Our Team - PeopleShores PBC

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Our Team

Our Team

Murali Vullaganti

Founder and Executive Chairman

Murali Vullaganti

Founder and Executive Chairman

Murali is Founder and Executive Chairman of PeopleShores, a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) with a mission to empower underemployed young adults in underserved communities in the US through digital skills and careers. Murali is also Founder Director of RuralShores, (a predecessor to PeopleShores), a social enterprise established in India in 2009, to bring technology enabled jobs to the rural youth, thus stem the urban migration. RuralShores now has 13 centers spread across 8 Indian states employing 3000+ rural youth, managing 80+ complex processes for 30+ well known global clients across 4 continents. Over the past 12 years, RuralShores has directly impacted the careers and lives of more than 21,000 rural youth.

Prior to founding RuralShores in India, Murali spent nearly 15 years in the USA and 5 years in Asia Pacific serving large Corporates including EDS (now HP). His last role at EDS was Managing Director for the Solutions Consulting Asia Practice, covering Greater China, South-East Asia and India.

Rohit Nagpal

President and Chief Executive Officer

Rohit Nagpal

President and Chief Executive Officer

Rohit Nagpal brings a proven track record of scaling global businesses, forging strategic client partnerships, and driving digital innovation. With nearly two decades of leadership experience across the Travel & Hospitality, Financial Services, and Software Product Technology sectors, he is known for blending business strategy with technology-driven transformation.

Before joining PeopleShores, Rohit served as the Chief Business Officer at Infogain, where he drove the alignment of client priorities with the company’s platform‑led innovation and digital experience offerings. He previously held the role of Senior Vice President & Global Head for Infogain’s Travel & Hospitality and Decision Sciences businesses, where he played a key role in winning key clients and accelerating enterprise growth.

Earlier in his career, Rohit led sales and account management for Travel & Hospitality and Manufacturing domains at HCL America. In this role, he successfully scaled strategic accounts by leveraging AMS, Automation, Data Analytics, Digital services, and HCL’s MRO capabilities.

Rohit is passionate about emerging technologies that enable digital transformation across domains and is an advocate for sustainability and Go Green initiatives.

He holds an MBA in Finance and Marketing from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a bachelor’s degree from Delhi University.

Srikant Kasa

SVP - Technology and Apprentice Delivery

Srikant Kasa

SVP - Technology and Apprentice Delivery

Srikant Kasa brings more than two decades of experience in transformation and customer experience across the IT, Telecom, and Healthcare Services sectors.

Throughout his career, Srikant has led global initiatives across Customer Service, Operations, Transformation, Commercial Strategy, Change Management, and Delivery. His expertise spans modern technologies including RPA, AI, IoT, Cloud, and digital platforms, shaped during his leadership roles at organizations such as Tech Mahindra Business Services and others in the technology ecosystem.

Srikant holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management (PGDBM), a Bachelor of Commerce degree, and a PMP certification.

Maria Shipilov

SVP - Corporate Finance & Operations

Maria Shipilov

SVP - Corporate Finance & Operations

Maria Shipilov is a seasoned finance and operations executive with over 15 years of experience spanning global investment banking and highgrowth, mission-driven organizations. As Senior Vice President of Finance and Operations at PeopleShores PBC, she leads the company’s finance, operations, and strategic planning functions, driving scalable growth aligned with PeopleShores’ social impact mission.

Maria began her career at Deutsche Bank and later held roles in M&A at Morgan Stanley and Houlihan Lokey, where she advised founders on sell-side transactions, capital strategy, and long-term growth planning. She transitioned from banking to operational leadership to work more closely with mission-focused teams, serving as CFO/COO of an EdTech startup and subsequently taking on multiple executive roles at Platzi, a Y Combinator–backed, pan–Latin American education technology company.

Maria holds an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management and a BA in Economics from Cornell University.

Tami Dafonte

VP – Sourcing, Partnerships & Compliance

Tami Dafonte

VP – Sourcing, Partnerships & Compliance

Tami Dafonte is an accomplished leader with extensive experience in higher education and workforce development. She brings a strong background in government assistance programs, nonprofit management, budgeting, event planning, grant writing, and customer service.

Throughout her career, Tami has been committed to strengthening community and social service initiatives through strategic partnerships and program innovation.

She holds a Master of Education, a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, all from the University of Arkansas.

Bina Patel

VP – Human Resources

Bina Patel

VP – Human Resources

Bina Patel is a seasoned entrepreneur and human resources leader with more than 34 years of experience building, managing, and growing small business ventures across two countries. As Vice President of Human Resources at PeopleShores, she brings deep expertise in business administration, project management, and people operations to support and empower the organization’s workforce.

A dedicated humanitarian, Bina has volunteered with numerous nonprofit organizations and has successfully coordinated large community events, an endeavor she continues to pursue with passion. Her commitment to service extends into her work at PeopleShores, where she continues to create a positive, supportive, and community driven employee experience.

Priya Sharma

VP – Client Success

Priya Sharma

VP – Client Success

Priya Sharma is an accomplished IT leader with extensive experience driving large scale IT transformation strategies and solution delivery for major Fortune 500 companies, including IBM, KMART, General Motors, and IHG. Her career spans cross functional leadership, global program management, and enterprise wide process modernization.

At IHG, Priya played a pivotal collaborative leadership role, partnering closely with internal stakeholders and external vendors to define strategic priorities, align global IT operations, and elevate operational maturity. She successfully drove CMMi advancement to exceed industry standards, strengthening overall operational excellence.

During her two decades at General Motors Corporation, Priya held diverse and increasingly senior positions. As a Global Program Manager, she led complex IT initiatives supporting global business functions such as Sales, Service & Marketing, Manufacturing and Engineering, Supply Chain, HR, and Finance. She later served as an Information Officer for the Latin America and Asia Pacific regions, guiding regional IT strategy and execution. Priya was also a key contributor to GM’s contract management leadership team, overseeing the transition from EDS to major technology partners including HP, IBM, and Capgemini.

Krish Srinivasan

VP - Gen AI & Key Initiatives

Krish Srinivasan

VP - Gen AI & Key Initiatives

Krish Srinivasan is a seasoned IT leader with over 25 years of experience in delivering data, AI, and analytics driven technology services across multiple industry segments. Over the last two decades, he has worked with leading global IT services organizations with multibillion dollar revenues and globally distributed operations. Krish has successfully developed and managed large portfolios of Fortune 500 clients across the Retail, Communication, and Technology industries. He has driven business growth and delivered programs exceeding USD 150 million in value. His diverse leadership roles span practice development, delivery management, business development, partner engagement, and the integration of acquired entities. His experience covers a wide spectrum of services including advisory, project delivery, support and maintenance, data engineering, reporting, analytics, and AI based solutions. Krish has led engagements involving AI and analytical solution development, technology modernization, cloud transformation, insights generation, cost optimization, and the establishment of global delivery capabilities.

Srikant Kasa

SVP - Technology and Apprentice Delivery

Srikant Kasa

SVP - Technology and Apprentice Delivery

Srikant Kasa brings more than two decades of experience in transformation and customer experience across the IT, Telecom, and Healthcare Services sectors.

Throughout his career, Srikant has led global initiatives across Customer Service, Operations, Transformation, Commercial Strategy, Change Management, and Delivery. His expertise spans modern technologies including RPA, AI, IoT, Cloud, and digital platforms, shaped during his leadership roles at organizations such as Tech Mahindra Business Services and others in the technology ecosystem.

Srikant holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management (PGDBM), a Bachelor of Commerce degree, and a PMP certification.

Maria Shipilov

SVP - Corporate Finance & Operations

Maria Shipilov

SVP - Corporate Finance & Operations

Maria Shipilov is a seasoned finance and operations executive with over 15 years of experience spanning global investment banking and highgrowth, mission-driven organizations. As Senior Vice President of Finance and Operations at PeopleShores PBC, she leads the company’s finance, operations, and strategic planning functions, driving scalable growth aligned with PeopleShores’ social impact mission.

Maria began her career at Deutsche Bank and later held roles in M&A at Morgan Stanley and Houlihan Lokey, where she advised founders on sell-side transactions, capital strategy, and long-term growth planning. She transitioned from banking to operational leadership to work more closely with mission-focused teams, serving as CFO/COO of an EdTech startup and subsequently taking on multiple executive roles at Platzi, a Y Combinator–backed, pan–Latin American education technology company.

Maria holds an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management and a BA in Economics from Cornell University.

Tami Dafonte

VP – Sourcing, Partnerships & Compliance

Tami Dafonte

VP – Sourcing, Partnerships & Compliance

Tami Dafonte is an accomplished leader with extensive experience in higher education and workforce development. She brings a strong background in government assistance programs, nonprofit management, budgeting, event planning, grant writing, and customer service.

Throughout her career, Tami has been committed to strengthening community and social service initiatives through strategic partnerships and program innovation.

She holds a Master of Education, a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, all from the University of Arkansas.

Bina Patel

VP – Human Resources

Bina Patel

VP – Human Resources

Bina Patel is a seasoned entrepreneur and human resources leader with more than 34 years of experience building, managing, and growing small business ventures across two countries. As Vice President of Human Resources at PeopleShores, she brings deep expertise in business administration, project management, and people operations to support and empower the organization’s workforce.

A dedicated humanitarian, Bina has volunteered with numerous nonprofit organizations and has successfully coordinated large community events, an endeavor she continues to pursue with passion. Her commitment to service extends into her work at PeopleShores, where she continues to create a positive, supportive, and community driven employee experience.

Priya Sharma

VP – Client Success

Priya Sharma

VP – Client Success

Priya Sharma is an accomplished IT leader with extensive experience driving large scale IT transformation strategies and solution delivery for major Fortune 500 companies, including IBM, KMART, General Motors, and IHG. Her career spans cross functional leadership, global program management, and enterprise wide process modernization.

At IHG, Priya played a pivotal collaborative leadership role, partnering closely with internal stakeholders and external vendors to define strategic priorities, align global IT operations, and elevate operational maturity. She successfully drove CMMi advancement to exceed industry standards, strengthening overall operational excellence.

During her two decades at General Motors Corporation, Priya held diverse and increasingly senior positions. As a Global Program Manager, she led complex IT initiatives supporting global business functions such as Sales, Service & Marketing, Manufacturing and Engineering, Supply Chain, HR, and Finance. She later served as an Information Officer for the Latin America and Asia Pacific regions, guiding regional IT strategy and execution. Priya was also a key contributor to GM’s contract management leadership team, overseeing the transition from EDS to major technology partners including HP, IBM, and Capgemini.

Krish Srinivasan

VP - Gen AI & Key Initiatives

Krish Srinivasan

VP - Gen AI & Key Initiatives

Krish Srinivasan is a seasoned IT leader with over 25 years of experience in delivering data, AI, and analytics driven technology services across multiple industry segments. Over the last two decades, he has worked with leading global IT services organizations with multibillion dollar revenues and globally distributed operations. Krish has successfully developed and managed large portfolios of Fortune 500 clients across the Retail, Communication, and Technology industries. He has driven business growth and delivered programs exceeding USD 150 million in value. His diverse leadership roles span practice development, delivery management, business development, partner engagement, and the integration of acquired entities. His experience covers a wide spectrum of services including advisory, project delivery, support and maintenance, data engineering, reporting, analytics, and AI based solutions. Krish has led engagements involving AI and analytical solution development, technology modernization, cloud transformation, insights generation, cost optimization, and the establishment of global delivery capabilities.

Murali Vullaganti

Founder and Executive Chairman

Murali Vullaganti

Founder and Executive Chairman

Murali is Founder and Executive Chairman of PeopleShores, a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) with a mission to empower underemployed young adults in underserved communities in the US through digital skills and careers. Murali is also Founder Director of RuralShores, (a predecessor to PeopleShores), a social enterprise established in India in 2009, to bring technology enabled jobs to the rural youth, thus stem the urban migration. RuralShores now has 13 centers spread across 8 Indian states employing 3000+ rural youth, managing 80+ complex processes for 30+ well known global clients across 4 continents. Over the past 12 years, RuralShores has directly impacted the careers and lives of more than 21,000 rural youth.

Prior to founding RuralShores in India, Murali spent nearly 15 years in the USA and 5 years in Asia Pacific serving large Corporates including EDS (now HP). His last role at EDS was Managing Director for the Solutions Consulting Asia Practice, covering Greater China, South-East Asia and India.

Murali Vullaganti

Founder and Executive Chairman

Murali Vullaganti

Founder and Executive Chairman

Murali is Founder and Executive Chairman of PeopleShores, a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) with a mission to empower underemployed young adults in underserved communities in the US through digital skills and careers. Murali is also Founder Director of RuralShores, (a predecessor to PeopleShores), a social enterprise established in India in 2009, to bring technology enabled jobs to the rural youth, thus stem the urban migration. RuralShores now has 13 centers spread across 8 Indian states employing 3000+ rural youth, managing 80+ complex processes for 30+ well known global clients across 4 continents. Over the past 12 years, RuralShores has directly impacted the careers and lives of more than 21,000 rural youth.

Prior to founding RuralShores in India, Murali spent nearly 15 years in the USA and 5 years in Asia Pacific serving large Corporates including EDS (now HP). His last role at EDS was Managing Director for the Solutions Consulting Asia Practice, covering Greater China, South-East Asia and India.

Mohamed Amersi

Mohamed Amersi

Mohamed is the Founder & CEO of Emergent Telecom Ventures, a Consulting, Advisory and Asset Management firm specializing in Telecoms, Media & Technology. His non-profit, Amersi Foundation supports charities in education, poverty, conflict and religion in Africa, Middle East and Asia. More recently Mohamed launched the Inclusive Ventures Group, a social impact investing platform that has invested in education, livelihood, health and waste management in Africa and Asia.

Mohamed is a Fellow of Brasenose College, Oxford, a Trustee of Prince’s Trust International, a member of the Development Board of the British Academy, the Governing Council of the Royal Agricultural University, the Global Leadership Council of the Said Business School, University of Oxford and a Trustee of the Satyarthi Foundation, Rose Castle Foundation and the Chairman of the iShia Foundation.

Mickey Austin

Mickey Austin

Mickey joined PeopleShores as CEO in September 2020 and held that role until recently, before becoming a board member in September 2024. Mickey has over 40 years of global experience in helping clients achieve improved performance in IT and business process areas by focusing on operating model transformation.

Mickey’s international profile is highlighted by living and working in Asia Pacific for 13 years. He has an extensive background across multiple industries in due diligence assessments, business strategy, operating model design, procurement, contract negotiations, transition, governance, service integration, and continuous improvement. He has worked with clients to implement the process, technology, organizational, and change initiatives required to realize improvements in cost and operational performance. Mickey has worked for various global companies, including EDS, Capgemini, PwC, EY, and Accenture.

Vivek Mahadevan

Vivek Mahadevan

Vivek Mahadevan served as the Chief Strategy Officer for NetApp. In this role, Vivek was responsible for leading NetApp’s business strategy and identifying additional market and product opportunities to fuel future growth. He was also responsible for driving strategic planning, managing acquisitions, and supporting NetApp’s strategic alliances and partnership teams.

Before joining NetApp, Vivek served as VP of Marketing for LSI Corporation, where he was responsible for driving all aspects of product management, outbound marketing, and business alliances. Prior to LSI, Vivek was the CEO of NeoEdge Networks. He was also the VP/GM of BMC Software’s Storage Management Business Unit and VP/GM of Compaq’s Storage Business Unit.

Vivek holds an MS in Engineering and an MBA in Marketing from the University of Iowa, as well as a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras.

Mohamed Amersi

Mohamed Amersi

Mohamed is the Founder & CEO of Emergent Telecom Ventures, a Consulting, Advisory and Asset Management firm specializing in Telecoms, Media & Technology. His non-profit, Amersi Foundation supports charities in education, poverty, conflict and religion in Africa, Middle East and Asia. More recently Mohamed launched the Inclusive Ventures Group, a social impact investing platform that has invested in education, livelihood, health and waste management in Africa and Asia.

Mohamed is a Fellow of Brasenose College, Oxford, a Trustee of Prince’s Trust International, a member of the Development Board of the British Academy, the Governing Council of the Royal Agricultural University, the Global Leadership Council of the Said Business School, University of Oxford and a Trustee of the Satyarthi Foundation, Rose Castle Foundation and the Chairman of the iShia Foundation.

Mickey Austin

Mickey Austin

Mickey joined PeopleShores as CEO in September 2020 and held that role until recently, before becoming a board member in September 2024. Mickey has over 40 years of global experience in helping clients achieve improved performance in IT and business process areas by focusing on operating model transformation.

Mickey’s international profile is highlighted by living and working in Asia Pacific for 13 years. He has an extensive background across multiple industries in due diligence assessments, business strategy, operating model design, procurement, contract negotiations, transition, governance, service integration, and continuous improvement. He has worked with clients to implement the process, technology, organizational, and change initiatives required to realize improvements in cost and operational performance. Mickey has worked for various global companies, including EDS, Capgemini, PwC, EY, and Accenture.

Vivek Mahadevan

Vivek Mahadevan

Vivek Mahadevan served as the Chief Strategy Officer for NetApp. In this role, Vivek was responsible for leading NetApp’s business strategy and identifying additional market and product opportunities to fuel future growth. He was also responsible for driving strategic planning, managing acquisitions, and supporting NetApp’s strategic alliances and partnership teams.

Before joining NetApp, Vivek served as VP of Marketing for LSI Corporation, where he was responsible for driving all aspects of product management, outbound marketing, and business alliances. Prior to LSI, Vivek was the CEO of NeoEdge Networks. He was also the VP/GM of BMC Software’s Storage Management Business Unit and VP/GM of Compaq’s Storage Business Unit.

Vivek holds an MS in Engineering and an MBA in Marketing from the University of Iowa, as well as a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras.

Zachary Emnett

Zachary Emnett

Zach Emnett is a New York-based executive with a strong background in innovation, strategy, and program management within the financial services sector.

Renowned for his ability to tackle complex challenges, build trusted relationships, and navigate change with poise, Zach has established himself as an asset in the industry.

Currently serving as an Executive Director at a prominent financial institution, he leads the Innovation Emerging Technology & Strategic Programs team, while his prior experience in COO roles has equipped him with a deep understanding of operational excellence and financial acumen.

By fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, Zach has played a pivotal role in establishing partnerships and launching centers of excellence, driving technological advancements in the financial services landscape. With a proven track record of leadership, Zach has led transformative initiatives and successfully managed large portfolios within global financial organizations.

He actively engages with industry affiliations, academia, mentoring, and volunteering with various organizations. His career highlights and achievements have earned him recognition in the industry, with his initiatives being featured in the news and honored with industry awards. Zach holds a Bachelor of Science degree from New York University.

Dr. Manoj Jain

Dr. Manoj Jain

Dr. Manoj Jain is an infectious disease physician, writer, healthcare quality leader, and philanthropist. He is the founder and president of Mid-South Infectious Disease Associates, a leading practice with ten providers serving over 25% of infectious disease cases in the Memphis region. Board-certified and actively practicing at Baptist Memorial and Methodist Hospitals, he also teaches at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Jain led the Memphis–Shelby County Taskforce and was recognized by the mayor as the “Dr. Fauci of Memphis.” He holds degrees in engineering, medicine, and public health from Boston University, with further training at Tufts and Harvard.

Dr. Jain has advised the World Bank and WHO and has been featured by CNN and NPR. He has published widely across scientific journals, The Washington Post, USA Today, and The Times of India. His writings span medicine, mindfulness, and vegetarian cooking, and he co-authored a cookbook with renowned chef Tarla Dalal.

In quality improvement, he directed Medicare’s QI Program for three states and co-authored with Dr. Donald Berwick of IHI. His USAID-funded initiative, CETI, aims to end TB in India and teaches rapid-cycle improvement to TB officers across the country through his e-PDSA tool.

A passionate advocate of nonviolence, Dr. Jain founded the Gandhi-King Conference, helped establish a Gandhi statue near the National Civil Rights Museum, and initiated renaming a local street “Gandhi Way.” He also leads efforts through CETI, supported by AAPI, J&J, and USAID

John Kohler

John Kohler

John Kohler has been Director of Impact Capital at Santa Clara’s Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship and has also been a mentor to social entrepreneurs at the Global Social Benefit Accelerator. In 2011, he authored a report on impact investing entitled Coordinating Impact Capital: A New Approach to Investing in Small and Growing Businesses, co authored a chapter on equity investing in New Frontiers of Philanthropy (Oxford Press, 2014), and published a study on Total Portfolio Activation for Impact (Miller Center, 2016).

He is now pioneering a new investment vehicle - the Variable Payment Obligation that presents investors with a “structured exit” alternative to equity. In addition, he is co founder of Toniic, a syndication network of impact investors. John manages investments through Redleaf Venture Management, a venture capital operating company founded in 1993. John’s earlier background includes twenty years of executive level positions at Hewlett Packard, Silicon Graphics, Convergent Technologies, and Unisys. He was one of the founding executives at Netscape Communications. John served as a board member at PACT, an NGO based in Washington, D.C., and on PACT’s microfinance company in Myanmar. Over the last 15 years, he has been a managing member of the UCLA Venture Capital Fund and currently advises ACDI/VOCA’s impact fund and several USAID projects. Other recent advisory roles include the Vatican Impact Investing Conference and Catholic Relief Services.

Ayan Mukerji

Ayan Mukerji

Ayan Mukerji has over 35 years of experience in the IT industry and has been an integral part of its growth and maturity over the years. His experience spans both large IT organizations and smaller private equity and VC funded companies. He has lived and worked across the US, India, and Europe.

While at Wipro, as Chief Executive of the TMT BU, he oversaw a $2B portfolio across Technology, Media, Telecom, and Product Engineering services. His tenure at Wipro lasted close to 30 years. Subsequently, Ayan joined Infogain, a private equity owned company in the Bay Area. He was instrumental in the transformation and the subsequent highly successful exit of the company. He retired from Infogain after six years as Chief Executive in April 2024.

He is currently an investor, advisor, and mentor for CEOs, founders, and PE firms globally. His primary expertise is in creating long lasting enterprise value for small and medium sized companies in information technology.

Ayan holds an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Kolkata, and an EE degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur.

Susan Palm

Susan Palm

Susan Palm is currently the Chief Revenue Officer at 4CRisk, an artificial intelligence SaaS RegTech company focused on helping companies ensure compliance with laws and regulations and assess their internal governance documents for alignment to laws and regulations.

She has 30+ years of deep executive experience in Governance, Risk, and Compliance, serving global Fortune 100 companies, regional banks, and tech companies. She has served as a Chief Compliance Officer, Chief Audit Executive, and Operational Risk Executive at regional and SIFI banks.

Susan spent significant time in India with both Wells Fargo and Cisco. She was CEO of Blue Sapphire Consulting; a firm she founded in 2008 to provide business development strategies for firms conducting business in the US and emerging markets. Blue Sapphire Consulting provided business strategy services for Cisco Systems in Bangalore, RuralShores in India, Headstrong Consulting in California, City of Hope Research Hospital in Duarte, CA, and the Los Angeles Unified School District in California.

Susan’s relationship as an Advisor to PeopleShores began in India, where she led the partnership between Cisco and RuralShores to drive the commitment for IT call center jobs in rural Chhindwara. She has served as an Advisor to Data SafeGuard, a cybersecurity data protection company based in Silicon Valley, and is currently a trustee for the Palm Springs Friends of Philharmonic, an arts organization serving Coachella Valley.

She is a graduate of the Stanford Executive Program at the Stanford Graduate School of Business (2005) and holds a B.A. in Economics from Lawrence University.

M.R. Rangaswami

M.R. Rangaswami

M.R. Rangaswami is an entrepreneur, investor, and community builder. His career as a technology CMO, angel investor, corporate eco strategist, and philanthropist demonstrates a unique talent for fostering innovation and creating impactful networks.

After a middle class upbringing in Chennai, India, M.R. arrived in America with $8 in his pocket as a university student. Settling in Silicon Valley, he contributed to the rapid expansion of the technology industry as a pioneering marketing executive at both small and large software companies, including Oracle and Baan.

In 1997, M.R. co founded Sand Hill Group, one of the earliest angel investment firms, and The Wall Street Journal featured his “hedcut” sketch on its front page. Forbes named M.R. to its “Midas” list of the world’s best venture capital investors, and CRN ranked him among the Top 25 Technology Executives. M.R. publishes SandHill.com, a leading website for entrepreneurs, executives, and investors. He also produced the Software Conference and now hosts the prestigious Enterprise Retreat for the top 100 leaders in technology. He additionally hosts NPC, India’s largest entrepreneurship conference.

In 2012, M.R. founded Indiaspora to unite the Indian diaspora and transform its success into meaningful impact in India and on the global stage.

Zachary Emnett

Zachary Emnett

Zach Emnett is a New York-based executive with a strong background in innovation, strategy, and program management within the financial services sector.

Renowned for his ability to tackle complex challenges, build trusted relationships, and navigate change with poise, Zach has established himself as an asset in the industry.

Currently serving as an Executive Director at a prominent financial institution, he leads the Innovation Emerging Technology & Strategic Programs team, while his prior experience in COO roles has equipped him with a deep understanding of operational excellence and financial acumen.

By fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, Zach has played a pivotal role in establishing partnerships and launching centers of excellence, driving technological advancements in the financial services landscape. With a proven track record of leadership, Zach has led transformative initiatives and successfully managed large portfolios within global financial organizations.

He actively engages with industry affiliations, academia, mentoring, and volunteering with various organizations. His career highlights and achievements have earned him recognition in the industry, with his initiatives being featured in the news and honored with industry awards. Zach holds a Bachelor of Science degree from New York University.

Dr. Manoj Jain

Dr. Manoj Jain

Dr. Manoj Jain is an infectious disease physician, writer, healthcare quality leader, and philanthropist. He is the founder and president of Mid-South Infectious Disease Associates, a leading practice with ten providers serving over 25% of infectious disease cases in the Memphis region. Board-certified and actively practicing at Baptist Memorial and Methodist Hospitals, he also teaches at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Jain led the Memphis–Shelby County Taskforce and was recognized by the mayor as the “Dr. Fauci of Memphis.” He holds degrees in engineering, medicine, and public health from Boston University, with further training at Tufts and Harvard.

Dr. Jain has advised the World Bank and WHO and has been featured by CNN and NPR. He has published widely across scientific journals, The Washington Post, USA Today, and The Times of India. His writings span medicine, mindfulness, and vegetarian cooking, and he co-authored a cookbook with renowned chef Tarla Dalal.

In quality improvement, he directed Medicare’s QI Program for three states and co-authored with Dr. Donald Berwick of IHI. His USAID-funded initiative, CETI, aims to end TB in India and teaches rapid-cycle improvement to TB officers across the country through his e-PDSA tool.

A passionate advocate of nonviolence, Dr. Jain founded the Gandhi-King Conference, helped establish a Gandhi statue near the National Civil Rights Museum, and initiated renaming a local street “Gandhi Way.” He also leads efforts through CETI, supported by AAPI, J&J, and USAID

John Kohler

John Kohler

John Kohler has been Director of Impact Capital at Santa Clara’s Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship and has also been a mentor to social entrepreneurs at the Global Social Benefit Accelerator. In 2011, he authored a report on impact investing entitled Coordinating Impact Capital: A New Approach to Investing in Small and Growing Businesses, co authored a chapter on equity investing in New Frontiers of Philanthropy (Oxford Press, 2014), and published a study on Total Portfolio Activation for Impact (Miller Center, 2016).

He is now pioneering a new investment vehicle - the Variable Payment Obligation that presents investors with a “structured exit” alternative to equity. In addition, he is co founder of Toniic, a syndication network of impact investors. John manages investments through Redleaf Venture Management, a venture capital operating company founded in 1993. John’s earlier background includes twenty years of executive level positions at Hewlett Packard, Silicon Graphics, Convergent Technologies, and Unisys. He was one of the founding executives at Netscape Communications. John served as a board member at PACT, an NGO based in Washington, D.C., and on PACT’s microfinance company in Myanmar. Over the last 15 years, he has been a managing member of the UCLA Venture Capital Fund and currently advises ACDI/VOCA’s impact fund and several USAID projects. Other recent advisory roles include the Vatican Impact Investing Conference and Catholic Relief Services.

Ayan Mukerji

Ayan Mukerji

Ayan Mukerji has over 35 years of experience in the IT industry and has been an integral part of its growth and maturity over the years. His experience spans both large IT organizations and smaller private equity and VC funded companies. He has lived and worked across the US, India, and Europe.

While at Wipro, as Chief Executive of the TMT BU, he oversaw a $2B portfolio across Technology, Media, Telecom, and Product Engineering services. His tenure at Wipro lasted close to 30 years. Subsequently, Ayan joined Infogain, a private equity owned company in the Bay Area. He was instrumental in the transformation and the subsequent highly successful exit of the company. He retired from Infogain after six years as Chief Executive in April 2024.

He is currently an investor, advisor, and mentor for CEOs, founders, and PE firms globally. His primary expertise is in creating long lasting enterprise value for small and medium sized companies in information technology.

Ayan holds an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Kolkata, and an EE degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur.

Susan Palm

Susan Palm

Susan Palm is currently the Chief Revenue Officer at 4CRisk, an artificial intelligence SaaS RegTech company focused on helping companies ensure compliance with laws and regulations and assess their internal governance documents for alignment to laws and regulations.

She has 30+ years of deep executive experience in Governance, Risk, and Compliance, serving global Fortune 100 companies, regional banks, and tech companies. She has served as a Chief Compliance Officer, Chief Audit Executive, and Operational Risk Executive at regional and SIFI banks.

Susan spent significant time in India with both Wells Fargo and Cisco. She was CEO of Blue Sapphire Consulting; a firm she founded in 2008 to provide business development strategies for firms conducting business in the US and emerging markets. Blue Sapphire Consulting provided business strategy services for Cisco Systems in Bangalore, RuralShores in India, Headstrong Consulting in California, City of Hope Research Hospital in Duarte, CA, and the Los Angeles Unified School District in California.

Susan’s relationship as an Advisor to PeopleShores began in India, where she led the partnership between Cisco and RuralShores to drive the commitment for IT call center jobs in rural Chhindwara. She has served as an Advisor to Data SafeGuard, a cybersecurity data protection company based in Silicon Valley, and is currently a trustee for the Palm Springs Friends of Philharmonic, an arts organization serving Coachella Valley.

She is a graduate of the Stanford Executive Program at the Stanford Graduate School of Business (2005) and holds a B.A. in Economics from Lawrence University.

M.R. Rangaswami

M.R. Rangaswami

M.R. Rangaswami is an entrepreneur, investor, and community builder. His career as a technology CMO, angel investor, corporate eco strategist, and philanthropist demonstrates a unique talent for fostering innovation and creating impactful networks.

After a middle class upbringing in Chennai, India, M.R. arrived in America with $8 in his pocket as a university student. Settling in Silicon Valley, he contributed to the rapid expansion of the technology industry as a pioneering marketing executive at both small and large software companies, including Oracle and Baan.

In 1997, M.R. co founded Sand Hill Group, one of the earliest angel investment firms, and The Wall Street Journal featured his “hedcut” sketch on its front page. Forbes named M.R. to its “Midas” list of the world’s best venture capital investors, and CRN ranked him among the Top 25 Technology Executives. M.R. publishes SandHill.com, a leading website for entrepreneurs, executives, and investors. He also produced the Software Conference and now hosts the prestigious Enterprise Retreat for the top 100 leaders in technology. He additionally hosts NPC, India’s largest entrepreneurship conference.

In 2012, M.R. founded Indiaspora to unite the Indian diaspora and transform its success into meaningful impact in India and on the global stage.

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