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When Inclusion becomes the cultural bedrock, employees can bring their most authentic selves to work and productivity surges. They feel heard and respected.

Dr. Saundarya Rajesh

Founder & President, Avtar Group

A highly regarded thought leader in India, and a well-acclaimed social entrepreneur and author

Dr. Saundarya has been a strong advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion, she is renowned for her pioneering work in promoting second career opportunities for women in corporate India spanning over two decades.

Her journey in empowering women in the workforce stands as a beacon of inspiration for many.

In December 2000, she founded Avtar – an organization that has pioneered the movement of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in India! She went on to set up several other successful social enterprises including Avtar Career Creators, Flexi Careers India, Bruhat Insights Global, and Avtar Human Capital Trust. Her recent brainchild, myAvtar.com, is India’s first diversity job portal for under-represented groups such as women, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and veterans. Furthermore, she has revolutionized the career prospects of women professionals in India by introducing and promoting the ideas of “Career Intentionality” and “Career Re-entry” in the corporate world.

Her contributions in the field have earned her numerous awards and recognition, including the ‘WebWonderWoman’ award in 2019, and the prestigious “Winds of Change” award in 2019, making her the first international recipient. She is sought-after by organisations globally, and as a speaker at national as well as international conferences.

A letter from our founder

At the heart of our work is a passion for shaping thriving workplace cultures—ones where people feel connected, engaged, and empowered to drive innovation and success.

A strong, people-centric culture is the foundation of a high-performing organization. When individuals feel valued and heard, they bring their authentic selves to work, fueling motivation, collaboration, and productivity. Inclusion isn’t just an initiative—it’s the driving force behind a committed, purpose-driven workforce.

Across India, companies are at different stages of what we call the ‘DEI Maturity Curve.’ A select 10% have set the gold standard—embedding inclusive practices, fostering trust, and building work environments that enable people to do their best work. These role-model organizations prove that investing in people fuels long-term business success.

Our vision is to help more companies rise to this level—creating workplaces where people thrive, and businesses prosper. Come, be a part of this journey to build workplaces that truly work for everyone.

Recognitions and Awards

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Introducing The 99 Day Diversity Challenge: Creating an Inclusive Workplace

By Dr. Saundarya Rajesh

Introducing The 99 Day Diversity Challenge: Creating an Inclusive Workplace

By Dr. Saundarya Rajesh

There is empirical evidence indicating that diversity and inclusion are crucial components of organisational success, yet managing a diverse workforce presents its own set of challenges. Leaders today are seeking tools to enable inter-cultural components and create a sustainable DEI model to not only foster an inclusive workplace, but to also gain a competitive edge.

While many organisations are finding more meaningful ways to create an impact, Dr. Saundarya shares a strong belief that you can transform your organization’s approach to DEI in just 99 days.

In her book, through engaging stories, anecdotes and thought-leadership blogs, Dr. Saundarya demystifies the subject of DEI, and describes how it can be absorbed by just about everyone. Since its launch in 2018, the book has received several accolades, including the first prize for the Book of the Year Award 2021 from the Indian Society for Training and Development.

What is The 99
Day Diversity Challenge?

  • A never-before account of the nascent experiences of implementing the culture of D&I at the Indian workplace
  • A precise explanation on the different strands of diversity, how to leverage each strand and the future of the D&I thoughts
  • A customisable framework to set organizational inclusion goals, design a methodology to accomplish them and track your progress
  • Ready-to-use tools put in the most interesting and gripping way, this book will unlock the diverse human potential at your workplace
  • With a lexicon, word puzzles, crosswords, engaging D&I games, this book is all set to enrich the reader with an all new experience for those set to begin their own D&I journey

Buy your copy

Praises for the book

In this day and age of multicultural workplaces, no topic assumes more importance than diversity and inclusion. A lot of workplace issues can be resolved and a happier workplace can be created by understanding these two concepts well. As they say getting from ‘0’ to ‘1’ is the most difficult part in any transformational journey. They also say a job well begun is half done. Dr Saundarya through her work in this area for several years is best-placed to author a book on this topic. She explains the basics and weaves in stories and exercises to make this book a very engaging read. Ninety-nine days is all it will take for you to be well on your way to making your workplace an inclusive one.
Mohan NarayanaswamyChief Operating Officer and Managing Director - BNY Mellon Technology
I find great value in both the concepts around inclusive leadership and the stories that reflect these concepts in The 99 Day Diversity Challenge. Very innovative and engaging! Dr Rajesh has chosen a unique format that appeals both to the head and to the heart.
Deepak IyerManaging Director, - Mondelez International, India
I think Dr Saundarya Rajesh is most qualified to write on the topic of D&I as she has great passion for the subject combined with the gravitas of research over many years. I also think that she has moved beyond qualifications and made a change in the society with Project PUTHRI. She has also created a huge influence in the way subliminal gender bias has been addressed in the Indian workplace and that is showing the way for organizations to put this on the top of their agenda—something that was never spoken about.
S.V. NathanCHRO, Deloitte India
Dr Rajesh’s book cleverly weaves D&I theory with masterful storytelling—a must-read for any professional looking to broaden one’s understanding on this pressing corporate need.
Dr P.V. Ramana MurthyExecutive VP and Global Head HR,
The Indian Hotels Company Limited (Taj Hotels)
Diversity is a business imperative; inclusion, a behaviour, an attitude. This distinction is brought through beautifully in The 99 Day Diversity Challenge by Dr Saundarya. A must-read for all D&I enthusiasts!
Chaitanya N. SreenivasVP HR and HR Head
India South Asia, IBM
Inclusion and diversity are integral to attracting and retaining the best talent in the market as well as providing exceptional service to clients in a fast-paced and ever-changing business environment. I have worked closely with Saundarya in the inclusion space for many years, and her subject matter expertise in the field is unmatched.
Jaya VirwaniVP Diversity and Inclusion,
EY Global Delivery Services
We live in a strange, shrinking world, where distances between people are getting minimized but identities are either fading or growing sharper. Organizations being a reflection of society, diversity and inclusion become a wonderful lever to support employees play to their strengths and expand human possibilities. With her pioneering and path-breaking work in the area of diversity and inclusion, the publishers could have found no better person than Saundarya to write this book. Her experiences and insights are sure to be enlightening and inspiring for readers and with her compelling style of writing, she will be engaging and thought-provoking too.
Gangapriya ChakravertiDirector HR, GBS,
Ford India
Organizations which practise the concept of diversity and inclusion are more creative and adaptable. They usually live longer and beat others in terms of growth and profitability. I also feel that companies having diversity and inclusion provide the right platform to foster happy, involved and closely knit teams. Having pioneered the concept of diversity and inclusion along with spearheading the work for providing second careers for women, Saundarya is the best person to write The 99 Day Diversity Challenge. Having walked the talk, there is no better person to elucidate and throw more light on diversity and inclusion.
C.K. RanganathanChairman and Managing Director,
CavinKare Private Limited
The cultural and cognitive diversity of our workforce enables us to make path-breaking content, ‘think big’ and explore new avenues of growth, including those that fall outside traditional industry norms. Being an inclusive organization is not a choice; it is a necessity for business success—Dr Saundarya’s book The 99 Day Diversity Challenge uses the unique and unexplored style of storytelling to illustrate this emphatically.
N.P SinghCEO, Multi Screen Media Pvt. Ltd (Sony Entertainment)
I haven’t come across a book on diversity and inclusion that is so compelling with personal anecdotes, yet outcome-driven and organization focused. Dr Saundarya has taken a very non-linear approach in delivering her product with substance and character that has her signature all over it.
Raj RaghavanSenior VP HR,
IndiGo (InterGlobe Aviation Limited)
Dr Saundarya Rajesh is uniquely positioned to write this book because she has lived this journey personally and has been a teacher and collaborator to both individual women and their companies for a couple of decades. This book synthesizes her best thinking and experiences. The ability to have a handy resource as reference when you are on your company’s inclusion journey is critical. This is the book you want in your arsenal. Be sure to get your advance copy!
Subha BarryPresident,
Working Mother Media
Business case for diversity and inclusion has been well researched, established and unequivocally proven. And yet progress has not been adequate whether in public or private enterprises due to multiple reasons—cultural, historical, conscious and unconscious biases. That’s why D&I has to be championed by the CEO/head of the organization with passion, conviction and commitment. Dr Saundarya has researched and championed women’s workforce participation at multiple levels for two decades. She is internationally recognized and respected for her deep insights into theory and practice of D&I. I invariably came away with new perspectives on the subject after interacting with her and attending her sessions/workshops. I cannot think of a better person to write a book on D&I than Saundarya, and I am convinced that the book will exude her passion and in-depth understanding of the topic.
Dr Raman RamachandranHead South Asia, Chairman and Managing Director - BASF India Ltd
A simple, practical and engaging read on diversity and inclusion, presented innovatively. The stories shared are profound and relatable. Saundarya’s 99 Day Diversity Challenge has something to offer to all who wish to be part of or create a diverse and inclusive ecosystem.
Uma Ratnam KrishnanCo-CEO, Barclays Global Service Centres, and Head of Finance, India,
Barclays Global Service Centres
Our embracing of D&I principles truly determines how we live and work meaningfully—in this delightful collection of stories, anecdotes and life situations. Dr Rajesh drives this message home emphatically.
Anil ChaudhryZone President and Managing Director
International Operations, Schneider Electric
Organizations with diverse and inclusive leadership at the top create a better world where individuals and organization not only grow, but they also thrive, get more out of their talent and therefore deliver better performance. Dr Saundarya Rajesh’s passion for creating inclusive cultures and helping women with potential achieve their career goals is unshakable.
Mr Ramesh IyerCEO, Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Limited
Diversity and inclusion are driving Intel’s transformation and growth as a company. Diversity invites different perspectives, experiences and ideas to our company and to the many innovative solutions we deliver to markets around the world. We believe that diverse teams, thinking and leadership styles create more opportunities for innovation, creativity and strategic thinking.
Nivruti RaiCountry Head, Intel India, VP,
Data Center Group
By engaging the reader in a combination of riveting storytelling, roleplays, quizzes and practical tools, Dr Rajesh invites us into a CEO’s world and his/her journey to becoming an advocate for diversity and inclusion. The 99 Day Diversity Challenge is filled with real-life, practical examples of strategies and techniques that can be used to shift mindsets and drive meaningful change.
Rohini AnandSenior VP Corporate Responsibility and Global Chief Diversity Officer,
Sodexo
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