Karunakar Rao

Communication and Convenings Manager

Karunakar Rao is a Communication and Convenings Manager at LEAD. Previously, he worked with organisations including ACCESS Development Services, AIACA and Oxfam India.

Karunakar holds a Master’s and Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi.

His core experience lies in brand communications. Karunakar is passionate about strategic planning, design, content development and dabbles in photography and videography. In his free time, he likes to pamper dogs, travel, binge-watch on OTT platforms and party.

Ojasvi Bhardwaj

Research Associate, Financial Well-being and Social Protection

Ojasvi Bhardwaj is a Research Associate with the Financial Well-being and Social Protection vertical at LEAD. Previously, she worked as a Research Assistant with the University of San Francisco on a study titled ‘Climate and Cooperation Experiment’.

Ojasvi holds a Master’s Degree in Economics from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi and a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Indraprastha College for Women, University of Delhi.

Her research interests are focused on the intersection of development economics, climate economics, and behavioral economics. Outside of work, Ojasvi loves capturing moments, stargazing, and cooking, or can be found in a corner endlessly solving sudoku puzzles.

SHARON BUTEAU

Executive Director

Sharon Buteau combines expansive experience of over 18 years in research and international development, with over 7 years in the field of digital financial services and financial inclusion. Sharon is deeply passionate about finding effective solutions to promote enterprise growth and development, and realising the untapped potential of micro and small businesses.

At LEAD, Sharon focuses on bringing the right combination of talent, expertise and stakeholders together to ensure that investments and efforts are perfectly aligned with the desired goals. Sharon holds significant expertise on how to leverage co-creation, collaborative processes, as well using the power of data from the ground up can improve socio-economic outcomes for individuals, households and enterprises. She has in-depth knowledge in “right-fit research methods” and significant experience in the domain of financial capabilities and well-being, and small business and entrepreneurship development.

Sharon started her journey at LEAD in 2008, when she arrived in India with a strong desire to improve society by producing impactful knowledge that can bring positive change. Prior to joining LEAD, Sharon was an economist with Analysis Group in Montreal Canada.

Sharon holds an MSc in Economics from the Universite du Quebec a Montreal, as well as an MA in Social Research Methods from the London School of Economics.

Santanu Pramanik, PhD

Research Director, LEAD at Krea University

Santanu is a seasoned research leader and statistician, with nearly two decades of experience in steering large-scale data innovation initiatives. As a Research Director at LEAD, Santanu oversees the research portfolio across thematic areas and provides methodological inputs and strategic oversight to guide project implementation. Prior to joining LEAD, Santanu was a Senior Fellow at the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) and Deputy Director of NCAER’s National Data Innovation Centre. He has previously worked as a Research Scientist at the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) and as a Survey Statistician at NORC, an independent affiliate of the University of Chicago.

Santanu holds a PhD in Survey Methodology from the University of Maryland, College Park and a Master’s Degree in Statistics from the University of Calcutta. His interests lie in applying survey and research methods such as remote monitoring of data collection activities, randomized controlled trials, multilevel modelling, and small area estimation to address critical development issues such as access to health insurance, family planning, and labour force participation, among others. In his spare time, Santanu enjoys playing board games and bird-watching.

Gaurav Kumar Sinha

Senior Manager, Small, Growing Businesses and Employment

Gaurav Kumar Sinha is a Senior Manager with the Small, Growing Businesses and Employment vertical at LEAD. Previously, he worked with the research teams at Grameen Foundation, Centre for Catalyzing Change and Care India.

Gaurav has over eight years of experience in process and outcome measurement across diverse themes like financial inclusion, WASH, education, public health and clean energy. He holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from the Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Application from Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra.

An avid traveller, Gaurav unwinds by cooking and exploring virtual reality.

Aayesha Saxena

Senior Research Associate, Small, Growing Businesses and Employment

Aayesha Saxena is a Senior Research Associate with the Small, Growing Businesses and Employment vertical at LEAD. In the past, she worked as a Consultant with the Institute of Social Studies Trust, International Labour Organisation, Institute for Human Development and SEWA on issues related to gender, labour, migration and development.

Aayesha holds an M.Phil from the Centre for Studies in Law and Governance, Jawaharlal Nehru University and a Master’s Degree in Development Studies from Ambedkar University, Delhi. Passionate about qualitative research, her interests revolve around questions pertaining to the political economy of development, conflict and gender.

Aayesha loves the outdoors — and enjoys travelling to new places, apart from cooking and watching movies.

Pramod Tiwari

Senior Regional Manager, Field Operations

Pramod Tiwari, is currently the Senior Regional Manager, Field Operations at LEAD. He is a seasoned researcher with several years of experience and engagement in rigorous academic and policy research.

Prior to LEAD, he worked in various government health programs, essaying several roles ranging from managing the training of health providers to planning treatment delivery of leprosy patients with the World Health Organization. He also spent 9 years working on a variety of randomized control interventions in health and education in the states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and his native Rajasthan with the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab. (J-PAL).

Pramod has worked on evaluations of various kinds across multiple areas such as health, education, financial inclusion, migration, microfinance, and livelihoods.

Some of the studies Pramod has worked on include Improving Health Care Delivery in India (Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo, 2009) in Udaipur, Putting a Band-Aid on a Corpse: Incentives for Nurses in the Indian Public Health Care System (Banerjee, Duflo, and Glennerster, 2008), Is Decentralized Iron Fortification a Feasible Option to Fight Anaemia Among the Poorest? (Banerjee, Duflo, and Glennerster, 2009), Improving immunisation coverage in rural India: clustered randomised controlled evaluation of immunisation campaigns with and without incentives (Banerjee, and Duflo,( Nobel prizes in economic sciences 2019 Glennerster, and Kothari, 2010; published in the prestigious British Medical Journal), Economic Decision Making in Poverty Depletes Behavioral Control (Dean Spears, 2010), The Evolving Financial Ecosystem for Micro-Merchants in India (LEAD), NREGA Program with John Dreze and Prof.Amartya Sen (Nobel prize in economic sciences 1998) and closely worked with Sir Agnus Deaton (Nobel prize in economic sciences 2015) for Explorations in the Economics of aging.

Pramod holds several Master’s degrees, in Chemistry, Public Administration, Sociology, and Business Administration (Human Resources Management), as well as a Post Graduate Diploma in Human Rights.

Sangita Poddar

Research Associate, Small, Growing Businesses and Employment

Sangita Poddar works as a Research Associate with the Small, Growing Businesses and Employment vertical at LEAD. She was previously a Senior Research Fellow at Jadavpur University, Kolkata where she worked as a Teaching Assistant at the Department of Economics while pursuing her PhD.

Sangita has a Master’s degree in Economics from Jadavpur University and has been awarded the NET-JRF scholarship from University Grants Commission, India. She is interested in exploring the dynamics of social protection policies, mainly focusing on marginalised segments.

In her spare time, you can find Sangita grooving to music, making art and travelling.

Ryan Dsouza

Research Associate, Small, Growing Businesses and Employment

Ryan Dsouza is a Research Associate with the Small, Growing Businesses and Employment vertical at LEAD. In the past, he worked at Pratham Education Foundation as a part of the Skilling, Entrepreneurship & Livelihoods division, and was also associated with the Rajasthan Grameen Ajeevika Vikas Parishad and Kantar IMRB.

Ryan holds a Master’s degree in Development from Azim Premji University, Bengaluru and a Bachelor’s degree in Management Studies from SIES College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai.

Ryan is passionate about research weaved around livelihoods and informal labour. Once he clocks off, Ryan enjoys regular cinema, football and takes off on hikes every now and then.

CHRISTOPHER GLAN

Senior Project Associate, Small, Growing Businesses and Employment

Christopher Glan is a Senior Project Associate in the Small, Growing Businesses and Employment vertical at LEAD. A data whiz, he specialises in data analysis and data cleaning. He has considerable field experience in both urban and rural settings from his previous work.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from Anna University.

Sachin Shrivastava

Senior Software Associate, Field Operations

Sachin Srivastava is a Senior Software Associate at LEAD. He is primarily involved in developing software, data analysis, setting up data entry as well as databases for various projects at LEAD. Sachin joined LEAD as a Software Developer and Data Management Associate in 2007 and has worked on a wide range of desktop and web applications as well as devices during this time.

Sachin has a Bachelor’s in Science (Chemistry) from Ravishankar University (2000 Batch). He also holds a diploma in Computer Application from Aptech and a Diploma from the Department of Electronics and Accreditation of Computer Courses.

Sachin is a movie buff, and also enjos swimming and calisthenics in his spare time.

Sayan Bhattacharjee

Executive, Field Operations

Sayan Bhattacharjee is a Field Executive with the Field Operations vertical at LEAD. He has extensive experience in training field personnel, monitoring, and management of survey teams across different projects and geographies. He has managed field surveys for large-scale impact evaluations across domains such as agriculture, digital financial services, enterprise surveys, and women empowerment. Most recently, he was engaged in managing the fieldwork for an IIED study on climate change, in Jodhpur and Barmer.

Sayan holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry from Jaipuria College, Kolkata. In his free time, he enjos playing cricket and experimenting with new dishes in the kitchen.

Mahantesh B S

Regional Manager, Field Operations

Mahantesh is a Regional manager with the Field Operations vertical at LEAD. He is currently involved in managing data collection and field operations for research projects in Karnataka. Mahantesh joined LEAD in 2014 as a Field Supervisor and since then has managed field surveys for large-scale impact evaluations across domains such as mental health, agriculture, digital financial services, and MSME development.

Mahantesh has previously worked with Janaagraha as field surveyor on a Brown India Initiative Citizenship Index and Jaagte Raho projects.

Mahantesh holds a Bachelor’s in Commerce from Sri Venkateshwara Institute. In his free time, he enjoys cycling, playing cricket and badminton.

Arul Raj A

Senior Executive, Field Operations

Arul Raj is a Senior Executive, Field Operations at LEAD. He is currently responsible for field operations in Tamil Nadu and manages field teams across different projects. He has managed fieldwork for audit studies, randomized control trials, impact assessments among others. Arul has worked in both rural and urban areas and has extensive experience in training, piloting and actual administration of field based surveys.

Prior to joining LEAD in 2007, Arul worked as an interviewer and supervisor with IMRB International. He has nearly 15 years of work experience.

Arul holds a Bachelor’s Degree in History from University of Madras. He is a die-hard cricket fan and enjoys winding down with some music.

Avdhut Fadanwis

Software Associate, Field Operations

Avdhut Fadanwis is a Software Associate at LEAD. Avdhut has extensive experience in developing applications for CATI-based and in-person field surveys. Avdhut joined LEAD in 2009, prior to which he was working as a freelance programmer.

Avdhut holds a Bachelor’s in Computer Application from Indira Gandhi National Open University. He also holds an ACCP Certification from Aptech Education.

Avdhut is a big cricket fan and his love for the sport goes beyond playing. He has also umpired for the Baroda Cricket Association.

Dhanan Chezhiyan

Senior Web Developer, Learning & Communications

Dhananchezhiyan is a Senior Web Developer/Web Master with LEAD. In this role, Dhanan manages all aspects related to LEAD’s portfolio of websites including web design, development and ensuring that they remain updated.

Dhanan has six years of experience in the development of Web & Enterprise Applications using PHP, DOT NET. Apart from this, he is highly experienced and has hands-on experience in WordPress, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, JQuery, Ajax, Tomcat and Glass Fish Servers, Eclipse, NetBeans IDE Tools, Oracle, and MySQL Database. He is fluent in Operating Systems such as Windows, Ubuntu, and CentOS. Other technical skills include Oracle 10g, MySQL, Core Java. He knows the ins and outs of the prevailing trends in the web creation arena and in the proper management of the same and specializes in assessing deficiencies in the operational systems and troubleshooting.

Dhanan holds a Master’s in Computer Applications. In his free time, Dhanan enjoys playing cricket and swimming.

Durgesh Pandey

Junior Executive, Field Operations

Durgesh Pandey is a Field Executive at LEAD. He specialises in field team training, monitoring, and managing survey teams across different projects. He has extensive experience in managing field surveys for large-scale impact evaluations in the domains of agriculture, digital financial services, MSME development, women empowerment, and livelihoods.

Prior to joining LEAD, Durgesh worked as a District Coordinator with Ekal Vidyalaya, where he worked on programs that aim to alleviate poverty in rural parts India with a focus on both tribal and non-tribal communities.

Durgesh holds a Master’s degree in Social Science and Political Science along with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science from Dr. R. M. L. Awadh University, and is currently pursuing a PG diploma in Rural Development from Indira Gandhi National Open University. He also holds a Diploma in Information Technology from NIIT.

Elankumaran E

Senior Executive, Field Operations

Elankumaran is a Senior Executive with LEAD. His diverse professional experience covers marketing, project coordination, and construction supervision. He joined LEAD in 2011, and has monitored different projects in the domain of Micro, Medium and Small Enterprises (MSME).

Elankumaran has previously worked as a Project Coordinator at ICDS Centres under UNICEF, overseeing operations in the Tsunami affected areas of Nagapattinam District.

Elankumaran holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Zoology from Loyola College in Chennai along with a PG Diploma in Computer Application from the Loyola Institute of Business Administration, Chennai.

Kothandam D

Senior Programme Associate, Small, Growing Businesses and Employment

Kothandam is a Senior Programme Associate with LEAD. He is currently involved in data collection and field operations for research projects in Chennai, including a randomized control trial study. He has been with LEAD since 2009 in various capacities such as data correction, data quality checks and has also been a team leader for more than five years.

Kothandam holds a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (CSE) from Anna University. He has a passion for solving mathematical riddles and enjoys playing chess in his free time.

SUJATHA SRINIVASAN

Senior Research Fellow, Institutions and Society

At LEAD, Sujatha Srinivasan is responsible for the design and delivery of key strategic initiatives related to public infrastructure and basic services through a combination of research, outreach and policy advocacy.

Her research interests and portfolio span a range of sectors (include Water and Sanitation, Solid waste management, Energy, Public health, Financial inclusion, Livelihoods), across various policy and governance reform areas (public finance management, public-private partnerships, inclusive business models for basic services, eGovernance, monitoring & evaluation). She leads a range of research-policy partnerships with central/sub-national governments in India.

Sujatha is an experienced management professional with over 10 years of multidisciplinary, global experience across practice areas such as Public Sector and Social Sector Development, Banking and Financial Services. Prior to her current position, she worked for State Street Corporation (USA), Raytheon (USA) and Citibank (India).

Sujatha holds an MBA from Suffolk University, Boston and an undergraduate degree in Science from the University of Madras.

PREETHI RAO

Associate Director

Preethi Rao oversees the leveraging evidence function (collaborations, training, learning and communications, and innovations) and contributes to strategic decision-making at LEAD. Preethi has served the organization in various capacities such as Head – Innovation, Senior Operations Manager and Researcher (MSME).

As an Innovation Champion, she drives new initiatives and is responsible for conceptualizing new areas of interest for the organization. Prior to heading the Innovation vertical, Preethi has overseen the entire field data collection and digitization operations (spanning more than 10 states) of LEAD in her capacity as Senior Manager (Operations & Development). Preethi was the Director of the Jaipur Digital Payments Lab at Catalyst, where she oversaw the entire on-ground execution, managed partner/stakeholder relations, managed donor liaison and expectations, anchored M&E and was involved in the production of programmatic learning outputs. For IWWAGE, an initiative of LEAD conducting research on women’s economic empowerment, she serves as the Innovation Lead, assisting in setting up the hub, providing particular assistance in terms of confirming policies and procedures, and setting up outreach protocols in coordination with the team.

Apart from donning multiple hats at LEAD, over the years Preethi has undertaken interdisciplinary studies on access to finance for small and medium scale enterprises and the influence of macroeconomic policies on the low-income populations. She has also been involved in developing, designing and leading research studies and short term projects in open data, financial inclusion and MSMEs.

Preethi holds a Master’s Degree in Management from IFMR Graduate School of Business where her focus areas were Finance and Marketing.

In her free time, Preethi likes to write poetry, read fiction and watch documentaries on Psychology or experimentation on human behavior.

DIKSHA SINGH

Head, Learning & Communications

Diksha Singh currently manages LEAD’s learning and communications portfolio. She works with teams and partners to develop learning outputs, manage knowledge sharing events and peer learning sessions, and oversees digital and offline communication. Trained as a researcher, Diksha is passionate about connecting the dots between research, policy and impact. She has previously supported policy and outreach activities for a USAID-funded program Catalyst, where she was engaged in organising strategic stakeholder convenings and policy dialogues, and synthesising evidence to inform policy decisions.

Diksha has more than a decade of experience in research, outreach and communications. Prior to joining LEAD, she worked as a project officer with Praja Foundation, where she anchored their housing and education portfolios. Before her foray into international development, she worked as an analyst with CMIE.

Diksha has a Master’s in Economics from the University of Mumbai.

She enjoys cycling, reading and writing, when she is not chasing her toddler around.

Abhishek Gupta

Research Manager, Small, Growing Businesses and Employment

Abhishek Gupta is a Research Manager with the Small, Growing Businesses and Employment vertical at LEAD. He is a design thinking enthusiast and evangelizes a trans-disciplinary, human-centred problem-solving approach.

Abhishek has more than five years of experience in financial inclusion consulting, incorporating behavioural design into research and advisory projects. He has previously worked with Intellecap and MicroSave Consulting (MSC). His defining consulting engagement was developing a roadmap for rejuvenating the traditional creative industries of Uttar Pradesh, working closely with representatives from the State Department of Tourism and World Bank.

Abhishek has a post-graduation in management from the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Delhi College of Engineering (DCE), Delhi University. Abhishek is an avid chess player and fond of high-altitude trekking. His weekends are spent on imagining and fleshing out the character arc for his maiden novel.

SUMIRAN ARDHAPURE

Research Associate, Financial Well-being and Social Protection

Sumiran Ardhapure is a Research Associate with the Financial Well-being and Social Protection vertical at LEAD.

Prior to joining LEAD, Sumiran worked as a research assistant at the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics on a project measuring the impact of chronic stress on economic decision making.

Sumiran holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Warwick and a Bachelor’s degree in the same subject from Fergusson College, Pune.

He enjoys deconstructing inequality and its various interconnections, particularly its combined implications on economic-decision making and poverty. In his spare time, Sumiran whips up homemade recipes, reads for pleasure, makes art and plays the occasional football.

SAMPURNA BASU

Research Associate, Financial Well-being and Social Protection

Sampurna Basu is a Research Associate with the Financial Well-being and Social Protection vertical at LEAD.

Prior to joining LEAD, Sampurna worked as a pro bono consultant and assisted with research work on development priorities for the Early-Stage Evaluation of the Human Capital Index at the Independent Evaluation Group, World Bank.

Sampurna has a Master’s degree in Public Policy from George Washington University and a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata. Her research interests revolve around pressing questions surrounding women’s participation and work-family policies across contexts. On the weekends, you can catch Sampurna curled up in a cosy corner with a pile of pre-loved books and movies.

VARUN HARIHARAN

Research Associate, Small, Growing Businesses and Employment

Varun Hariharan is a Research Associate with the Small, Growing Businesses and Employment vertical at LEAD.

Varun holds a Master’s degree in Economics and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Math, from New York University. His college thesis analysed the effect of economic resilience on recovery after the onslaught of hurricanes in the United States.

Prior to working in LEAD, Varun was involved with the social impact investment scene in New York and public policy research initiatives such as The Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program (TTCSP) at the University of Pennsylvania. Varun’s research interests include dissecting the historical impact of economic policies on marginalised communities. An avid bibliophile, Varun likes to unwind by rewatching the Sopranos.

VANDHANA RAMESH

Project Associate, Small, Growing Businesses and Employment

Vandhana Ramesh is a Project Associate with Small, Growing Businesses and Employment vertical at LEAD. Currently, she is engaged with providing technical assistance to the World Bank Persons with Disabilities (RIGHTS) project in Tamil Nadu.

Before arriving at LEAD, Vandhana explored themes related to healthcare, labour and criminal justice as a part of Project Statecraft, a youth-led think tank.

Vandhana holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Stella Maris College, University of Madras. Deeply interested in widening the lens through which economies are examined, she is passionate about intersectional, pluralistic and non-traditional approaches to policy making.

When not working, Vandhana can be found catching up on compelling history reads and edge-of-your-seat investigative podcasts.

Meenu Jothsna

Research Manager

Meenu Jothsna is a Research Manager with the Small, Growing Businesses and Employment vertical at LEAD. Meenu holds a Master’s degree in Public Health from Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai alongside a B. Tech in Biotechnology, from Anna University, Chennai.

Previously, Meenu worked for over six years at the Centre for Public Policy, Indian Institute of Management Bangalore anchoring a cross-section of research and academic responsibilities. She was particularly part of the curriculum development process of a certificate program offered at the institute, titled Mahatma Gandhi National Fellowship (MGNF). Meenu was also a Senior Field Investigator for an IFMR-Harvard University project which aimed to collect evidence on the economic costs of low caloric intake in India.

Her research interests revolve around public policy, health equity and sustainable development. Once she logs off, Meenu enjoys kicking back with classic movies and the latest sitcoms.

Vatsima Tripathi

Senior Research Associate

Vatsima Tripathi is a Senior Research Associate with the Small, Growing Businesses and Employment vertical at LEAD. In the past, Vatsima worked toward researching and evaluating evidence-based solutions geared towards social impact.

Vatsima holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Governance from Azim Premji University and a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Delhi University.

Her research interests lie at the intersection of livelihoods, gender, and circular economy. She specializes in mixed methods studies, with a strong focus on qualitative research. When she’s not working, Vatsima likes to unwind by toiling away in her kitchen garden and also takes up painting occasionally.

Sijo John

Senior Program Manager, Enterprise Development

Sijo John is a Senior Program Manager with the Small, Growing Businesses and Employment vertical at LEAD. Previously, she has worked in people-centric projects on governance, nutrition, skill development and livelihoods across implementation, program and knowledge management capacities.

Sijo holds a Master’s degree in Development Studies from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Delhi University.

Her research interests are focussed on system strengthening, community-centred policy design and gender. Sijo loves nerding out over the latest fiction reads, plotting to expand her houseplant collection around payday, befriending dogs and cats, and reporting trolls on social media.

Kaavyayani Pal

Research Associate, Small, Growing Businesses and Employment

Kaavyayani Pal works as a Research Associate with the Small, Growing Businesses and Employment vertical at LEAD. She was previously associated with organisations such as Foundation for International Development/Relief, UN Global Compact and Aditya Birla Corporate Economic Cell.

Kaavyayani holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University.

She is passionate about developmental economics and the application of data science in improving public policy. Kaavyayani hopes to use her research in understanding the socioeconomic structures in India. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring new places, and can often be found doodling while listening to a podcast.

Shailja Tandon

Senior Research Associate

Shailja Tandon is a Senior Research Associate with LEAD, where she is currently working on a research project on gender-based violence. She is also working with faculty at Krea University on a project related to Literature and Humanities in India.

Shailja has over five years of research experience in social and public policy, with a focus on sexual minorities, human capital for development outcomes and citizen behaviour. She holds a M.Phil. in Political Science from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi.

Outside work, Shailja coordinates the Knowledge and Practice Group of the Foundation for Creative Social Research, an intellectual initiative created for interaction among academics, writers, artists, poets, social activists, and policymakers. She is passionate about dancing and travelling.

Saradha Krishnamoorthy

Research Manager, Small, Growing Businesses and Employment

Saradha Krishnamoorthy is a Research Manager with the Small, Growing Businesses and Employment vertical at LEAD. She has previously worked in various capacities with grassroots organisations in the enterprise space.

Saradha holds a Masters’s degree in Sustainable Development from the University of Sussex and a Bachelor’s degree in Technology from Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology and Research Academy.

Saradha is passionate about economic development, livelihoods and MSMEs growth and directed an in-house social enterprise unit in a previous stint. In her free time, she can be found training in martial arts, travelling and cosying up with a stack of books.

Harshita Pande

Research Associate, Small, Growing Businesses and Employment

Harshita Pande works as a Research Associate with the Small, Growing Businesses and Employment vertical at LEAD. Previously, Harshita was associated with Centre de Sciences Humaines (CSH), Delhi as a Research Assistant for a project that studied the housing market of Delhi.

Harshita holds a Master’s in Sustainable Development Practice from TERI School of Advanced Studies and a Bachelor’s in Economics from University of Delhi.

Her research interests include Development Economics, Livelihood Security, Sustainable Development and Gender Studies. Outside of work, Harshita enjoys exploring new food avenues and can be found reading, painting and whipping up local recipes.

Catherine George

Business Development and Training Manager

Catherine George is a Business Development and Training Manager at LEAD and coordinates across verticals to help expand resources, partnerships and projects; while managing training courses. Previously, she was working with think tanks such as World Resources Institute (WRI), JustJobs Network where she explored themes of environment, labour and employment.

She has a Master’s degree in Politics specialising in International Relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Delhi University.

Catherine loves plot twists in fiction and detests them in real life. She enjoys poetry, occasionally writing some of her own and loves checking out adventure sport hotspots.

Harshula Sinha

Research Associate, Health Systems and Quality of Life

Harshula Sinha is Research Associate with the Health Systems and Quality of Life vertical at LEAD. Previously, she was working in areas dealing with public health, urban development, gig economy, and economic growth. She has also anchored writing and editorial positions.

Harshula holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Governance from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Hyderabad, and a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Delhi College of Arts and Commerce, New Delhi.

Harshula’s research interests include human development, regulation, and institutional reform. When free, she can most likely be found catching up on public policy longreads or listening to music — occasionally both!

Prasenjit Samanta

Regional Field Manager, Survey Operations & Data Digitization

Prasenjit Samanta is a Regional Field Manager with LEAD. He has extensive experience in monitoring and supervising survey operations for large-scale assessments and impact evaluations across India.

Some of the projects he has been engaged with include: Targeting the Hard-Core Poor: An Impact Assessment, led by Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo, Raghabendra Chattopadhyay and Jeremy Shapiro, and a nationally representative study by the Indian Institute of Human Settlements (IIHS). He has previously worked with the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai on the NFHS and AHS surveys, with UNICEF on a hospital assessment study, and with NCAER as Field Monitor where he worked with Prof. Sonalde Desai, Amaresh Dubey, B.L. Joshi, Mitali Sen, Abusaleh Shariff and Reeve Vanneman.

Prasenjit holds a Master’s in Social Work from Netaji Subhash Open University and a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from University of Burdwan. In his free time, he likes to catch a good comedy movie, meet people and learn new things.

SUSANTA CHAKRABORTY

Program Manager, HR, Admin & IT

Susanta Chakraborty is a Program Manager with the Field Operations vertical at LEAD. In his current role, he administers the Salesforce system and supports related administrative functions. He joined LEAD in 2008.

Susanta holds a Postgraduate Degree in Social Work from Mahatma Gandhi University In his free time, he enjoys listening to music, clicking photographs and playing around with new ideas on digital platforms.

CHOCKALINGAM N

Senior Systems, Networks & Admin Associate

Chockalingam is a Senior System Network Associate at LEAD. He is an IT specialist with over four years of experience in the domain. He currently manages IT and network administration requirements for LEAD’s pan-India operations.

Chokalingam has an engineering degree in Electronic and Communications from Anna University. In his free time, he enjoys cooking and photography, and is popular in the team for his groovy dance moves.

Anindya Mani

Senior Manager, Grants & Finance

Anindya is a Senior Manager with LEAD. He is responsible for managing overall grant efforts, optimizing the grant administration process, preparing progress reports, and ensuring compliance with grant regulations.

Prior to joining LEAD, Anindya has worked with WWF-India and Bhumi where he managed their corporate fundraising vertical for South India.

Anindya has a keen interest in donor and relationship management. He holds a Master’s degree in Marine Studies and Coastal Resource Management from Madras University, Chennai.

In his spare time, Anindya enjoys following motor sport. He is also a wildlife enthusiast and enjoys bird watching.

M P Karthick

Senior Data Scientist, Small, Growing Businesses and Employment

Karthick is a Senior Data Scientist with LEAD, where he is currently engaged with the Solutions for Transformative Rural Enterprises and Empowerment (STREE) initiative that provides technical assistance to the National Rural Livelihoods Mission. Karthick is an evaluation and data analytics expert with more than eight years of research and consulting experience in Asia and Africa. He has conducted multi-country research and evaluation programs to assess various government schemes. His core competencies are data analytics solutions, impact evaluations, M&E and strategic consulting.

Prior to joining LEAD, Karthick has worked in research teams of MicroSave Consulting and CARE India. He has worked across multiple sectors including MSME & Entrepreneurship, Digital Financial Services, Inclusive Finance and Public Health.

He is a street footballer, and enjoys penning blogs on data and its applications.

SABINA YASMIN

Senior Research Fellow, Financial Well-being and Social Protection

Sabina Yasmin is a Senior Research Fellow at LEAD and currently also serves as a Bharat Inclusion Fellow. Her research interests include agricultural economics, rural finance, development economics and applied microeconomics. Sabina is immensely passionate about using her work for the upliftment of marginalised people.

Prior to joining LEAD, she was a faculty in the Department of Economics at SRM University-Amravati where she taught economics to engineering and social science students.

Sabina received her PhD in agricultural insurance from Gauhati University where her doctorate research focused on addressing the issue related to implementation and adaptability of the crop insurance program in India. She has also been a MANF research fellow during her doctorate research. Pursuit of her growing interest in behavioral economics led her to attend a summer school in Tinbergen Institute-University of Amsterdam in Netherlands, where she conducted experiments in the CREED Lab on the effect of appearance on a person’s memory.

When she’s not working, she enjoys cooking and travelling and loves to paint, knit and write poems.

Geetanjali GK

Senior Research Associate, Institutions & Society

Geetanjali is a Senior Research Associate with LEAD and is currently engaged in projects in the thematic areas of Gender, Sanitation and Health. Her research interests include women’s economic empowerment and applications of behavioural economics.

Prior to working in LEAD, Geetanjali interned with an NGO working on Child Trafficking.

Geetanjali holds an MSc. in Development Economics from University of Sussex and a Bachelor’s in History, Economics and Politics from Mount Carmel College, Bangalore.

Geetanjali is a passionate martial arts and holds a black belt in Karate.

Aishwarya Joshi

Research Manager, Small, Growing Businesses and Employment

Aishwarya Joshi is a Research Manager with LEAD, and is currently engaged with the Solutions for Transformative Rural Enterprises and Empowerment (STREE) initiative that provides technical assistance to the National Rural Livelihoods Mission. She has previously worked as a consultant with academic institutions and non-governmental organisations, providing research support for action-research studies for the University of Göttingen, NITI Aayog, Population Council India, among others. Her skills lie in qualitative data analysis and conversational interviewing, and her research interests include gender, development, public health, and media.

Aishwarya holds an M.A. in Society and Culture from IIT Gandhinagar and a Bachelor’s in Sociology from Fergusson College, Pune. Through her work, she strives to aid a more fruitful exchange between academic research, policy and decision making.

In her free time, Aishwarya enjoys listening to her collection of old Hindi film music and chases her overambitious reading challenge goal for the year.

Nelson Mathews Mathuram G

Senior Research Associate, Small, Growing Businesses and Employment

Nelson Mathews is a Senior Research Associate with the Small, Growing Businesses and Employment vertical at LEAD. His primary research interests are social protection, public service delivery, and program evaluation.

Prior to joining LEAD, Nelson worked as a Research Assistant with J-PAL South Asia on a project led by Prof. Namrata Kala (MIT) & Prof. Julieta Caunedo (Cornell). He is interested in leveraging administrative data to inform policy decisions.

Nelson holds a Master’s in Public Policy and Governance from Azim Premji University, Bangalore. He is an avid reader and a footballer.

Anupama John K

Senior Research Associate, Small, Growing Businesses and Employment

Anupama John K is a Senior Research Associate with the Small, Growing Businesses and Employment vertical at LEAD. Previously, she worked as an Research Associate at Institute of Rural Management Anand, Gujarat where she was part of a project that evaluated the extent of transparency in the public procurement of foodgrains.

Anupama holds a Master’s degree in Economics from Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram and a Bachelor’s degree in the same subject from Christ University, Bangalore.

Anupma enjoys writing and is passionate about understanding the impact of inequality on economies and individuals. She is curious about the world of equities and has started dabbling with long-term investment options in her spare time.

Swaeta Singha Roy

Senior HR Associate and Personal Assistant to the Executive Director

Swaeta Singha Roy is a Senior HR Associate and Personal Assistant to the Executive Director at LEAD. She was previously working with Sai University, Chennai in the Admissions and Outreach department and was a part of the Benefits team at Wipro Limited.

Swaeta has a Master’s degree in English from Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata and an MBA in Human Resources from Institute of Management Technology, Ghaziabad.

Swaeta is passionate about people strategies, meaningful workplace policies and building internal systems and processes. Outside of work, she enjoys reading books and looks forward to building her reading list, one day at a time.

Megha Shree

Research Fellow, Small, Growing Businesses and Employment

Megha Shree is a Research Fellow with the Small, Growing Businesses and Employment vertical at LEAD. Previously, she was working with organisations such as Brooke India and People Research on India’s Consumer Economy where she handled diverse portfolios related to Monitoring, Evaluation, and Research.

Megha has a M.Phil. and PhD. in Development Studies from Centre for Jawaharlal Nehru Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.

If she’s not busy, Megha can be found spending time with family. She loves cooking, catching up on movies, listening to music, and above all resting at home.

Fathima Ramshi

Research Associate, Financial Well-being and Social Protection

Fathima Ramshi is a Research Associate with the Financial Well-being and Social Protection vertical at LEAD. Previously, she was associated with organisations such as Good Business Lab, ReCity Network and ICICI Foundation, exploring areas of worker welfare, urban sanitation and WASH.

Fathima has a Master’s degree in Development Studies from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai and a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from St. Joseph’s College, Kozhikode.

Her research interests include sustainable social development, gender, labour and its sociological intersections. Fathima appreciates the finer things in life, and can be found reading, crafting, cooking or hand lettering when free.

Vimisha Gohel

Senior Program Associate, Small, Growing Businesses and Employment

Vimisha Gohel is a Senior Program Associate with the Small, Growing Businesses and Employment vertical at LEAD. In the past, Vimisha worked with ACCESS Development Services, anchoring a program aimed towards livelihood enhancement. She also worked on a range of poverty alleviation initiatives at Kudumbashree National Resource Organisation, Government of Kerala.

Vimisha has a Master’s degree in Development Studies from Azim Premji University and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra.

Her research interests lie at the interface of livelihoods, community based institutions, and the handicrafts economy of India. Once she clocks off, Vimisha dabbles with painting and enjoys exploring new spaces.

Panchali Banerjee

Research Manager, Financial Well-being and Social Protection

Panchali Banerjee is a Research Manager with the Financial Well-being and Social Protection vertical at LEAD.

Prior to joining LEAD, Panchali worked as an Assistant Professor of Economics at Adamas University, Kolkata. She also worked as a Research Associate at Hugh Downs School of Human Communication, Arizona State University, on projects related to indigenous communities of Eastern India.

Panchali has a PhD. in Economics from Jadavpur University and a Master’s degree in Economics from University of Calcutta.

Panchali enjoys researching corruption and social protection, and is particularly interested in intersections such as women’s work and gender-based violence. In her spare time, Panchali listens to old classics, occasionally hums a tune or two and curls up with Bengali movies.

Sunishtha Yadav

Research Associate, Small, Growing Businesses and Employment

Sunishtha Yadav is a Research Associate with the Small, Growing Businesses and Employment vertical at LEAD. In the past, Sunishtha worked as a research intern at the Impact and Policy Research Institute, and was also associated with the Global Governance Institute as an Impact Fellow.

She holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Economics from Madras School of Economics, Chennai and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Lady Shri Ram College for Women, New Delhi.

Sunishtha is passionate about evidence-based decision making. Outside of work, Sunishtha is happiest when she is traveling, or while catching up on true-life documentaries and music playlists.

Siva Shanker

Assistant Manager, Finance

Siva Shanker is an Assistant Manager, with LEAD. In this role, he works on streamlining finance processes and ensuring that day-to-day finance activities are run smoothly.

Siva has over two decades of rich experience in handling finance and admin functions for international NGOs such as World Vision. He has worked to influence change in many poilcy and guidelines in the finance & Admin areas. He has also served at different parts of the country and specialiseds in handling relief and rehabilitation efforts during crise and national disasters and has participated in relief projects for the Super Cyclone, Gujarat earthquake, Malda floods and the tsunami that hit Tamil Nadu. He has completed his USAID Grant Management Training. Prior to LEAD, he worked with SAATHII in the capacity of a Manager-Finance for the interim period and handled EU, Astrae & UNICEF Grants.

Sive holds a double Masters in Arts and Finance. He is an avid sports enthusiast and has represented his university, district and state in volleyball competitions.

Ramkumar Parameswaran

Head, Finance and Grants

Ramkumar Parameswaran heads the finance function of LEAD and supports strategic oversight and monitoring compliance, analysis, and procedural aspects of grant-making at LEAD. He has over two decades of rich experience in handling controllership, finance operations, and business finance integrations in various industries including startups and private equity across India, Malaysia, Dubai, and the US.

Ramkumar holds an M.B.A in Finance from Indra Gandhi National University and a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce (Hons.) from Delhi University.

A strategist with recognized proficiency in spearheading business to accomplish corporate plans and goals successfully, Ramkumar identifies himself as a people lover, most comfortable in cross-cultural environments. When he’s not at work, you can find Ramkumar switching off with a game of sports or catching up on the latest buzz surrounding his favourite teams and athletes.

Ridhi Aggarwal

Senior Research Associate, Small, Growing Businesses and Employment

Ridhi Aggarwal is a Research Associate with the Small, Growing Businesses and Employment vertical at LEAD. Her areas of interest include labor markets, women’s studies and public policy.

Ridhi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Delhi University and is also a Young India Fellowship (batch 2017-2018) from Ashoka University.

When she is not working on a deadline, Ridhi likes to indulge herself in a dance-off with the mirror or a recall of the feminist periodic table by Marisa Bate.

SAKTHIVEL ARUMUGAM

Senior Creative Designer, Learning & Communications

Sakthivel Arumugam is a Senior Creative Designer with LEAD. In this role he conceptualises and designs knowledge outputs and communication collaterals for projects under LEAD and its initiative IWWAGE.

Sakthivel has extensive experience in working with agencies, and has handled branding and communication design for clients across industries. Some of his noteworthy campaigns include the call of the blue campaign for Yamaha, 10k challenge campaign for the Murugappa Group and packaging design for CavinKare.

Sakthivel holds a Bachelor’s in Information Technology form Anna University anda B.sc Vis.Communication from Bharathiar University. He is a sports enthusiast and has represented his University in kabaddi tournaments. In his free time, he also enjoys gardening, reading and cooking.

MANORANJITHAM S

Senior Administrative Assistant

Mano Ranjitham is a Senior Administrative Assistant with LEAD. She has considerable experience in managing databases of survey teams, and coordinating with field managers regarding data collection and related activities. She is experienced in preparing contracts, salary sheets and other necessary documents.

Mano Ranjitham holds a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from Dr. M.G.R Medical University, Chennai.

Debdulal Thakur

Senior Research Fellow, Small, Growing Businesses and Employment

Debdulal Thakur is a Senior Research Fellow with the Small, Growing Businesses and Employment at LEAD.

An economist by training, Debdulal has extensively worked in the areas of fiscal policy, budgets, urban finance and economics of education for the last sixteen years. He has previously worked with the Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability, National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, Pricewaterhouse Coopers India, BITS-Pilani and Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies. Debdulal has actioned diverse project-base portfolios funded by the UNDP, UNICEF, ADB and DFID related to budgets and public expenditure, especially geared towards strengthening the fiscal and governance position of the urban local bodies in India.

Debdulal earned his MPhil and PhD from the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He also holds a Master’s in Economics from Kalyani University in West Bengal. In his free time, Debdulal enjoys catching the latest movie, travelling, cooking and above all, loves to take a nap.

Abinaya Rengarajan

Research Associate, Financial Well-being and Social Protection

Abinaya Rengarajan is a Research Associate with the Financial Well-being and Social Protection vertical at LEAD. At present, she is working on a project that seeks to understand the governance and financial frameworks of social protections for the urban poor and vulnerable groups in Tamil Nadu.

Prior to joining LEAD, Abinaya worked for the Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability, as a Research Consultant, where she aided in the preparation of model gender and child budget statements for the Government of West Bengal.

Abinaya holds a Master’s in Economics with a focus on International Development from Trinity College, Dublin and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Stella Maris College, University of Madras.

She is intensely passionate about exploring research needs in the fields of Agriculture, Gender and Health Economics. Abinaya finds her daily inspirations from reading fiction, making art and playing the mandolin.

Keerthana Ramaswamy

Senior Associate, Learning & Communications

Keerthana Ramaswamy is a Senior Learning and Communications Associate with LEAD. She has a background in social work research and community development. Working in the homelessness and mental health space for some years now, Keerthana has been comprehensively involved with evidence-based innovations led and informed by people with histories of disadvantage. Previously, she has anchored multiple portfolios at The Banyan, a non-profit organisation which offers services in a range of settings for those navigating complex trauma and marginalisation.

Keerthana holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from Madras School of Social Work and a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from University of Madras.

Keerthana is deeply interested in a number of cross-cutting stories revolving around the intersections of gender, disability, mental health, pop-culture & inclusion. She has a weak spot for long-form essays, mangoes and dogs, which is possibly the best way to get her talking when she is not hiding under a pillow.

SANTHOSH KUMAR

Regional Field Manager

Santhosh Kumar is a Regional Field Manager with LEAD. He Joined LEAD in 2010 and has been worked in the capacities of a Project Assistant and Field co-ordinator. He has previously worked on long-term Impact Evaluation of the KGFS Model in Tamil Nadu. He has also managed market research projects for in the domain of consumer products and field studies in public health for WHO.

Santhosh Kumar completed his B.B.A at MK University.

Sachin Sisodiya

Research Associate, Institutions and Society

Sachin is a Research Associate at the Institutions and Society vertical at LEAD. He is currently working on a study evaluating the impact of expressive art on the policing behaviour regarding gender based violence in Bihar. He previously worked as a Research Support Assistant at JPAL-South Asia for a project based out of Goa. He also served as a Research Fellow at the Centre for Regional Trade (CRT), a think tank under the Ministry of Commerce and Industries, Government of India.

Sachin holds an MA in Economics from the Delhi School of Economics and a B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute, Mumbai. His research interests include Behavioral Economics and International Trade.

Shruti Kakade

Senior Data Associate, Small, Growing Businesses and Employment

Shruti Kakade is a Senior Data Associate with LEAD, and is currently engaged with the Solutions for Transformative Rural Enterprises and Empowerment (STREE) initiative that provides technical assistance to the National Rural Livelihoods Mission.

Shruti is a Computer Engineer from PICT Pune, with over three years of experience in the data science industry. She is passionate about data driven decision making, and currently volunteers for the UNDP data futures team and the Women in Econ/Policy group. Shruti loves music and exploring Marathi poetry and literature.

Sunanda De

Research Associate, Institutions and Society

Sunanda is a Research Associate with LEAD, and is currently working on projects in the water and sanitation sector. Sunanda has previously worked on various projects under the University of Oxford, London School of Economics and the Australia National University. She also served as a financial journalist in the Indian Equities market.

Sunanda completed her Master’s in Economics from Amity University, Kolkata and obtained her undergraduate degree in Economics from Gauhati University. She is passionate about education, public policy and sustainability. Sunanda is fond of traveling, and trekking and likes to wind down with a nice book or movie.

Sandra Jose

Research Associate, Financial Well-being and Social Protection

Sandra Jose is a Research Associate with the Financial Well-being and Social Protection vertical at LEAD. Prior to LEAD, Sandra worked with the Institute of Rural Management Anand as an Academic Associate and a Research Associate.

Sandra holds a Master’s in Economics (with specialization in Development Studies) from the Symbiosis School of Economics, Pune. She holds a Bachelor’s in Economics, Sociology and Industrial Relations from St. Josephs College, Bangalore. She is interested in a range of development issues such as gender, informal labour markets, education and waste.

In her free time, Sandra loves to read fiction and watch sitcoms. She is also a proud member of the BTS Army.

JOHN ARUN

Project Director, Small, Growing Businesses and Employment

John heads the Small, Growing Businesses and Employment vertical at LEAD, overseeing the research portfolio on this topic. He was instrumental in establishing Catalyst AIC, a Fintech Incubator in Jaipur. His core areas of work range from project design, incubation support, project implementation and monitoring & evaluation.

With an extensive experience of 12 years in the development sector, John has a special interest in MSME growth and finance. His previous experiences include working for Tata Consultancy Services where he implemented a Computer-Based Functional Literacy Training program, as well as with the Entrepreneurship Development program under the Bharatiya Yuva Shakthi Trust at Confederation of Indian Industries. He has also partnered in setting up an SME consulting firm.

John holds a Master’s degree from the Madras School of Social Work and an undergraduate degree in Computer Science from the Madras University.

A travel bug at heart, he enjoys a spot of farming when he’s not fulfilling his wanderlust. He also volunteers at NGOs providing education to underserved children and vulnerable communities.

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