Location: Kallambella, TumakuruJob Type: Contractual Apply by: 20th December 2025 About the Organization: Navya Disha, a registered Public Charitable Trust, has been dedicated to empowering
Trustee
G Madhusudhana is a partner at IndusLaw, a top-tier law firm providing legal services to a wide range of international and domestic clients across a variety of sectors on legal issues relating to their business, strategy, litigation and transactional goals. With 29 years of experience, he specializes in real estate transactions and corporate affairs.
Prior to this, he served at LEXIPLUS and as in-house counsel at RMZ Corp for 16 years, after gaining experience at renowned law firms like Dua Associates and J. Sagar Associates.His legal career was shaped under the guidance of Hon’ble Justice Sri. Ram Mohan Reddy (Retd.) and Senior Counsel Sri. K. G. Raghavan. He has also worked in labor law with R&M Associates and is a Member Specialist Mediator on the India Panel of the Singapore International Mediation Centre.
Beyond his legal work, Madhusudhana is committed to social service. He has been actively involved in community development and legal aid projects, particularly in rural areas. As a long-time member of the Rotary Club of Bangalore, he led impactful initiatives as President during the Rotary Year 2012-13.
Trustee
Sreekanta Sharma is a seasoned engineering professional with nearly 30 years of experience. He serves as the General Manager – Engineering & Projects at Sidvin Outotec Engineering, a joint venture between Sidvin Core-Tech (I) Pvt. Ltd. and Outotec International Holdings OY (Finland), specializing in design engineering for Metals and Minerals processing plants.
Sreekanta has extensive experience across sectors like Steel, Water Treatment, and Offshore Oil & Gas. As Head of Engineering at Sidvin, he has successfully executed complex offshore and onshore projects, emphasizing quality and timely delivery.
A strong advocate for commitment, agility, collaboration, and adaptability, Sreekanta is dedicated to developing future leaders aligned with the organization’s goals. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Bangalore University and enjoys reading and listening to music in his spare time.
Sudha Sharma Chavatti is a versatile media professional with a strong presence across print, visual, and digital platforms in Karnataka. She began her career in print media, managing the business section of Samyukta Karnataka and guiding readers on intelligent investments through the ‘Sheru Pete’ column.
Transitioning to visual media, Sudha worked as a reporter for Udaya TV, later becoming a producer, director, and anchor for Kannada channels like Kaveri, ETV, Zee Kannada, Suvarna, and Chandana. She directed Gelati for ETV, anchored the ‘Sheru Pete’ program on Doordarshan and Chandana, and hosted reality shows like ‘Shrimati Karnataka’ on Zee Kannada.
At All India Radio, Sudha launched Hele Gelathi, a program that resonated deeply with female audiences. She also co-founded Mahati Media, creating new opportunities in content production.
In print, Sudha has written popular columns such as ‘Kai Hididu Nadesennanu’ and ‘Sheremba Maayangane’ in Vijaya Karnataka, and currently writes the ‘Profit-Plus’ column in Vijaya Vaani. Her poetry collection Odde Kannugala Preeti earned her the ‘Gowrish Kaikini’ and ‘Bendre Adiga’ awards.
Trustee
Santosh K Jahagirdar is the co-founder and Managing Partner of Purpletouch Finserve LLP, a financial advisory firm specializing in managing investment portfolios for individuals, families, small corporates, and trusts. With over 20 years of experience in the Financial Services Industry, Santosh is known for his financial acumen and client-centric approach.
Prior to founding Purpletouch in 2013, Santosh held key roles at leading financial institutions like Tata, Indusind Bank, and Deutsche Bank AG, gaining a comprehensive understanding of banking and investment management.
In addition to his financial career, Santosh co-founded Aaagaara Interiors in 2020, an interior design and execution firm that has successfully completed over 80 projects. He is passionate about fostering entrepreneurship and actively mentors aspiring entrepreneurs across India.
Santosh holds a bachelor’s degree in Accountancy and Taxation from Karnataka University and an MBA in International Finance from the University of Bath, England. Outside of work, he enjoys reading literature on economics and geopolitical issues and playing cricket on Sundays.
Trustee
Sipika Nigam is a Venture Capitalist, CEO, and Co-founder of BeyondSeed, a venture capital firm focused on the Indian start-up ecosystem, with a strategic investment focus on the consumption and technology sectors. She previously served as Principal of Investments at Artha Venture Fund, where she led investments in RevOps, Construction tech, HR tech, D2C, and logistics.
Before founding BeyondSeed, Sipika gained extensive experience in finance and impact investing, managing assets worth over $1.5 billion at Incofin Investment Management, and contributing to the Yunus Social Business Fund Bengaluru. She also served as Entrepreneur in Residence at Milaap, a leading P2P lending platform.
Sipika is dedicated to social impact, with a background in Grama Vidiyal Microfinance (now IDFC Bharat) and active involvement with the Women In Investing Network. She is a published author and panelist on investment strategies and entrepreneurial ecosystems. Sipika holds an International Masters in Management from SDA Bocconi and is a CFA Level 2 candidate.
In addition to her professional achievements, Sipika is a licensed commercial pilot, certified by the American FAA and Indian DGCA, a trained actor, and an avid motorcyclist and mountain trekker. She was among the first ten women to conquer Khardung La Pass and has trekked KedarKantha at 12,500 ft.
Chief Executive Officer
With over two decades of experience in the development sector, she is a seasoned professional deeply committed to social development, impact, and philanthropy. She has worked extensively on education and child rights, with a primary focus on addressing inequities in education within underprivileged communities, particularly in remote and underserved regions across India. She has led consultancy engagements in the non-profit sector with a focus on program design, planning, partnership building and evaluation. Her professional journey includes significant roles in organizations such as Pratham Books, Tata Trusts, Education Development Center, and Aga Khan Education Service, India. Currently, she contributes to the board of SATHI (Society for Assistance to Children in Difficult Situations) and Prajayatna. Additionally, she serves as an Advisor to Yunus Social Business Fund Bengaluru, a social impact investor providing financial and business support to social enterprises. Archana holds a postgraduate degree in Social Work from the University of Mumbai, and her core areas of interest encompass early learning, children’s literature, care and protection of vulnerable children and entrepreneurship.
Former Chairperson
Muralidharan has an extensive career spanning more than 40 years within the banking and development sectors. His profound expertise encompasses microfinance, financial access, value chain financing, enterprise development, and agriculture. Presently, he serves as the Director of Financial Access and Services at Vrutti, an organization dedicated to implementing transformative livelihood solutions for small-scale farmers. His leadership contributes significantly to the enhancement and sustainability of livelihoods within these communities.
Raviprakash has over 25 years of invaluable experience in the development sector. His expertise spans across governmental and non-profit realms, particularly in the specialized domain of water resources management. Presently, he holds the role of Principal Coordinator for Capacity Building of Engineers at the Advanced Centre for Integrated Water Resource Management, showcasing his dedication to enhancing and cultivating expertise in this crucial field.
Chairperson & Managing Trustee
Suresh is a pivotal figure in shaping India’s microfinance sector, with decades of experience in uplifting poor and low-income communities. As the Chairperson and Managing Trustee of Navya Disha, he provides visionary leadership, driving impactful change. Suresh is also the Co-Founder, Managing Director, and Chief Executive Officer of Yunus Social Business Fund Bengaluru, as well as the Co-founder and Partner of Yunus Social Business India Initiatives. Prior to this, he served as the Managing Director of GrameenKoota from its inception in 1999, guiding it to become a substantial and socially responsible microfinance institution with a presence in five states across India. Suresh’s influence extends to co-founding key industry associations, including Microfinance Institutions Network and Association of Karnataka Microfinance Institutions. He currently serves on the board of Sanghamitra Rural Financial Services, Grameen Foundation for Social Impact, Child Fund India among others. He is passionate about social businesses, micro housing, entrepreneurship and livelihoods for the poor. With a background in teaching, Suresh has dedicated over 25 years to leading and working with social businesses. He holds a wealth of knowledge acquired from studying international microfinance models and strategies at esteemed institutions like Grameen Bank, Bankakademie (Germany), and Harvard Business School (USA). An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management, Bengaluru, Suresh continues to be a driving force in sustainable community development.