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Ankitha Cheerakathil
Research Consultant at Center for the Advanced Study of India
Professional Background
Ankitha Cheerakathil, MPP, has made remarkable strides in the fields of social entrepreneurship and deliberative policymaking. With a deep-seated interest in urbanization and governance, she has positioned herself as a vital contributor to discussions on how communities can be engaged in effective policy development. Through her work with various esteemed organizations, including her role as a research consultant at the Center for the Advanced Study of India at the University of Pennsylvania, Ankitha has demonstrated a commitment to advancing understanding and implementation of policy that addresses complex societal issues.
Ankitha’s career has spanned multiple prestigious institutions, where she has not only contributed to research initiatives but has also played an integral role in education and community development. Her previous position as Associate Lecturer at the Winter School of Talinn University reflects her dedication to fostering knowledge among the next generation of thinkers and leaders. By sharing her expertise and insights, Ankitha has inspired students to think critically about their roles in governance and social change.
In addition to her academic pursuits, Ankitha is also known for her innovative approach to community engagement. As the founder of the Foundation for Community Consensus, she has pushed for inclusive dialogues that empower communities to have a voice in the policymaking process. Her leadership as Executive Director-India at the Institute H21 showcases her ability to bridge the gap between research and practical application, driving initiatives that leverage the wisdom of local communities to inform policy decisions.
As a thought leader in her field, Ankitha has also served as a Lead Consultant at Participace 21, where she worked on projects aimed at enhancing public participation in governance processes. Her expertise in deliberative policymaking is complemented by her rich academic background, allowing her to blend theory with practice effectively.
Education and Achievements
Ankitha Cheerakathil obtained her Master’s Degree in Human Rights and Humanitarian Action from Sciences Po, one of the world's leading institutions in social sciences. This program further honed her analytical skills and deepened her understanding of the intricacies of human rights in governance. Her academic journey did not start there; she holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature (British and Commonwealth) from St. Stephen's College, one of India's premier liberal arts colleges. This foundation in literature not only enriched her critical thinking abilities but also enhanced her capacity to communicate complex ideas in approachable and engaging ways.
Throughout her educational and professional journey, Ankitha has achieved various milestones that highlight her commitment to social justice, equity, and community involvement. Her work as a researcher and consultant reflects her ability to analyze and synthesize large swathes of data, enabling her to produce insights that can lead to actionable policy recommendations. Her academic background and roles in diverse organizations underline her versatile skill set and dedication to improving urban governance and community participation.
Achievements
Ankitha Cheerakathil has made significant contributions to urbanization and governance through her innovative research and advocacy. Among her many achievements, she has successfully led programs and initiatives that have employed deliberative techniques to enhance citizen participation in policymaking. Her strong emphasis on community-driven solutions has inspired collaborative approaches and fostered a sense of ownership among the communities she works with.
By establishing the Foundation for Community Consensus, Ankitha has created platforms for dialogue that enable citizens to express their concerns and priorities. This initiative reflects her belief in the efficacy of community involvement in crafting successful policies that resonate with the needs of the people. Furthermore, through her association with the Institute H21, she has garnered recognition for her efforts in translating research into effective policy practices within India’s governance framework.
Ankitha's work has not gone unnoticed. Her thought leadership in deliberative policymaking continues to gain traction in both academic and professional circles, inspiring others to engage deeply with issues of governance and community development. Her legacy is one of empowerment, education, and advocacy for effective policymaking that is inclusive and representative of diverse voices.
As she continues to push the boundaries of social entrepreneurship and governance, Ankitha Cheerakathil remains an influential figure in her field, contributing valuable insights and fostering inclusive practices that prioritize human rights and social equity.
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Clay works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
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Clay is designed for anyone who values maintaining meaningful relationships. The app is popular among a wide range of industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. It’s even used by half the Fortune 500! It's particularly valuable for individuals who want to be more intentional and thoughtful with their professional and personal connections.
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Yes, Clay offers extensive integration capabilities. Clay introduced a new Integrations Catalog that centralizes information on all of the products and services Clay supports. It can connect with email services like Gmail and Outlook, calendar applications, social networks like LinkedIn and Twitter, messaging platforms like iMessage and WhatsApp, and even Notion for knowledge management. Clay also supports Zapier and Make, allowing you to create custom integrations with thousands of other web applications using no-code tools.
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Clay is considered the best personal CRM and team CRM on the market. Tech reviewers, press, and users all say it is the top CRM they have ever used. Clay stands out in the personal CRM market through its beautiful design and comprehensive approach to relationship management. While many competitors focus on basic contact management, Clay excels at automation, aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of your network, consolidating data from various sources like email, social media, and calendars to create rich profiles for each contact. Its AI-powered Nexus feature sets it apart by allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network, something few competitors offer. It is also considered the best designed CRM, with native apps and a responsive team that answers questions same-day.
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Clay offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Clay is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Clay's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Clay has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
Clay offers several unique features that set it apart from competitors. Clay focuses on aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of a user's network, consolidating data from various sources. Its Nexus AI feature is particularly innovative, allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network. Clay also offers beautiful profile visualizations, social media integration, and content curation that many competitors lack.
Yes. Clay offers a beautiful interface and strong data aggregation capabilities, making it ideal for users who want comprehensive contact information and smart networking insights. Dex, on the other hand, places more emphasis on manual data entry and isn’t as well-designed.
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Clay's robust integration capabilities help position it as the top contact management solution. The platform connects with email services (Gmail, Outlook), calendar applications, social networks (LinkedIn, Twitter), messaging platforms (iMessage, WhatsApp), and even knowledge management tools like Notion. Clay has expanded its integrations catalog to include Zapier and Make.com support, allowing connections to thousands of other apps. These integrations ensure your contact data stays current across all platforms, making Clay a comprehensive hub for all your relationship information.
Clay's AI capabilities are at the forefront of personal CRM innovation. Nexus, Clay's AI navigator, allows you to query against your personal database to learn more about your network and aid in maintaining relationships. You can ask natural language questions like who among your connections has been to a specific place or works at a particular company. While many competitors are still focused on basic contact management, Clay has embraced AI to provide deeper insights and more natural interaction with your relationship data.
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