<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiZGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnNmZ2F0ZS5jb20vY2hhcmFjdGVycy9hcnRpY2xlL2NocmlzdGluLWV2YW5zLWJvb2tzbWl0aC1hbGVtYmljLWhvbWVsZXNzbmVzcy0xNjQ1NTEwOC5waHDSAQA?oc=5" target="_blank">The SF bookstore owner with a direct line to Marc Benioff</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">SFGATE</font>

The SF bookstore owner with a direct line to Marc Benioff - SFGATE

<a href="https://www.almanacnews.com/news/2020/08/21/local-booksellers-celebrate-resilience--and-a-new-era--during-independent-bookstore-day" target="_blank">Local booksellers celebrate resilience — and a new era — during Independent Bookstore Day</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">The Almanac Online</font>

Local booksellers celebrate resilience — and a new era — during Independent Bookstore Day - The Almanac Online

The University of Texas at Austin

Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi

Reimagining Bookstores

Berrett-Koehler Publishers

CEO & Publisher

Imagine bookstores with new ways to engage their communities, easy access to funding and new business models. Now imagine these bookstores having strategies to increase readership, attract and retain high-caliber staff, and provide meaningful careers paying meaningful wages. Through these bookstores our communities deepen literacy, increase civic engagement, and become stronger.

If you can imagine this scenario, then it is time to embrace bookstores as a social cause. It is time to invest in bookstores so they have the means to strengthen and reinvent themselves. We seek to launch a movement to encourage a new wave of investments in bookstores similar to the investments that have historically been made in public libraries, museums, public radio and television, and non-profit journalism and literacy organizations.

To create this transformational change, we need you!

We invite you to dream and collaborate together – to reimagine and transform America’s bookstores into next-generation community bookstores, to help literary entrepreneurs open new bookstores in book deserts, and to help bookstores strengthen their place in the hearts of their communities as thriving centers for ideas and conversations.

Convener

Kepler’s Literary Foundation (KLF) is the leading literary non-profit serving the diverse communities of Silicon Valley. KLF was formed in 2012 as Peninsula Arts & Lectures, under the fiscal sponsorship of Silicon Valley Community Foundation. It was re-branded as Kepler's Literary Foundation in December 2016.

Kepler's Literary Foundation

Board Director

Led the successful transition of legendary Kepler's Bookstore into a next-generation community bookstore built on an innovative hybrid business model that includes a for-profit, community-financed bookstore, and a nonprofit organization producing cultural and literary programs.

KEPLER'S 2020, Social Purpose Corporation

Community Engagement Officer (CEO)

Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc.

Chair Of The Board Of Directors

Heyday is an independent, nonprofit publisher and unique cultural institution based in Berkeley, California. Served a one year board term to assist the board and staff with restructuring, leadership development, financial and strategic planning for improving the organization's viability.

Heyday

Board Director, Heyday Books

GiftLit is an award-winning book gifting service that makes it easy for customers to gift high-quality books to their friends, family, and colleagues.  GiftLit has won rave reviews from notable media outlets like the New York Times, BuzzFeed, Mashable, CoolMomPicks, and most recently TechCrunch.

GiftLit, an award-winning book gifting service

BK is one of the most innovative book publishers with a mission to create a world that works for all and a unique operating model based on openness and egalitarianism.  Currently the company is in the midst of a significant business transformation necessitated by the publishing industry's transition to e-books.  As a Board Member I was actively involved in advising the CEO and the management team on issues of business strategy, improving financial performance, strategic partnerships, and sales and marketing.

Board Member

Berkeley Arts &amp; Letters is a new social venture whose mission is to enhance the culture of thoughtful dialogue and literary conversation in  San Francisco's East Bay community.  Since it's launch in Fall of 2008, Berkeley Arts &amp; Letters has organized talks by well known intellectuals like Richard Dawkins, Eduardo Galeano, Deepak Chopra, Orhan Pamuk, and Michael Pollan.  Recently, East Bay Express recognized us with an award for Best Lecture Series.

Berkeley Arts & Letters

Partner

Assumed the reins at this 35 year old local literary institution with a goal of creating the independent bookstore for the 21st century.  Revamped the events program, built and trained a team of passionate and knowledgeable booksellers, made significant operational improvements, and raised the profile of the bookstore at a local and national level.  Booksmith has won a number of awards including Best Author Appearances by SF Weekly (2008), Neighborhood Treasure Award by Mayor and Board of Supervisors (2009), the Best Reads Award by 7x7 Magazine (2010), and The Best Reimagined Bookstore by SF Weekly (2011).

The Booksmith

LitMinds was an early pioneer in building an online literary community where readers, authors, and independent booksellers shared their unique reading interests, made new friends, and enjoyed stimulating conversations.

LitMinds.org

Co-Founder

Collaborated closely with the CEO and leadership team to develop a strategy for the high-tech market in US and India.  Led the launch of a new business unit to focus on the rapidly growing mobile telecom service providers in India. Worked with senior client executives to develop partnerships for delivering tangible business value to their companies.  Recruited, managed, and mentored a strong team of marketing and business development professionals.

Trilogy

Vice President, Marketing and Business Development

Worked closely with a team of senior consulting professionals to build a $100 million consulting practice advising clients in the technology industry.  Led client development and consulting engagements with notable accounts like Microsoft, Adobe Systems, and Hewlett-Packard.  Advised senior client executives on critical business issues including strategy, partnerships, organization, innovation, and change management.  Developed and managed client relationships, built high energy consulting teams, led business development, supervised the set-up and delivery of high impact engagements, mentored team members, and evangelized A.T. Kearney’s intellectual capital through public speaking and media interviews.  

Enhanced A.T. Kearney’s public visibility and community leadership through pro-bono engagements with Joint Venture Silicon Valley Network, Bay Area Council, and Bay Area Economic Forum on issues related to education improvement and local workforce development.  Spearheaded A.T. Kearney’s volunteer partnership with March of Dimes’ annual fundraising walkathon.

Praveen Madan