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 the DEI realm serves as an inspiration to 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
Our team is driven by a passion for inclusion and a mission to help organizations create diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplaces where innovation flourishes.
An inclusive culture can help employees feel more connected, keep them engaged and motivated. When Inclusion becomes the cultural bedrock, employees can bring their most authentic selves to work and productivity surges. They feel heard and respected. They are more aligned to the organization’s purpose and mission.
Companies in India may be placed at different levels of what can be described as the ‘DEI Maturity Curve’. Among these, about 10% of companies in India Inc. are further along their journeys on the curve, with committed diversity goals that they pursue through unwavering commitment to inclusion. These are role-model organizations that have made diversity work, have communicated the need for equity, and have built inclusive foundations.
Our continuous hope and effort is to bring more organizations up the curve. Come, join us in this journey of Inclusion!
Recognitions and Awards
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