Dr Shashi Buluswar
Shashi is the CEO of the Institute for Transformative Technologies.He is the lead author of the groundbreaking study to identify the “The 50 most critical scientific & technological breakthroughs required for sustainable global development”. Shashi holds an MS and PhD from the University of Massachusetts in Artificial Intelligence, and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.
Shashi was a Partner at Dalberg Global Development Advisors, a mission-driven strategy consulting firm, prior to which he was an Associate Partner at McKinsey & Company, and a Visiting Professor at Northwestern University. Serving a broad spectrum of clients in international development such as NGOs, corporations, foundations, governments, social entrepreneurs, and international agencies like the UN., he has helped in restructuring the UN Peacekeeping Department's global operation, the Gates Foundation, development programs in Africa and Asia, post-conflict development in Afghanistan, several multinational corporations, dozens of NGOs. He teaches at the Haas School of Business at the University of California - Berkeley.
Beyond professional interests, Shashi spent a decade competing on the Indian national rowing team, and recently made a critically acclaimed documentary film.
He pursued his undergraduate degree from Goshen College.
Shashi was born and raised in India, he is now based in California, US.
Shruti Pakrasi
An Organizational and Counselling Psychologist Shruti comes with a combined experience of nearly 12 years in the fields of learning & development, psychometrics, and mental health & emotional well-being at the workplace. An alumni of SNDT Pune and King’s College, London, Shruti built on her educational background in organisational psychology, experience of working in the consulting space, as well as being part of a global/ corporate learning & development team of a large organisation. She derived insights that enable her to tailor customised paths for Employee Development, Performance, Engagement, and Well-being.
Shruti’s core skills include Diagnostics / Need Analysis, Design and Development of learning solutions, learning journeys and competency based learning architectures, Psychometric testing, Designing assessment centres, competency mapping, Individual counselling for productivity, performance and well-being.
Aparna Ranadive
Aparna Ranadive is a senior HR Professional, Change management & Start up specialist, acclaimed by both industry, and Academia, and now an Entrepreneur, with an experience of over two decades in the field of Human Resources & the Indian industry. An alumni of NMIMS, Mumbai and ISB, Hyderabad, she has worked across Media & Entertainment, Financial Service, Retail, Engineering & Telecom sectors, with some of the most professional organisations such as Hypercity Retail, Sony Entertainment Network, Ambit RSM, The Times of India, Tata Teleservices & Reliance Consultancy, to name a few, Heading the HR function and as part of the Leadership teams.
Over the last 5 years, in strategic advisory & Leadership consulting firm, and through select partnerships, Aparna has been able to contribute to varied industries and organisations in different phases of their life cycle, including start ups. She also works with senior professionals helping them as a Leadership Coach. Aparna brings value to her consulting from being the Head of the Mumbai Chapter of Global Chamber, an international chamber of commerce and business development, as Executive Director With an in-depth understanding of certain sectors, market dynamics and ongoing changes and hence the opportunities, coupled with the strength of the network that she has been able to create. Aparna, hand holds clients through the entire journey of overseas entities in India, as well as coaching expat CEOs, to make transitions smooth and hassle free.
She is a speaker at various industry forums and institutions, on a regular basis , and enjoys speaking with a diverse range of audiences, ranging from children, students, senior professionals including the top ranking officers of the Indian Armed forces. She is also trained on and practices BACH FLOWER REMEDIES, by THE BACH CENTRE, UK helping professionals address various psychosomatic issues.
Cdr Indrajit Pakrasi (Retd)
Indrajit brings to this programme 22 years of experience in putting together task oriented, effective groups and more than 10 years of mentoring leaders. He took the cognitive and behaviour science behind the military methods of training and evident efficiency and bundled them into these unique experiential trainig programmes. Fun trainings and continued mentoring that work for individuals, organisations, sports teams, Airlines, Top leaders, practically everyone who wishes to excel.
Mohan Kumar
Mohan has over twenty years of global experience in coaching and mentoring executive leaders. You will find your time with him goes way beyond cognitive learning.He brings unique value and perspective to each training event. In fact, he was the guide and mentor for Indrajit to adapt the cognitive and behavioural aspects from Military methods of mind and attitude training, for experiential learning outdoors as well as on site. That is what makes this programme unique across West Asia, south Asia and SE Asia.
Alka Chandra
Alka Chandra is a specialist life-skills consultant.
She has more than 37 years’ corporate experience various managerial and top leadership roles both, in public-sector and private insurance organisations. In addition to being a seasoned insurance professional, she is a qualified HR and life-skills specialist, a trainer and a respected learning facilitator.
Being passionate about learning and helping others learn and grow, Alka completed her PG Diploma in HR from the Academy of HRD, IIM, Ahmedabad, and simultaneously undertook serious studies in Behavioural Analytics under the tutelage of the Late Prof. Uday Pareek and Dr. T.V.Rao.. Alka superannuated in 2017 from SBI General Insurance Company where she was part of the initial start-up team and was Vice President and Head of Underwriting Operations, and Learning & Development functions.
Alka brings to the training workspace, experience and skills acquired during her career spanning nearly four decades. She combines her first-hand corporate and knowledge of the industry with her mastery over behavioural tools and techniques, to advise and deliver training programmes which are relevant and impactful. As a Trainer, her ability to effortlessly communicate combined with her deep knowledge of the subject, have produced memorable sessions marked by the enthusiastic involvement of participants. Alka’s areas of expertise and interest include: Psychometrics, Communication Skills, Leadership Development, Personality Assessment & Development, Emotional Discipline, NLP and Logotherapy.
Janice
Janice is a master at using the right activities and tools to bring out personal realisation of the participants' own and others behaviour in an organisation. These provide the value and basis of adult-learning psychology. Janice is a certified trainer with 'Leave No Trace' and also certified in Outdoor education and recreation. She has coached and trained hundreds of leaders in a wide variety of environments. Her incisive line of questions during debriefs lead to quick realisations and learning.Highly energetic and motivational, her sense of humour brings both comfort and power to training events.
Cdr Abhishek Kankan NM (Retd)
Cdr. Abhishek Kankan, NM has had broad exposure and myriad experiences from depths below oceans, to the highest point on earth. A submariner and Marine Commando, who summited Mt Everest in 2004, he was awarded Nau Sena medal for Gallantry by President of India. He draws upon these experiences to give valuable insights in individual and group development. Abhishek believes that there a desire to excel, thirst to be an achiever and is streaks of adventure in everyone. His coaching has an effect of introspection and self driven change that is in line with the ethos of the EXPLODE programme.