LEAD - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the LEAD TEAM
- Program Manager
Abhinandan joined the LEAD team in 2012. Prior to working in LEAD, he worked for two years in event management handling and promoting events for reputable companies. Throughout his educational and professional career, he has immersed himself in unique experiences. During his college days, he actively participated in Rangayana and other theater groups throughout Dharwad, where he directed plays for school children, high school students, and college students. He was also a participant of Jagriti Yatra in 2009, a leadership and entrepreneurial journey across India. To this day, he continues to devote much of his time to working in theater. He has directed several plays for jail prisoners in Dharwad and served as the Coordinator for the Dharwad Jail Drama Festival.
Holding Masters in Business Administration started her career in 2011 as an accounting professional with over two years in excelling by setting a new benchmark at Infosys BPO which followed with the profession of being a trainer and a mentor at LEAD Program of Deshpande Foundation in June 2014 to the college-going youth of three states (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh) in developing leadership skills by motivating and encouraging the youth to take up initiatives in resolving simple problems in the society which would impact in learning by doing. A new opportunity at Logical International LLC as an Assistant Accounts Manager in March 2016 was accepted by her to manage multiple assignments while consistently maintaining the integrity of all financial data. The passion and joy of working with youth drew her back to the LEAD Program as a Program Manager in January 2019 and the opportunity to help the youth to set the highest aspiration and in creating better leaders which are very important to our nation. As a person an extrovert and want to explore and experience something new which makes her life an adventurous journey her soul clings to nature and the creatures which make her happy and content.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of Spice Mobility Limited
- Founder, Ek Soch Sandbox
Dilip is one of India's pioneering Telecom entrepreneurs, launching Spice Mobile, India's first cellular telephone services company. He led the company through a successful and oversubscribed IPO in July 2007. He was the youngest ASSOCHAM President in 2011 and also the youngest COAI president in 2004 - 2005.
Dilip is currently the Chairman of Spice Mobility Limited, the emerging digital innovation company offering mobile internet products. Inspired by Sandbox approach from Hubballi he founded Ek Soch Sandbox to create the entrepreneurial culture in the eastern Uttar Pradesh region.
Job Titles:
- Founder and Chairman of Alvas College, Moodabidri
Dr. Mohan Alva founded Alva's Education Foundation and Alva's Institute of Engineering & Technology to give students the opportunity to receive education in his hometown. Additionally, Dr. Mohan Alva has provided scholarships to students and donations to schools in need.
He also initiated the "Free Education" program for 700 students that will have access to free education, food, and accommodation without discrimination. Other initiatives by Dr. Mohan Alva include, Alva's Health Centre that provides free HIV treatment and birth control, a free herbal garden, and Alva Pharmacy. Dr.Mohan Alva has received over 15 awards for his initiatives.
Job Titles:
- Founder, Deshpande Foundation
Dr. "Desh" Deshpande is the Chairman of Sparta Group LLC, A123 Systems (AONE), Sycamore Networks (SCMR), Tejas Networks, Sandstone Capital and HiveFire. He was also a founding investor in Airvana, Cimaron, Webdialogs and Relicore. Dr. Deshpande serves as a member of the MIT Corporation, and his generous donations have made possible MIT's Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation.
Dr. Deshpande is a trustee of the Deshpande foundation. He and his wife are involved in several non-profit initiatives that include support for MIT, IIT, TiE, Akshaya Patra Foundation, Public Health Foundation of India and the Social Entrepreneurship Sandbox in India.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder of Deshpande Foundation
- Treasurer of Sparta Group LLC
Jaishree Deshpande is the Treasurer of Sparta Group LLC, and a Founder of the Deshpande Foundation.Jaishree and her husband supported the founding of the Deshpande Center at the MIT School of Engineering in 2002. She currently serves as a Trustee for the Museum of Scince and is involved with HESTIA Fund. Jaishree worked for the Indian Space Research Organization in Bengaluru, India until 1980 before moving to Canada. She received a Master of Science in Physics in 1975 from the Indian Institute of Technologies(IIT),Madras, India and a Master in Computer Science in 1989 from Boston University.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director & CEO, Kirloskar Systems Limited
Manasi is a keen business person, who believes in innovation, affirmative action, and diversity in perspective. She graduated in Fine Arts from the world-famous Rhode Island School of Design, Boston, USA. Manasi is the Executive Director and CEO of Kirloskar Systems Ltd. and Managing Trustee and CEO of 'Caring with Colors'.
She has recently been appointed as the first United Nations in India Young Business Champion for the SDG's (Sustainable Development Goal's). In addition, she will focus on the role of business in development and work with the UN on issues such as climate change, use of plastic and women empowerment.
Pramod Bharati Shrikant Hukkeri hails from Raibag and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Rani Channamma University Belagavi has four years of involvement in LEAD during his graduation. In 2013 Pramod participated in the LEAD Leadership Program a 10 days residential camp focused on leadership training and attended LEAD Prayana in 2015 a tour of 14 days to unleash the leadership potential in oneself. Pramod was an active student leader in the program which resulted in promoting him as a Master Leader in 2013, Ambassador in 2014 and the Best LEAD Ambassador in 2015 in Chikodi. He was passionate about transforming the lives of the youth and so he started his Internship in LEAD and mentored more than 200 leaders to complete their leadership initiatives for the youth in his Campus and in the Raibag City. The zeal and joy in helping the youth grew much stronger in him so he continued to satisfy his passion and chose the career to develop the students by joining LEAD as a Program Associate in the year 2015, who was the first student to get placed from his batch at his college. Traveling, Exploring, Reading Books, are a few of his favorite activities along with his passion.
Santosh is presently working as a Program Officer in LEAD Deshpande Foundation and has two years of work experience in the Development sector. Prior to this, he worked as a communication trainer and placement coordinator in Deshpande Educational Trust, Hubballi. He has trained more than 800 Graduate students and placed more than 100 students in banking and MNC, Santosh joined as a student in the LEAD program and took more than 50 social and Educational Initiatives, Due to his dedication and commitment, he was promoted as Master Leader.
One initiative of life skills to the orphan kids and Involving in identifying the school dropout students and connecting them to the schools resulted in receiving the Best Leader Award. He received the LEAD Ambassador Award for mentoring more than 100 students during his period of Internship. He has also volunteered in various activities such as Google Ink talks, and the National Service Scheme (NSS).Santosh is more passionate about writing and has written more than 50 articles for many renowned Kannada newspapers and other online platforms.
Job Titles:
- Program Associate
- Program Officer
Rakesh Ramesh Totakar holds a Graduate degree in Mechanical Design Engineering from Gogte Institute of Technology, Belagavi. He joined LEAD Program as a Leader in 2013 while pursuing his higher education, he was inspired by LEAD and participated in every activity conducted by the mentors of the LEAD Team. He participated in the LEAD Leadership Program camp in 2015 which helped him in introducing a new version of himself. He was also a part of the design thinking boot conducted by Hubballi Sandbox as an innovator. Rakesh attended "LEAD PRAYANA 2k16". As a LEAD Intern, he mentored more than 1000 leaders to come up with innovative projects. He loves working with creative young students, which led him to continue his journey in LEAD as a Program Officer.
Sunil completed PUC from 2011-2012 from Municipal Arts College, Laxmeshwar. The urge to join the service sector got him to study Deshpande Susandhi Fellowship Program in 2013 and enhanced the skills in communication and usage of computers and technology. The active participation and quick learning skills of Sunil got him a job on the LEAD Program as an Office Assistant and the development led to being the Logistics Manager and currently he is serving as the Senior Executive Admin. Sunil finds the culture at the Deshpande Foundation amazing and loves working with the LEAD program as he believes that it is improving his English, communication, networking and leadership skills immensely.
Tanveer led the Selection & Orientation program at the Deshpande Skilling for three years, acting as the first point of contact for all the trainees. "Within a few months of joining she was given the responsibility of leading the team and that changed her capabilities and was offered with the bigger role. The supportive network is just amazing and each day I realize a new dimension of my potential", says Tanveer. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Davangere University, Davangere and a Diploma in Education from Dasharathayya College Chitradurga after which she completed the Deshpande Fellowship Program at Deshpande Foundation. Tanveer's interest and experience working with youth attracted her to the LEAD program in the year 2016 and joined as Program Officer for the Chitradurga location.
Job Titles:
- Member of the LEAD TEAM
- CEO, Deshpande Foundation
- Executive Chairman and Founder of Sankalp Semiconductor Private Limited
Vivek Pawar is the Executive Chairman and Founder of Sankalp Semiconductor Private Limited since 2005. He brings 20 years of industry experience in various functions of general management, operations, program management, and customer relations, and analog product design and System on Chip (SoC) development, including firmware.
Previously, Vivek worked as Program Manager at Texas Instruments Inc. (Houston, USA) and as General Manager for Broadband Silicon Technology Center in Texas Instruments India in Bangalore. He is a mentor to youth and entrepreneurs. Vivek is currently serving as the CEO Of Deshpande Foundation.