Sumitra Pasupathy

Sumitra Pasupathy is a seasoned professional with over 25 years of experience in innovating new ideas and system-changing solutions across various sectors.

She currently serves as the Families Stewardship Lead, Global Partnerships at Ashoka, a top-ranked NGO, focusing on social innovation in the Global South, particularly in Asia.

Sumitra is actively involved in cross-sector collaboration, working with civil society, policy-makers, philanthropy, and the private sector to address complex societal challenges.

As a social entrepreneur, she is engaged in thought leadership activities, publishing, speaking on podcasts, and moderating discussions to promote shared learning and actionable change.

With a background in Chemical Engineering and an MBA, Sumitra has held key positions at organizations like Random House UK, Bertelsmann AG, Procter & Gamble, and Kraft, contributing to new venture creation, innovation, market research, and patent development.

She is a board member, co-founder, or advisory board member of several organizations including Playeum, Singapore Art Museum, US Avanti Fellows, Pratham Books, and Trustcircle among others.

Sumitra's educational journey includes studying Chemical Engineering at the University of Cambridge, obtaining an MBA from INSEAD, and completing Developmental Coaching training from the University of Cape Town's Graduate School of Business.

Her accolades include being a Skoll World Forum Fellow, Elevate Fellow, and contributing to the OECD 2030 Learning Compass focus groups, among others.

Sumitra Pasupathy is a multifaceted professional with a passion for social innovation and a strong commitment to creating positive change in society.