Founders, mentors and advisors working across skilling, tech and research.

He is a consultant with the World Bank, a training specialist, and visiting faculty at Manipal University, where he designs and delivers executive learning, leadership development and capacity-building programs for governments, NGOs, CSR foundations, consulting firms and higher education institutions.

He previously held several senior leadership positions at the National Skill Development Corporation under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, leading national initiatives in state engagement, institutional development, public-private partnerships and sector skill councils. He played a key role in designing and implementing the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (2016 to 2020), one of the world's largest vocational skilling initiatives, and led partnerships with state governments, industry and international development agencies, including the World Bank-supported SANKALP and STRIVE programmes.

Earlier in his career he was a project manager at J-PAL, the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab, managing multi-stakeholder initiatives across policymakers, researchers, implementation partners and donor agencies with a focus on evidence-based policy and delivery.

His expertise spans public policy, strategic advisory, skills and livelihoods, institutional strengthening, competency-based training, project design, leadership development, governance, stakeholder engagement, monitoring and evaluation, and multi-sector partnerships. He holds a Master's in Social Work, Social Welfare Administration, from TISS and a Bachelor's in Instrumentation and Process Control Engineering from The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda.

His research covers labour market policy, skill development, industrial employment patterns and the effect of technological change on work, making him a leading authority on labour economics in India. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from IIT Bombay, where he also completed an M.Phil. in Planning and Development. Before TISS he was Assistant Professor at TA Pai Management Institute, Manipal.

He has led and contributed to numerous research projects on labour market outcomes, employment generation and workforce planning, including analyses of sectoral employment trends, the effect of industrial automation on jobs, and the alignment of skills with emerging industry needs. He works closely with industry and government stakeholders, translating research into strategies for workforce planning, inclusive employment and policy reform.

Her work advances income-generation strategies, fosters entrepreneurship and integrates gender perspectives into development programs. She has designed and implemented frameworks for microfinance, SHG-linked interventions and social business incubation, with particular emphasis on empowering women and marginalised communities in both rural and urban contexts.

Her expertise is strengthened by post-doctoral study at the London School of Economics, where she examined the effect of competition on microfinance beneficiaries. She earned her Ph.D. in Economics, specialising in microfinance, from Jadavpur University. Before TISS she was a research associate at the Institute of Rural Management, Anand, and at the Institute of Dalit Studies, contributing evidence-based research in financial inclusion and social policy.

At TISS she has held academic and leadership positions including Associate Professor, Assistant Professor and Programme Coordinator, mentoring students and supporting capacity building in social entrepreneurship, CSR and sustainability. She runs workshops, webinars and masterclasses on women's entrepreneurship, innovative CSR practice, social enterprise design and impact assessment, and contributes widely to research publications, policy discourse and curriculum development. Her work bridges rigorous academic research and practical intervention, helping organisations design scalable, gender-sensitive livelihood programs and promote inclusive economic participation.

He is a registered Psychologist with the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) and a Lifetime Associate Member of the Bombay Psychiatric Society. He has been a life member of the All India Management Association and the Bombay Management Association since the past many years.

A former Indian Army officer, he has vast experience of senior positions in some corporate organisations, dealing in the areas of general management, Organisational Development (OD), HRD and training. He worked in some large corporate companies heading their HR function. A large number of his articles on psychological and other topics have been published.

He holds a Ph.D. in Small Business Management and Business Excellence from BITS Pilani and a B.E. in Electrical Engineering from SGSITS Indore, combining academic training with hands-on experience in organisational strategy, entrepreneurship ecosystems and skill development. He previously served as Dean of the School of Management and Labour Studies at TISS and as Professor at the Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, guiding research, curriculum development and student mentoring in entrepreneurship, social innovation and CSR.

His work creates sustainable entrepreneurship ecosystems, fosters innovation in underserved communities, and integrates social impact with business excellence. He has led national and international initiatives including workshops, investor conclaves and incubation programs focused on developing entrepreneurial talent and helping start-ups scale responsibly. He is a distinguished adjunct professor at the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India and contributes to policy advisory roles, including biotechnology-based programs for societal development under the Government of India.

Recognised as a thought leader in entrepreneurship and skill development, he has received the Dr. V.G. Patel Memorial Award for his contributions to entrepreneurship education and mentoring. His specialities include entrepreneurship development, social entrepreneurship, start-up mentoring, growth strategy for small and medium enterprises, CSR strategy, skill development and innovation ecosystems.