Senior Marketing and Communications Manager

Background

I’m a strategic communications specialist and public health researcher with more than 15 years of experience tackling complex social challenges across India and South Asia. At the heart of my work is a commitment to equity, co-design, behaviour change, and systems change, with a focus on translating both research and lived experience into creative strategies, interventions, and narratives that help build more just and resilient futures. My areas of work span mental health, gender-based violence prevention, HIV prevention, and disability.

Much of my professional journey has been spent leading and collaborating within creative, mission-driven organisations. I’ve designed participatory, trauma-informed research and communications alongside children, young people, and communities, and have had the privilege of leading interdisciplinary teams of researchers, designers, and storytellers. Together, we’ve created outputs ranging from serious games, digital platforms, and interactive tools to multimedia storytelling, public engagement campaigns, and policy-facing communications. I’m especially proud of initiatives such as Mann Mela, a bilingual digital museum and podcast on youth mental health that reached over 22 million people, and First Step, a survivor-centred, mixed-media storytelling intervention supporting early help-seeking among women experiencing intimate partner violence in India.

My career began as a social entrepreneur when I founded Music Basti in 2008 while still at university in New Delhi. What started as a small project grew over a decade into a national creative education initiative, using music to nurture life skills, agency, and confidence among children and young people from underserved communities and schools.

I hold a Master of Science in Media, Medicine and Health from Harvard Medical School, and I’ve been fortunate to have my work recognised with honours including Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia and the CNN Real Heroes Award.

My dream project

I’d love to create and lead a project that works alongside women, particularly women from low-resource backgrounds, to help turn their aspirations into viable, sustainable realities. This would involve supporting women to build their own enterprises, strengthen economic independence, and access the skills, networks, and confidence needed to shape their futures on their own terms.

What floats my boat outside work?

I have quite a few happy places: baking and cooking (especially cooking for others), music and concerts, and reading. I love yoga and getting out for walks, and travel is something I always look forward to.