Rajan brings a wealth of experience in social impact and creative education.
Darren Wang
Information Technology & Society
Darren Wang is the founder and chairman of OwlTing Group, a pioneering global blockchain company focused on e-commerce and transformative applications. A Taiwanese entrepreneur and angel investor, Darren has driven OwlTing to achieve international recognition, with KPMG and HSBC naming it one of Taiwan’s Top 10 Emerging Giants. His investment portfolio spans ventures in blockchain, digital payments, and mobile advertising, reflecting his commitment to tech-driven innovation. Darren holds a Master’s in Electrical Engineering from Boston University, where he studied under Prof. Lev Levitin. He brings deep expertise in mobile and blockchain technology to his advisory role at Ekya Nava.
Partners in Purpose, Champions of Change
Our Partner Organizations collaborate closely with Ekya Nava to provide students with hands-on experiences, real-world projects, and pathways for growth. Together, we inspire future leaders by bridging classroom learning with industry insight and opportunity.
Building Bridges to Real-World Impact
Our Partner Organizations collaborate closely with Ekya Nava to provide students with hands-on experiences, real-world projects, and pathways for growth. Together, we inspire future leaders by bridging classroom learning with industry insight and opportunity.
Key Advisors
Guiding Our Vision, Shaping the Future
Our Key Advisors are visionary leaders who play a strategic role in shaping Ekya Nava’s mission, providing insights on growth, operations, and partnerships. As trusted advocates, they support our commitment to reimagining education and building a purposeful learning community.
Dr. Nandlal. L. Sharda
Dr. Nandlal L. Sarda is an esteemed academic and expert in Database Management and Software Engineering. Formerly a Professor at IIT Bombay, Dr. Sarda has over four decades of experience in research and teaching, with interests spanning spatio-temporal and geospatial databases, information systems, and software engineering. He has held leadership roles, including Head of the Computer Science Department, Dean of Academic Programmes, and Professor-in-Charge of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at IIT Bombay. Currently a Visiting Professor at IIT Dharwad, Dr. Sarda also serves as a technical advisor to organizations like NPCI and NSE, and holds board positions in prominent companies
Srikanth Nadhamuni
Srikanth Nadhamuni is the CEO of Khosla Labs, an incubator he co-founded with Vinod Khosla to create impactful startups. He is also the Chairman of Novopay, a fintech company delivering banking solutions through retail outlets and Aadhaar-enabled MicroATMs. Previously, Srikanth led the technology setup for the UID Authority of India, designing the Aadhaar system for over 1.2 billion citizens. As Managing Trustee of the eGovernments Foundation, co-founded with Nandan Nilekani, he has transformed public service delivery in 400+ Indian cities. Srikanth’s specialties include large-scale identity management, urban governance, and empowering startups in the Indian context.
Federico Jost
Federico Jost is a seasoned executive and Partner at Blue Opal Capital, bringing extensive expertise in strategic planning, business development, and operational management. Previously, he served as Head of Private Equity Valuation at the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) and held key roles at KPMG US, overseeing valuation and consulting projects. With a track record of leading successful initiatives in competitive markets and securing high-value contracts, Federico excels in building client relationships, driving revenue growth, and managing complex projects. His diverse industry experience and commitment to impactful business solutions make him a valuable addition to the Friends of Ekya program.
Pathway Advisors
Experts Inspiring Excellence Across Disciplines
Pathway Advisors are industry experts guiding specific areas of our curriculum, from Information Technology to Design. Their mentorship and expertise enhance our pathways, bringing real-world insights that prepare our students for meaningful and impactful careers.
Vikram Vaidyanathan
Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Vikram Vaidyanathan is the Managing Director at z47 (formerly known as Matrix Partners) and a passionate advocate for India’s entrepreneurial future. With a career spanning product development, startups, non-profit management, FMCG marketing, and consulting, Vikram brings a wealth of practical insights on building businesses in India. He holds an engineering degree from RV College of Engineering, Bangalore, and an MBA from IIM Bangalore. Vikram has worked globally with companies like Samsung, IBM, and News Corp’s NDS, gaining deep experience in scaling ideas. As an investment professional, he partners with driven founders to create impactful, market-leading businesses for tomorrow’s India.
Mary Li
Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Mary Li is the founder and CEO of Atlas, a travel technology company that provides advanced infrastructure to travel sellers and over 150 low-cost airlines worldwide. A seasoned entrepreneur, Mary previously founded Wingon Travel and ASLAN, China’s largest B2B air ticket platform before it was acquired by Alibaba’s Fliggy. With her team spanning nine countries, Mary champions a diverse and global approach to innovation. Driven by a deep belief in travel’s power to connect and transform, she brings her expertise and vision to Ekya Nava as an Entrepreneurship and Innovation Pathway Advisor.
Mekin Maheshwari
Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Mekin Maheshwari is the founder and CEO of Udhyam Learning Foundation, a nonprofit fostering entrepreneurial mindsets in over 1.6 million students across India and uplifting the incomes of thousands of micro-entrepreneurs. Passionate about impactful solutions, Mekin also co-founded Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship (G.A.M.E.) and Social Change at ACT Grants, focusing on scalable change. Previously an early leader at Flipkart, Mekin shaped its tech and people strategy through rapid growth. As an angel investor and board member, he supports human capital and ed-tech innovations. Mekin’s work reflects his deep belief in people’s potential and his dedication to creating lasting social impact.
Jagadish Babu
Jagadish Babu is the Chief Operating Officer at The EkStep Foundation, a non-profit that aims to champion digital public goods and drive large-scale impact for billions by innovating beyond boundaries. With over 25 years in technology and engineering, Jagadish previously served as Architect for the Devices Ecosystem at the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), playing a key role in the Aadhaar project. He also spent 17 years at Intel Corporation, holding leadership roles such as APAC Regional Manager and Engineering Manager. Jagadish brings deep expertise in scalable tech solutions to his advisory role at Ekya Nava.
Rajan Patel
Making
Rajan Patel is a co-founder and CEO of Dent Education, where he empowers under-resourced youth through design thinking and entrepreneurship, promoting equity and real-world skills. He co-invented the Embrace incubator, a life-saving product impacting over 250,000 babies globally, born from empathy-driven design. Rajan’s career spans roles as a design thinking leader, workshop facilitator, product manager, and business developer across organizations like Root Ventures, ATÖLYE Istanbul, and the Deshpande Foundation. With a BS in Biomechanical Engineering and an MBA from Stanford, as well as an MPA from Harvard, Rajan brings a wealth of experience in social impact and creative education.
Darren Wang
Information Technology & Society
Darren Wang is the founder and chairman of OwlTing Group, a pioneering global blockchain company focused on e-commerce and transformative applications. A Taiwanese entrepreneur and angel investor, Darren has driven OwlTing to achieve international recognition, with KPMG and HSBC naming it one of Taiwan’s Top 10 Emerging Giants. His investment portfolio spans ventures in blockchain, digital payments, and mobile advertising, reflecting his commitment to tech-driven innovation. Darren holds a Master’s in Electrical Engineering from Boston University, where he studied under Prof. Lev Levitin. He brings deep expertise in mobile and blockchain technology to his advisory role at Ekya Nava.
Friends of Ekya
Partners in Purpose, Champions of Change
Friends of Ekya are influential mentors and role models from diverse fields, contributing through lectures, mentorship, and collaborative projects. Their involvement enriches our students’ learning journeys, helping them develop a deeper understanding of the world beyond academics.
Akash Raman
Akash Raman is a dynamic social impact leader with over eleven years of experience as a founder, startup advisor, and professional in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors. Currently, as a senior portfolio manager at The/Nudge Institute, he supports early-stage non-profits that address livelihood resilience in India. Previously, he has led impactful programs at Azim Premji Philanthropic Initiatives, Ashoka, and the Karnataka Health Promotion Trust. With a background in business consulting and entrepreneurship, Akash brings a unique blend of strategic and operational expertise. He holds degrees from BITS Pilani, the University of Washington, and Harvard University.
Anshumani Ruddra
Anshumani Ruddra is a seasoned product leader with over 20 years of experience creating engaging user experiences across industries, including gaming, healthcare, education, and fintech. Currently, he leads product development for Google Pay in APAC and India, focusing on building scalable digital payment solutions. Anshumani’s journey has included roles as VP of Product at Hotstar and Chief Product Officer at Cuemath, alongside advisory roles with various B2C and gaming startups. Passionate about the intersection of technology, storytelling, and human behavior, he brings valuable insights and expertise to the Friends of Ekya program.
Chaitra Chidanand
Chaitra Chidanand is a serial entrepreneur and co-founder of SALT, a financial technology platform designed to empower women in managing their finances with confidence and ease. With nearly two decades of experience in business and tech across India, the U.S., Japan, and China, Chaitra previously co-founded Simpl, India’s leading 1-tap checkout network. Passionate about gender inclusion in technology, she actively advocates for designing products that better serve women. A former Vice President of Stanford Angels & Entrepreneurs, Chaitra holds an MBA from Stanford GSB and brings her expertise to the Friends of Ekya program.
Kritika hora
Kritika Hora is a design thinking expert passionate about human-centered design and problem-solving. With experience as a Design Operations Specialist at WeWork, she has strengthened creative environments that promote innovation. Previously, she led strategic initiatives as a Process Architect at CMR University, fostering a culture of creativity and innovation. Kritika has also facilitated design thinking programs for entrepreneurs at the Beachhouse Project. She thrives on building solutions that are informed by user insights, behaviors, and emotions. As part of the Friends of Ekya program, Kritika brings her expertise in systems and design thinking to inspire young learners.
Partner Organizations
Building Bridges to Real-World Impact
Our Partner Organizations collaborate closely with Ekya Nava to provide students with hands-on experiences, real-world projects, and pathways for growth. Together, we inspire future leaders by bridging classroom learning with industry insight and opportunity.
Udhyam Learning Foundation
Udhyam Learning Foundation empowers individuals to discover and harness their intrinsic potential through entrepreneurial mindset development and behavioral change. Through state partnerships, contextualized curricula, and capability training, Udhyam aims to build a supportive ecosystem where people feel empowered to define their own paths. Their mission: Making Bharat Entrepreneurial.
Wadhwani Foundation
Wadhwani Foundation is a global non-profit focused on accelerating job growth and enabling family-sustaining wages through four core initiatives: Entrepreneurship, Skilling, Innovation & Research, and Government Digital Transformation. With a mission to create social impact, Wadhwani Foundation supports millions across Asia, Africa, and Latin America in achieving dignified livelihoods.
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