Interns are an essential part of life at LEAD. We accept interns round the year. Get in touch with us to explore current opportunities and share your ideas.
We bring the best minds on board, nurture them, and challenge them to grow. We value open conversations, individuality and innovation. We pride ourselves on being an organisation without walls – where ideas, conversations and meaningful discussions flow. While life at LEAD may seem a bit chaotic at times, there is a method to our madness. We work smart, have fun, and value personal time. We do happy hours, game nights, foodwalks, and reading clubs. We look out for each other at work, and outside of it.
Starting out as a Research Associate was a very hands-on learning experience for me. It gave me an opportunity to explore my interests in the development sector. Apart from engaging in my core responsibilities, LEAD has also given me a platform to progress professionally and learn, through ideation, extensive stakeholder interactions and the freedom to voice my opinions and thoughts. Through immersive field engagements, I have learnt about the practical challenges in implementing research projects and developed a nuanced understanding of different contexts, and ground realities of the people that we work with.
LEAD is a wonderfully constructive workplace. What struck me the most was the openness to new ideas from all corners and the huge scope for cross-collaboration. LEAD strikes the right balance between work and fun. One of the few workplaces where one feels energized even at the end of a long day, for a few laughs with your teammates can cure everything!
LEAD at Krea University is committed to providing a workplace that is free of sexual harassment and all forms of intimidation or exploitation. Learn more about our POSH policy, and Internal Committee (IC).
Associate Director, Research & MLE (Gender x Digital hub)
Mahima Taneja leads research and monitoring, learning & evaluation for the Gender x Digital (GxD) hub at LEAD. She brings over a decade of experience in research and evaluation, with work spanning gender equality, urban policy, WASH, and adolescent sexual and reproductive health.
Previously, Mahima worked with the Gates Foundation in India, managing multiple evaluations under the Women’s Economic Empowerment and Inclusive Financial Systems portfolios. She has also held roles at Sambodhi, ISST, and Oxfam India, and is an active member of the Evaluation Community of India.
Mahima holds an M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. in Political Science with a specialisation in Gender Studies from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, where her doctoral research explored the gendered politics of urban public spaces. She has taught at the University of Delhi and published widely on feminist evaluation, inclusive cities, and women’s movements in India.
Knowledge Management Specialist
Shanmugam Manoharan is a Knowledge Management Specialist at LEAD, with a strong interest in making research and evidence accessible and actionable. Over the years, he has worked with organisations such as the World Bank, Delhi Assembly Research Centre, and other development institutions, contributing to a range of initiatives on rural development, gender-transformative evaluations, and livelihoods programs.
Shanmugam holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Political Science from Jawaharlal Nehru University.
Passionate about the intersection of gender, caste, livelihoods, and social inclusion, Shanmugam is dedicated to delivering people-centered solutions that deliver real impact. Outside work, he enjoys history books, travel, and a good mystery thriller.