Aparna specializes in management of software products both as a product manager and a project manager. In her current management role, Aparna manages a portfolio of products in the e-Commerce Philanthropy sector. Prior to her current role, Aparna managed multiple large to medium scale projects in the government sector as a consultant.

As a governing member since Arodhum’s inception, Aparna brings a deep understanding of technology’s role in the nonprofit world by combining her first-hand knowledge of India; academic background in Developmental Anthropology; and professional expertise as a manager of technical products. Since the start, Aparna has been an incredible guiding force in shaping our program initiatives and overall governance.

Aparna caught the giving back bug during her high school years. During summer vacation, Aparna traveled from New Delhi to sub Himalayan regions to volunteer in camps. Here she monitored the impact of literacy programs on women and health care that helped her appreciate the value of education and health care for women and children in rural communities. After completing Bachelor’s in Delhi, she obtained a Master’s degree in Anthropology from Syracuse University with her master’s thesis on implications of literacy related developmental policies on women and their local environment. Later, she received an MBA from American University.

Sabena is a serial entrepreneur, start up and real estate investor, marathoner, and mom. Sabena’s experience includes roles at USA TODAY most recently, as well as numerous startups. These startups sparked her entrepreneurial spirit. She now focuses on her own ventures and advises other startups. She is a member of the Pasadena Angels, Founder of Foothill Realty Group and President of Pranayums. Sabena was born and raised in Los Angeles, where she currently resides but has remained connected to her roots in India and travels to Andhra Pradesh regularly.

Sabena brings strategy and marketing expertise to Arodhum’s team. Coming from a family of educators, Sabena is passionate about education. She holds an MBA in International Business & Marketing from University of Southern California and is a supporter of numerous charitable organizations focusing on women, children and education.

Mamta is an oncology physician and public health specialist, whose passion lies in disease prevention and health promotion.  Her community service involvement includes work on pediatric/adolescent health, domestic abuse, health disparities, and sexually transmitted illnesses.  She is politically active, and as Past President of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), Mamta advocated on issues ranging from increasing national residency positions to J1 Visa waivers for medical trainees.

She is especially interested in cervical cancer eradication, and her philanthropic work in this realm has taken her far and wide, including Haiti, Ethiopia and India.  Her devotion to youth mentorship has landed her on High School Advisory Boards and Medical School Admissions Committees.  Mamta is an avid writer who blogs for the Huffington Post on topics ranging from sports to vaccinations. She is a certified yoga teacher, a vegetarian foodie, and bleeds blue and gold for her UCLA Bruins.

As an accounting partner of her firm, Vasantha managed both small and large private sector accounts for more than two decades. Since retiring as the president of Computer Professional Accounting Services of Northern Virginia, Vasantha has mainly focused her time and effort to philanthropic causes. As a governing member since Arodhum’s inception, Vasantha has been guiding force in the growth of Arodhum. She brings her industry insights to shape our fiscal discipline both here in the United States and abroad. She continually advises on issues related to fiscal responsibility and compliance.

Vasantha born in West Lafayette, Indiana, spent many years in India, graduated with a commerce degree from Mount Carmel College, Bangalore, Karnataka. She is passionate about education of underprivileged children.

Manju’s philanthropic focus is early childhood development specifically creating effective tools to foster optimal success in the first decade of life. She is passionate about improving learning in early school years and addressing unequal outcomes facing underserved children.

Previously, Manju did clinical and research work in neurocognitive and neuropsychiatric disorders across life span. She received an M.Phil. from the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) Bangalore, India, and a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. After a two-year fellowship in the department of Psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University, she worked as a research psychologist at the University of Maryland, Baltimore and as an assistant director of defense and veterans brain injury program (DVBIC) at the Walter Reed Army hospital, Washington, D.C.

Manju can be reached at [email protected]