Advisory Board

Anjana Nathwani

CEO Athena Business Psychologists

Anjana Nathwani,  has experience that spans across four continents, 50 different nationalities, private, public and government sectors including Fortune 500 and FTSE 100 companies.  Prior to starting her own business she was Senior Director for emerging markets at Schneider Ross UK and Director of Learning Design at Cass Business School in the City of London.

She was the first woman to launch the Business Psychology Business in Delhi. In the UK she is influential in relation to Government policy on Equal Opportunities, her research informed significant amendments to the law.  Anjana is passionate about diversity and inclusion in the Csuite and in the boardroom.   She is currently researching on women from different backgrounds and how their versatile life experience equips them to be successful people in business and in influential positions.

She was nominated for Asian Women of Achievement wards in 2012 and is a Business Mentor for the Cherie Blair Foundation. She has taken a lead at many conferences including the first Diversity and Inclusion summit in Delhi, workshop at the WIN conference in Delhi and a panelist at EDIC in Austria.  She travels widely and has spoken at conferences in Hong Kong, Singapore, Italy and Mexico on the themes of leadership education, global leadership and executive development for women.

Donna Orender

CEO at Orender Unlimited

Donna Orender founded Orender Unlimited, an independent marketing, media, and strategy company. Donna serves as a consultant to WNBA Enterprises, LLC. She served as the President of WNBA Enterprises, LLC from February 2005 to December 31, 2010. Donna served as President of Women’s National Basketball Association of National Basketball Association, Inc. since February of 2005. Donna has more than 20 years of sports business experience. Prior to joining the league, she spent more than 17 years with the PGA Tour and served as Senior Vice President of Strategic Development in the Office of the Commissioner. While at the Tour, Donna was responsible for the development and management of strategic direction across all business lines including new media, internet, advertising and brand management.

In addition, she ran the Tour’s worldwide television and production businesses for nine years prior to being named senior vice president. Donna’s television production career began at ABC Sports and continued at SportsChannel.

Donna also owned her own production company, Primo Donna Productions. Her community and philanthropic activities include serving on the boards of Beth El – The Beaches Synagogue, the Monique Burr Foundation for Children, Inc., the Jacksonville Film & Television Advisory Council, the University of North Florida College of Arts and Science Advisory Council, and Maccabi USA/Sports for Israel.

In addition, she served as Co-Chair for the USA Women’s Basketball team for the 16th World Maccabiah Games in Israel, and participates in the National Minority Golf Foundation Mentor Program. She played three seasons in the Women’s Professional Basketball League (WBL), where she was an All-Star. She also was an All-American basketball player during her collegiate years.

Gagan Singh

CEO, Business & Chairperson Sri Lanka Operations, Jones Lang LaSalle

Gagan was appointed in May 2007, to oversee the integration of the merged entity – Jones Lang LaSalle Meghraj, which created the pre-eminent and largest real estate services firm in India. Over the last 5 years she has worn several hats. She has led the Projects and Development Services (P&DS) business for India from mid 2008 to August 2012. The P&DS business more than doubled its revenue and margins under her leadership.

As CEO Business for Jones Lang LaSalle India, she has oversight of Retail Leasing and Advisory Services, SEZ Shared Service Operations and the Human Resources function for the Firm. Gagan has also heads the gender diversity focus for India.

Gagan has over 30 years of experience across the apparel, exports and hospitality sector. Prior to joining Jones Lang LaSalle, Gagan was with Benetton India for over 6 years as Executive Director, and was subsequently appointed Chief Executive Officer in 2005. It was during her tenure that Benetton evolved into a powerhouse in the Indian Lifestyle & Apparel industry. Under her stewardship, the brand achieved several firsts for the group
in India.

Previous to Benetton, Gagan was COO at DCM International. She was responsible for all export initiatives of the firm and successfully ensured compliance of all audit related requirements of DCM Financial Services. Gagan has also worked with the Soaltee Group, Nepal as Vice President Finance.

She began her career with Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd.

Gagan is also a trustee of the Salaam Baalak Trust, a Non-Government Organization (NGO) dedicated to working with street and working children and is the founding Vice President of Youthreach, an NGO.

Apurva Purohit

CEO – MBPL (RadioCity 91.1), Author, “Lady, You’re not a Man”

Apurva over the past 8 years has led the organization through a cycle of ‘Build-Grow-Consolidate’ partnering IVFA, one of the oldest and most experienced private equity players in the country with $1.4 billion under management. MBPL today is a leader in its space as well as being voted the Best Place To Work in the media industry.

Apurva has worked on all aspects of the business from formulating the entry strategy into new markets, bidding for new licenses, setting up infrastructure in 20 cities. An alumnus of IIM Bangalore, she has spent over 24 years in advertising and media. Been voted among the top 50 women in Business and among the top 10 women in the media industry.

Have launched successful media agencies like Lodestar, TV brands like Zoom,and fashioned the re-launch strategy for Zee TV.

Her book, ‘Lady,You’re Not a Man – The Adventures of a Woman at Work’ on successfully merging career and family and lectures extensively on “Leadership Skills”, on “How to Cope with the Challenges Women face at Work and Home”, on “Building Great Places to Work” and on “ Making Successful Career Choices”.

Parul Soni

Executive Director and Practice Leader at Ernst & Young

Parul Soni is the Practice leader of the Development Advisory Services and the Global Deputy leader for Not-for-profit organizations at Ernst & Young. He has over 17 years of demonstrative experience in providing strategic leadership to large development programs at country and regional levels. At EY, he has worked on a range of social development issues including gender inclusion & entrepreneurship, child rights, community development, corporate social responsibility advisory and aid efficiency.

His forte is developing innovative methodologies towards social development solutions including strategies towards the bottom of pyramid as well as and assisting organizations to raise funds to meet social development objectives. Parul has been instrumental in launching the Development Advisory Services practice and overseeing the activities of the engagement teams within the EY Global International Development Network. He oversees the positioning and representation of EY with various stakeholders- Government, corporate, multi-lateral and bi-lateral organizations.

His other memberships include being an Advisor in India for the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network, a Founding Board member of Save the Children-Bal Raksha, the Indian evolution of Save the Children International network and a board member of SafeLIFE Foundation. He is also actively encouraging entrepreneurship as Chair of the Board of Power of Youth in India,and senior advisor on the Global Advisory Board of WEConnect International.

Achal K Paul

Director at BUZZ Communications Pvt. Ltd.

Achal is a highly acclaimed and seasoned PR professional with advertising and events background. He has over 25 years of experience in developing winning communication strategies for both national and international brands. Achal graduated from Delhi University with Diploma in Business Management and started his career in Advertising with Bates India, before moving on to Public Relations in a big way. He helped set up a PR agency where he rose to the level of CEO was for over a decade. He left that to start his own endeavour – BUZZ Communications Pvt. Ltd. in February 2007, to offer Integrated Communication Solutions with specialization in PR. BUZZ is headquartered in New Delhi and has offices in Mumbai and Bangalore with Associate offices spread across India in over 50 cities.

 Achal also has a flair for organising events and fashion shows. He has organised mega-events and handled PR activities for TOYOTA, JCB, Lufthansa, Etihad Airways, KLM, Air Canada, Hewlett-Packard, Domino’s Pizza, Siemens Telecom, Mary Kay, Oriflame, Avon, TIMEX Watches, IX Asian Games, La Trobe University, …to name a few.

 Achal has also been associated with some very high profile events involving the visits of global leaders like of President Bill Clinton, Crown Prince Fredrick of Denmark, Senator Larry Pressler. He is a trustee of India Vision Foundation (IVF). Achal has been associated with this body as a Communication expert. Kiran Bedi, India’s first woman Police Officer, a Magsaysay laureate and Noble Peace Prize nominee is the founder Chairperson

Memberships

•  Faculty Member, National Institute of Advertising & PR

• Trustee, India Vision Foundation (IVF). Achal has been associated with this body as a Communication expert. Kiran Bedi, India’s first woman Police Officer, a Magsaysay laureate and Noble Peace Prize nominee is the founder Chairperson

• Have been recipient of Gratitude Award 2011-12 by Navjyoti India Foundation for contribution in the field of Communications

Rajesh Kumar

Head of Marketing – SAP India

Rajesh Kumar is the Head of Marketing for SAP India Subcontinent.In this role, he is responsible for developing and implementing strategies for SAP to establish its leadership as the trusted application solutions provider to businesses in India. Rajesh has been associated with SAP from 2010 and currently leads SAP’s go to market strategy and execution across Industry Solutions, Line of Business, Business Analytics, Technology, SME, Channels, Business ByDesign, Services and Integrated Marketing Communications.

Prior to joining SAP, Rajesh was associated with Microsoft India for 9 years, in various leadership roles.  An industry veteran with over 20 years of experience in sales& marketing across technology, internet, consumer goods and industrial machinery, Rajesh has been involved with various organizations, including Perfetti, HCL & Seagram.

Rajesh holds a Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering (1988) from NIT Kurukshetra, and a Masters degree in Business Management from Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta (1994).

Amardeep Singh

Amardeep is an expert in emerging markets & developing economies. His “hallmark” is the door opening in any environment & area, well known lobbyist, expert in getting matters resolved & making things happen, multi task expert and well known crisis manager.

ADS has an experience of over  2 ½ odd decades, exposed to extensive Domestic & International Markets, Public Relations, Corporate Affairs, Corporate Communications, Strategic Alliances, Business Development, Exports & International Trade, Institutional Sales and Dealer Development in Mohammed Al Mannai Group in Middle East, Shaw Wallace International Ltd , Macdonald Mohan Distillers Ltd , New Holland Tractors India Ltd a CNH Group co, and presently working with Fortis Healthcare , Asia’s no 1 Healthcare Group as Head  of Corporate Affairs.

ADS is a high antenna person with extensive awareness and solid relationships with various Governments; in India, South East Asia / Orient and Middle East. Maintains effective relationships with their key politicians & bureaucrats in multiple geographies globally. He has fantastic broad knowledge of people representative institutions such as parliament, legislatives, ministries, regulatory bodies.

Amardeep has passion for “girl child programs and Women empowerment initiatives” and is the founding member of renowned Nanhi Chahan Foundation.

A voracious reader of politics, history & sufi poetry and an avid listener of Sufi, Qawalis, & english music from the 50’s & 60’s. Gardening is his passion, fond of playing Tennis, enjoys travel & holidays with my family and adventure with my children.