TEAM
Radha Goenka
Director, RPG Foundation & Founder, Pehlay Akshar Foundation
Radha Goenka
Director, RPG Foundation & Founder, Pehlay Akshar Foundation
Radha is a philanthropist, mom, and passionate writer. Her work focuses on empowering children, youth, and women through education and vocational training to help them find meaningful employment. Her degree in Business Communication from the University of Pennsylvania and experience in the social sector have helped shape, expand, and enrich the programs. She joined the social sector in 2008 and over the past 14 years, Ms. Radha founded Pehlay Akshar Foundation and directed the RPG Foundation to reach the pinnacle. At RPG Foundation, she leads initiatives under three pillars – Education, Employment, and Heritage. Pehlay Akshar Foundation is fuelled by her deep conviction that education can make a significant difference if imparted in the correct way and in the right environment with a grounding in Functional English.
Sharada Singh
Chief Operating Office
Sharada Singh
Chief Operating Officer
Sharada is a development sector professional with 16+ years of work experience handling programs related to employability, community development, environment, and volunteering. Her core areas of work include project management, multi-stakeholder partnerships, and community participation. Sharada enjoys trekking and exploring new places.
Archana Bhattacharya
Human Resources
Archana Bhattacharya
Human Resources
Archana handles HR activities at the RPGF. She is responsible for talent acquisition, development, and employee well-being. Her role includes end-to-end deliverables in the life cycle journey of every team member with the Foundation. Archana is always available for her team. She is assertive and highly approachable. Her goal is to ensure the well-being of everyone around. For her, with every new day, there’s an opportunity to learn something new.
Arushi Nanavati
Executive Assistant to Director
Arushi Nanavati
Executive Assistant to Director
Arushi is the business manager to senior leadership and an enabler to team members. Her role is multifaceted. She handles internal and external communications from the Director’s desk, incubates new projects, supports leadership for international, national, & local events. She helps trickle down the big picture to the team.
Mangal Deorukhkar
Program Manager
Mangal Deorukhkar
Program Manager
Mrs Mangal is proud of being a family member of RPG Foundation – CEAT Bhandup.I am looking after CSR initiatives of RPGF at CEAT Bhandup plant. Bhandup Plant is Existing in the densely populated zone of Mumbai which was earlier Industrial zone. Hence the challenges for survival of the plant on the community front have gone up multi fold. In view of this engagement & well being of the community around us become very crucial from business sustenance point of view. Community people including economically backward people & higher middle class are the key stakeholders. In order to inculcate our Company Values & CSR Vision across the Community is my main role & creating Goodwill in the society for RPG Foundation & CEAT is the focus area. We entertain various need based CSR initiatives & assess it’s effectiveness . We major Community satisfaction surveys every year which has been consistently above 95% for the last so many years. Actually this is the tribute to our community work that we do selflessly throughout the year to satisfy our immediate Neighbourhood community. I have been handling this under the guidance of the RPG Foundation from time to time. I will continue to do this with more zeal & passion in the coming days also. I am very passionate about my Work to help people to help themselves. Having patience, dedication to serve needy communities . Very open minded to learn by appreciating the good qualities of others. I am a Yoga student & sports women, Nature lover. Cooking & baking is my hobby.Feel happy seeing others happy.
Puja Gupta
Member - HR
Puja Gupta
Member - HR
Seasoned HR professional with over seven years of hands-on experience in talent acquisition, employee relations, performance management, and payroll processing across diverse industries. Proven track record of building high-performing teams in dynamic urban environments such as Delhi, Patna, Pune and now Mumbai.
Neha Parulekar
Member- The Heritage Project
Neha Parulekar
Member- The Heritage Project
Neha is an Urban Conservation Architect with over 10 years of experience in the field of Conservation of heritage buildings, design, and management of urban landscapes and precincts. She specializes in making Management Plans for sites with her background in Urban studies and community stakeholder participation. Her love deeply lies in her city, Mumbai which has been her laboratory for all her education and all of her work. With her earlier firm where she worked, she has been a part of the team to have received UNESCO Asia Pacific Awards for Conservation. She also identifies herself with pride as a team member to nominate the Victorian and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai as a world heritage site under the guidance of her mentor.
Ashwini Nawathe
Content & Research- The Heritage Project
Ashwini Nawathe
Content & Research- The Heritage Project
Ashwini is a Lawyer turned History and Museum professional who handles the content and research aspects at The Heritage Project. With experience working in the heritage sector for 6 years, she specializes in Heritage and Culture Management. At THP she focuses on curating enriching heritage experiences as a part of THP’s heritage revival programs. Her work also entails cultivating community and public engagement activities around heritage sites. Ashwini is a visiting faculty at the University of Mumbai and Architecture colleges where she teaches Indian Art History and Archaeology.
Akash Madeshwar
Lead Supply Chain and QC
Akash Madeshwar
Lead Supply Chain and QC
Meet Akash, our Lead Supply Chain and QC member for the Farm to Fabric project! Hailing from the stunning region of Yavatmal near Nagpur, Akash brings a wealth of expertise and a passion for excellence. With a B.tech degree and over 9 years of experience, he’s a versatile professional, contributing significantly to yarn development. Beyond work, Akash is an adventurous traveler, creating cherished memories along the way. His artistic pursuits in painting and dance add creativity and positivity to his life, making him a valuable asset to our foundation.
Amin Mane
Finance & Accounts.
Amin Mane
Finance & Accounts.
Amin is an MBA Graduate in Finance and has hands-on experience in Finance and Accounting over 18 years. He is responsible for Accounts & Finance functions of Pehlay Akshar Foundation. He also looks after the Taxation, Compliance and Payroll of both RPG Foundation and Pehlay Akshar Foundation. Amin loves visiting historical and natural places. He always takes initiatives in Tree plantation. He loves singing and playing chess.
Jayraj Bagul
Team Leader
Jayraj Bagul
Team Leader
Jayraj is working on overall planning & budgeting for one of our group companies CEAT. He leads 6 locations across India. He is also leading our flagship project, Fever Clinic, across 100 locations in Maharashtra. He will continue to head the upcoming 100 locations that are in the planning process. He manages day-to-day operations of Fever Clinics, processes & data management, and liaisoning with NHM. Jayraj is a good team player & possesses good people management skills. He loves to play cricket, listen to soft music & old songs, and travel.
Gunjal Bhandari
Textile Designer
Gunjal Bhandari
Textile Designer
Gunjal is a Textile Designer with over 8 years of experience in the textile/apparel industry. An Alumni of Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology, Bangalore, Gunjal has worked with some reputed brands and has an experience in product design, collection development, production, and styling. She is responsible for creating designs and working with artisans at the grassroot level using traditional weaving techniques and giving them a more contemporary look. In addition, coordinating with diverse stakeholders ranging from internal teams to production, ensuring quality and on-time completion. In her free time, Gunjal enjoys exploring new places, learning new things, dancing, watching movies and spending time with family.
Teja Amladi
Member- The Heritage Project
Aishi Halder
Member - CSR
Aishi, originally from Kolkata, holds a postgraduate degree in Sociology. With three years of experience in the social sector, she has worked extensively with women, children, tribes, and youths across India. Drawn to grassroots connections, she transitioned to the political arena, spending over two years involved in election activities, from manifesto creation to election day management. After relocating to Mumbai, Aishi is eager to continue engaging with diverse communities and pursuing inspiring projects.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aishi-halder-637161167/?originalSubdomain=in
Aishi Halder
Member - CSR
Aishi Halder
Member - CSR
Aishi, originally from Kolkata, holds a postgraduate degree in Sociology. With three years of experience in the social sector, she has worked extensively with women, children, tribes, and youths across India. Drawn to grassroots connections, she transitioned to the political arena, spending over two years involved in election activities, from manifesto creation to election day management. After relocating to Mumbai, Aishi is eager to continue engaging with diverse communities and pursuing inspiring projects.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aishi-halder-637161167/?originalSubdomain=in
K P Rosy Sofia
Program Manager
K P Rosy Sofia
Program Manager
Rosy has been placed at CEAT Chennai as Member CSR since January 2019. She is responsible for identifying implementing partners for the Chennai location and implementing CSR activities in Kannanthangal village surroundings and Chennai. She is also organizing various voluntary activities for employees at CEAT. Rosy is helpful in nature and a good team player. Her hobbies are watching movies, playing with kids and listening to songs.
Dimple Jain
Program Manager
Dimple Jain
Program Manager
Dimple believes in the saying, “I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.” She works directly with implementing employment projects, women empowerment activities, and community development initiatives. She is also involved in other projects like fever clinic, implementing volunteering activities, creating success stories for social media, and other promotional artwork required for the Foundation. Dimple is also involved in different internal projects like- agreement drafting and shortlisting partners/vendors. Dimple is a fun-loving person and a great team player. Her hobbies are cooking, travelling and exploring new places, and listening to music
Rohit Mane
Member-CSR
Rohit Mane
Member-CSR
Meet Rohit, our devoted Member-CSR based in Bhandup. Hailing from the scenic city of Satara in Maharashtra, Rohit is a Master’s in Social Work graduate from Nirmala Niketan College. Outside his professional realm, he finds solace in reading, swimming, and music, emphasizing the importance of fitness for a harmonious life. His musical prowess extends to playing Tabla, Bongo, and Lezim, earning accolades in classical music during his childhood in Maharashtra. Guided by goal-setting, gratitude, and positive influences, Rohit is dedicated to continual personal growth. Notably, he represented his college at an international conference, highlighting his commitment to women and youth development beyond borders.
Gururaja Kulkarni
Employability & Skills Development
Gururaja Kulkarni
Employability & Skills Development
Guru focuses on employability skills development program, completing program management in offering technical and non-technical training to engineering students in five states and will expand pan India. Under the ESD program, 3500 students are getting trained. Maintaining College and university relations and conducting Faculty Development Programs on various emerging topics, arranging industry experts’ master classes for students, which benefited thousands of students in making the right career decision. Guru is a fun-loving person and a great team player. He prefers spending time with his family, watching movies, and making creative short movies.
Sagar Sonawane
Staff Support
Sagar Sonawane
Staff Support
All the members of the team benefit from Sagar’s assistance. His perseverance and passion have proven to be a valuable resource to the team. Being constantly available and willing to help is one of the primary factors that make him a go-to person for everyone. He goes out of his way to assist everyone, whether it’s a crucial job inside or outside the organization.
Abhishek Anand
Abhishek Anand
Abhishek Anand is dedicated to improving the socio-economic conditions of the craft sector. With fifteen years’ experience in handicrafts, handloom textiles, and sustainability, he specialises in developing artisan entrepreneurs for the market. He leads cluster-level activities and CSR initiatives, demonstrating strong team leadership. His passion for fostering positive change in the craft sector is evident through his strategic approach to sustainable practices and his commitment to empowering artisans for economic growth.
Swati Deshmukh
Program Manager
Swati Deshmukh
Program Manager
Swati is a program manager at RPGF. She is extremly jolly and fun-loving person. Swati works with community people, manages women empowerment projects and fever clinics. Travelling is her passion.
Vikram Shedge
Specialist Agriculture
Vikram Shedge
Specialist Agriculture
Vikram is post graduate in Agri business management having 8+ years experience in sustainable and organic certification & project implementations as per various standards. He is also having experience in GHG emissions, Carbon sequestrations and Regenerative Agriculture. He is having vast experience in agriculture and Good agricultural practices. He can add value in ESG as he pursuing courses for same.
Kushal Rane
Junior Agriculturist
Kushal Rane
Junior Agriculturist
Meet Kushal, our Junior Agriculturist in the Nagpur-based Cotton Team. With a Masters in Agriculture, Kushal’s research on genetic studies in submerged rice conditions has led to identifying multiple submergence-tolerant rice varieties for the Konkan region. Proficient in DNA isolation, amplification in rice, and conducting hybridization programs for rice, cowpea, and brinjal, his focus is on biotic and abiotic resistance breeding for organic agriculture. Kushal values spirituality and simplicity, guiding his approach to life and work.
Vinayak Sharma
Operations Lead
Vinayak Sharma
Operations Lead
Vinayak has 12 years of experience as a product designer in corporate men’s brands and the Indian craft sector. Alongside being an entrepreneur and design academician, he realized the power of design to create change. Using his corporate know-how, he reformed the crafts sector by raising funds and introducing innovative textile-based products, gaining recognition as an industry disruptor. Now, he’s eager to use his entrepreneurial skills to contribute to the corporate creative field. As an Operations Lead, he strives to build strong value chains and drive innovation.
Shiraz Choksey
Back Office Work
Abhishek Anand
Abhishek Anand is dedicated to improving the socio-economic conditions of the craft sector. With fifteen years’ experience in handicrafts, handloom textiles, and sustainability, he specialises in developing artisan entrepreneurs for the market. He leads cluster-level activities and CSR initiatives, demonstrating strong team leadership. His passion for fostering positive change in the craft sector is evident through his strategic approach to sustainable practices and his commitment to empowering artisans for economic growth.
Vishal Langde
Program Manager
Vishal Langde
Program Manager
Vishal is positive about social tasks and always ready to work for the weaker class in society. Now working with people in the community on women empowerment and skill development of the rural youths. His hobbies are playing chess and walking in remote areas. Vishal also likes working with social organizations in development sectors.
Vivek Singh
Information Technology
Vivek Singh
Information Technology
Vivek is an IT professional who oversees all the company’s digital initiatives. He is responsible for IT infrastructure & Cloud Management, Asset management, Procurement, monitoring & Handling Backend of RPGF project, website handling, network-related queries, and other IT support the foundation team needs. He has completed his master’s degree in Information Technology (Specialization in Artificial Intelligence) and enjoys playing cricket & chess.
Siddhant Gupta
Member - The Heritage Project
Siddhant Gupta
Member - The Heritage Project
Siddhant is a dedicated professional passionate about social impact, sustainability, and education. He holds a Master’s degree in Social Work with a specialisation in community development from Bhopal. His academic journey has been enriched by internships in the development sector. Committed to fostering positive change, he channels his energies into inspiring others and seizing learning opportunities.
Yashwant Diwan
Jr. Designer
Siddhant Gupta
Member - The Heritage Project
Siddhant is a dedicated professional passionate about social impact, sustainability, and education. He holds a Master’s degree in Social Work with a specialisation in community development from Bhopal. His academic journey has been enriched by internships in the development sector. Committed to fostering positive change, he channels his energies into inspiring others and seizing learning opportunities.
Aradhya Sardesai
Member- CSR
Puja Gupta
Member - HR
Seasoned HR professional with over seven years of hands-on experience in talent acquisition, employee relations, performance management, and payroll processing across diverse industries. Proven track record of building high-performing teams in dynamic urban environments such as Delhi, Patna, Pune and now Mumbai.
