Shows
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEP 108: [Republish] Rachna Singh: What It Takes to Reinvent YourselfRachna Singh, former Indian Revenue Service officer and acclaimed author of Phoenix and Flames, Penny Panache, and Raghu Rai: Waiting for the Divine, shares her journey of reinvention. She discusses the leap from government service to literature, the emotional toll of grief, and how writing became both refuge and rebellion. As the founder of The Wise Owl literary magazine, Rachna has interviewed luminaries like Raghu Rai and Daisy Rockwell—conversations that continue to shape her creative path. Her story offers powerful insight into resilience, authorship, and making space for women’s voices in every sphere. With...
2025-06-1748 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEP 110: [Republish] Dead Woman Walking: Mountain Daughter Baljeet KaurBaljeet Kaur, an accomplished mountaineer from Solan, Himachal Pradesh, has etched her name in history with remarkable achievements. As the first Indian woman to conquer Mount Pumori Peak (7161m) and Mount Dhaulagiri Peak (8167m) in Nepal, Baljeet set a precedent. In 2022, she accomplished an unprecedented feat by becoming the first Indian to summit seven peaks above 8000m, achieving five of them within a remarkable 30 days.Beyond her mountaineering skills, Baljeet excels in a variety of sports, demonstrating her skill in marathons, rock climbing, skiing, theatre, kabaddi, volleyball, and hockey. Her commitment to fitness is highlighted by a...
2025-05-2344 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEP 109: [Republish] Srishti Bakshi: Walking Across India for Gender EqualityUN SDG Changemaker Srishti Bakshi walked 3,800 kilometers across India to spotlight gender inequality, women’s safety, and the cultural codes that shape them. What began as a personal reckoning with privilege became a movement powered by storytelling, community, and action. Her journey is captured in the award-winning documentary Women of My Billion (WOMB), produced by Priyanka Chopra Jonas and directed by Ajitesh Sharma, featured at global film festivals and UN events. 🎙️ Learn more about Atalanta Diaries and connect with host Enma Popli: Website: www.enmapopli.com Email: enmapopli@gmail.com LinkedIn: linkedi...
2025-05-1651 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEP 107: [Republish] Kim Kirkconnell:Breaking Barriers at a Fortune 500Kim Kirkconnell, Vice President and Head of Global Digital Supply Chain and Finance at Kimberly-Clark—a Fortune 500 company and the parent of iconic brands like Kleenex®, Huggies®, Scott®, Kotex®, WypAll®, KleenGard®, and Kimtech®—shares a compelling journey shaped by bold decisions, career pivots, and leadership resilience. From her early days in academia to pioneering expert systems in manufacturing, Kim reflects on the impact of mentorship, motherhood, and mindset. Her insights offer aspiring women leaders a playbook on how to lead authentically, speak up with conviction, and transform vulnerability into strength. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone navigating leadership while stayi...
2025-05-0239 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEP 106: [Republish] Dr. Monalisa Sur - Making Tough ChoicesDr Monalisa Sur is a Professor in the department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine and an associate member of Department of Oncology, Juravinski Cancer Centre and Hospital in Ontario, Canada. She is a Practising Diagnostic Anatomical Pathologist with expertise in Gynaecological Oncologic Pathology and Malignant Hematopathology and is the Chair of the Mentorship Committee in McMaster University and the Anatomical Pathology Specialty Chair and Exam Board Member at Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. In her role as Country Advisor and Co-Chair of Policy, Advocacy and Communications for the International Committee of the Roya...
2025-03-2147 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEP 105: [Republish] Barrel Racing, Bold Choices & A Growth Mindset: Lessons from Dona Kay RuleInstead of slowing down at 60, Dona Kay Rule charged ahead into professional rodeo, proving that audacity and a growth mindset are key ingredients for achieving greatness at any age. Dona Kay Rule is a cowgirl, wife, mother and grandmother and now she is among the top barrel racers in the world and has qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) four times. Dona Kay travels with her horse Valor and Rosie. It’s hard to say who is more famous, Valor, Dona Kay, or Rodeo Rosie, a miniature Australian Shepherd.The year gone...
2025-03-1442 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEP 104: [Republish] Archana Chandra - The Purpose Driven LeaderArchana Chandra is Board Member & CEO of Jai Vakeel Foundation & Research Centre, one of the oldest & largest NGOs serving those impacted by intellectual disabilities. She is a Trustee of SRCC, which operates the largest super speciality paediatric hospital in the country in partnership with Narayana Hrudayalaya. She is also a member of the Advisory Board of Annamrita, one of the largest NGOs in the country serving mid-day meals, and of Antarang Foundation, which provides skilling and employment opportunities to less privileged youth. Archana serves on the Board of A.T.E.Chandra Foundation, which focuses on...
2025-02-2158 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEP 103: Lisa Robinson: The Journey, the Lessons, and the Power of Meaningful RelationshipsLisa Robinson’s journey has been anything but conventional. She started as a musician, deeply inspired by the art of conducting and legends like Leonard Bernstein. While her path eventually led her away from music, the skills she honed—bringing people together, setting the pace, and orchestrating success—became the foundation of her leadership approach.Today, as CEO of OnBoard, Lisa has expanded the organization’s influence, shaping boardrooms and strengthening leadership pipelines. With experience across startups, nonprofits, and Fortune 100 companies, she has an exceptional ability to build high-performing teams and forge game-changing partnerships with industry giants like Del...
2025-02-1446 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEP 102: Miss India and Beyond: Hasleen Kaur, Forging a Path in Film, Fashion, and Advertising
Hasleen Kaur is an actor, former Miss India 2011, and a successful entrepreneur with a career spanning fashion, film, and advertising. She has been featured on major platforms like Netflix and Sony, walked for India’s top designers, and appeared on the covers of Femina, GQ, and Harper’s Bazaar Bride. As a model, she has represented global brands such as L’Oréal, Perfectil, and Vaseline.
Beyond the spotlight, Hasleen is deeply committed to social impact, working with NGOs to support women’s empowerment, vocational training, and environmental sustainability. She actively participated in a plantation drive with the India...
2025-02-0744 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEP 101: Enma’s Musings – Taking Chances, Challenging the Status Quo & Pushing Comfort ZonesIn this episode of Atalanta Diaries, Enma explores three interrelated themes—Taking Chances, Challenging the Status Quo, and Pushing Comfort Zones—each contributing to a larger success factor that has helped her Atalantas succeed. Through the stories of five remarkable Atalantas, she uncovers the courage it took for them to step into the unknown, embrace uncertainty, and forge new paths.These trailblazers have demonstrated that growth begins where comfort ends. If you've ever hesitated to take a risk, challenge norms, or embrace change, this episode might provide the inspiration you need. Swati Shetty (Episode 5) – Producer, Founder & Direct...
2025-01-3120 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEP 100: [Republish] Manisha Girotra: The Unstoppable Investment Banker and CEOManisha Girotra is Chief Executive Officer of Moelis & Company in India. She was previously Chairperson and Country Head for UBS in India, with a career spanning 30 years with UBS in Hong Kong, Mumbai, Delhi and London and with Moelis in India. She was the youngest CEO of a global investment bank in India at the age of 32. Manisha has advised over US$ 500 Bn of mergers and acquisitions and equity and debt fundraisings through her career. Some of the landmark transactions include Vodafone US$ 12 Bn acquisition of Hutch’s telecom business, and US$ 65 Bn merger of HDFC-HDFC Bank.
2025-01-2455 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEP 99: Influenced by Mentors, Driven by a Deep Sense of Purpose: Dr. Amrita Bahl Inspiring a New Mindset in EducationAmrita Bahl is the Chief Education Officer at the GD Goenka Group, where she leads innovation in pedagogy, curriculum development, and academic strategy. An alumna of Columbia University and a certified Climate Reality Leader trained by Vice President Al Gore, Amrita has spent over two decades driving transformative education and social reform.
In 2020, she joined the Education Research Center at the Druk Gyalpo’s Institute in Paro, Bhutan, where she contributed to developing the Bhutan Baccalaureate—a visionary education system inspired by His Majesty the King of Bhutan’s vision for a just and harmonious society.
Durin...
2025-01-1747 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEP 98: Finding Purpose, Building a Legacy: Denise Mannix’s Commitment to Gender EquityDenise Mannix is a pioneering leader in DEI, renowned for her expertise in leadership, talent, and transformation, with a deep commitment to advancing gender equity and inclusion.
Her passionate interest in difference and gender equity has seen her find Equity in Leadership purposed to achieve executive and board equity for women and to be President of Lean In Network Energy a global, nonprofit dedicated to challenging, changing, and collaborating elevating women and advancing gender equity in the energy sector and beyond.
Underpinning the knowledge and research she brings to her agency, advocacy, and influence is...
2025-01-1046 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEP 97: Blending Musings and Mastery: Ellaeenah on Self-Awareness and Transformation"This is a unique episode of Atalanta Diaries, where Enma’s musings take an insightful turn as she delves into another powerful success factor—self-awareness—through her conversation with Ellaeenah Niloufer.
In her previous musings, Enma promised to explore self-awareness as a critical ingredient for success. Today, she delivers on that promise through a candid and thoughtful dialogue that bridges personal reflection with Ellaeenah’s deep wisdom.
For over 30 years, Ellaeenah has dedicated her life to helping others transcend patterns of unconscious living that lead to stress and conflict. A spiritual mentor, teacher of meditation, and prac...
2024-12-0641 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEP 96: [Republish] Dr. Loretta Chen: A force of nature and trailblazer in the MetaverseDR LORETTA CHEN is a multi-hyphenate: creative producer, theatre director, professor , entrepreneur and author. She is also Co-founder & CEO of Smobler Studios, a metaverse architecture firm and established the first Sandbox Academy in Singapore. Loretta’s personal tagline is People, Purpose, Possibilities. She is on a mission to use her 24 years of hard-won, diverse experience to educate and accelerate the next generation of leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers.
She is based in Hawaii and is doting mom to 18 fur babies .
Some insights from this episode:
Let nobody make you feel inferior without you...
2024-11-2948 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEP 95: From Finland’s North to the World Stage: Director General Anna-Kaisa Heikkinen’s Diplomatic Journey
Anna-Kaisa Heikkinen has over two decades of experience in diplomacy and international relations. As Director General of the Department for Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America, she is responsible for advancing Finland’s strategic interests and fostering partnerships across these regions. Her career includes ambassadorships in Mozambique and Palestine, as well as serving as Special Adviser to the Prime Minister on International Affairs.
She holds a Master’s degree in international relations from Tampere University, with additional studies at MGIMO and Freie Universität Berlin. Fluent in nine languages, Anna brings expertise in globa...
2024-11-2237 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEP 94: From Global Markets to Boardrooms: Marija Zivanovic-Smith’s American Dream Unfolded
Marija Zivanovic-Smith is a seasoned technology executive with extensive experience across both Fortune 500 companies and startups. Her expertise spans international market access, digital transformation, and growth marketing strategies. Throughout her career, Marija has been instrumental in driving business growth by modernizing brands and increasing market influence. As a Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), she led the re-imagination of NCR's brand, driving a 91% positive engagement in employee communications and generating significant revenue through digital marketing initiatives.
Marija also served as the first Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for IEX Group, Inc., where her leadership increased site traffic...
2024-11-1548 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEP: 93 Building a Better Tomorrow: Merlia Shaukath on Transforming Education and Mental Health
Merlia Shaukath, Founder and CEO of Madhi Foundation, is a passionate advocate for equity in education and is committed to eliminating the foundational learning crisis in India. She believes that access to quality early childhood education is the greatest leveler against social inequity.
Merlia holds an undergraduate degree in Economics from Stella Maris (Chennai, India), an MSc in Area Development Studies from Oxford University and an MSc in Governance and Management from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Her work towards quality foundational learning for children through Madhi Foundation has been recognised by t...
2024-11-0844 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEP 92: Enma’s Musings – The Power of Vulnerability in Building Trust and Psychological SafetyIn this episode, Enma discusses how vulnerability has served as a success factor for her Atalantas, helping them build trust, foster meaningful connections, and create psychological safety within their teams.
This episode highlights stories from five inspiring Atalantas who have embraced vulnerability as a leadership strength, cultivating authentic human connections along the way.
Kim Kirkconnell: Vice President and Head of Global Digital Supply Chain and Finance at Kimberly-Clark. Kim speaks to the power of honesty during tough days, showing how sharing her struggles with her team builds trust and collective resilience. (Episode 19)
Monica Retamal: Social entrepreneur a...
2024-11-0117 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 91: [Republish] Dr. Linnie S. Carter: Inspiring Success -A Leader's Commitment to Community College Education and Philanthropy
Dr. Linnie S. Carter is an educator, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. She holds significant positions as the Vice President of College Advancement at HACC, Central Pennsylvania's Community College, and the Executive Director of the HACC Foundation. She also serves as the President and CEO of Linnie Carter & Associates LLC, a consulting firm specializing in public relations, marketing, fundraising, and executive services.
In 2011, Linnie co-founded Carter Scholars Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing financial assistance to students in Virginia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. With an impressive educational background, she holds a Ph.D. in Community College...
2024-10-181h 04
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEP 90: The Unstoppable Storyteller: Award-Winning Filmmaker Vibha Bakshi's Mission to Sensitize, Not Sensationalize(Hon) Dr. Vibha Bakshi is a critically acclaimed, multi-award-winning film director and producer and the recipient of four National Film Awards, the highest recognition in Indian cinema. She has also been awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Boston University for her work as a filmmaker and journalist.
Vibha's latest film, "Son Rise," is a multi-award-winning documentary that challenges gender injustice globally, winning the National Film Award for Best Film (non-feature). It has been selected by the UN Academic Impact to promote human rights in 1,400 institutions across 147 countries and is showcased as part of the #HeForShe movement. Her previous...
2024-10-1143 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEP 89: From Good Girl to Consequential Leader: Devika Bulchandani on Challenging Old Codes and Forging New Power StructuresDevika Bulchandani is a world-class marketer who leads with passion, purpose, and an uncompromising focus on creating impact. As Global CEO of Ogilvy, she is responsible for all aspects of the creative network's business, spanning Advertising, PR, Consulting, Relationship Design, and Health across over 120 offices in 90 countries. Under her leadership, Ogilvy has been recognized as the leading agency for creative excellence and effectiveness in the world by the World Advertising Research Center's annual ranking (WARC). Devika has received numerous recognitions for her contributions and leadership, including the Matrix Award by New York Women in Communications, Working Mother of the...
2024-10-0449 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 88: Enma's Musings: No One Succeeds Alone – Unlocking the Power of Mentorship and Strong NetworksIn this episode, Enma shifts the focus to Mentorship and Allyship as critical success factors that have helped her Atalantas thrive in their personal and professional journeys. She also reflects on her own experiences with mentorship and shares how building strong alliances has been pivotal in her growth.
The episode highlights the stories of four inspiring Atalantas across fields and their perspectives on mentoring and allyship:
Diane Schwartz: Chief Information Officer of Johnson Controls, Diane highlights the importance of allyship and how a network of female CIOs collaborated to support each other's success. (Episode 78)
Vedika Bhandarkar...
2024-09-2717 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 87: [Republish] Breaking Barriers: Devita Saraf's Unconventional Entrepreneurial OdysseyDevita started her entrepreneurial journey at the age of 24 by founding the Vu Group in California, a leader in high-end consumer electronics. Vu Televisions has a revenue of Rs.1000 Cr ($130 Million) that has sold more than 3 million televisions to date. Her passion for technology, leadership and innovation has led Vu to become the highest-selling Indian-owned TV brand in the world, and her speech to the Prime Minister at the Young CEO Champions of Change initiative had an impact on the government's Make in India manufacturing policy.
Devita is the richest self-made woman in India under 40, according to...
2024-09-2054 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 86: Creating a World of Possibilities: Nicky P. Kaur's Journey of Faith and Trust at Chandigarh Spinal RehabNicky P. Kaur, a successful entrepreneur with over 21 years of leadership experience, shifted her focus from business to a cause close to her heart: standing up for those who can't. This passion led her to start Chandigarh Spinal Rehab, where she serves as founder and CEO. Her journey of faith has resulted in a unique and holistic rehabilitation center in India dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries. Today, Chandigarh Spinal Rehab stands as a beacon of hope, providing comprehensive care and life-enhancing support under Nicky's visionary leadership.
Key...
2024-09-1337 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 85: 87 Years of Legacy: Professor Sita Kapadia's Inspiring Journey of Lifelong Learning, Creative Pursuits, and Kasturba Gandhi's BiographySita Kapadia is Professor Emeritus of English, Asian Literature, and World Literature at the City University of New York. Born and raised in India, Sita grew up in a progressive and humanitarian family deeply rooted in Gandhian values, with her father's principles and her mother's extraordinary artistic talent shaping her worldview.
Sita's journey has taken her from India to Singapore and Malaysia and finally to the United States, where she has made significant contributions to education. She is the author of The Woman Beside Gandhi: A Biography of Kasturba, Wife of the Mahatma, a work deeply connected...
2024-09-0639 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEP 84: Enma's Musings: Breaking Through Obstacles, Imposter Syndrome, Fear, and Self-Doubt Through PerseveranceIn this episode, Enma highlights Perseverance as the first key success factor to emerge from the stories of the Atalanta’s on the podcast. She reflects on how Perseverance has influenced her life and the journeys of the remarkable women she's interviewed, revisiting some of the impactful moments from past episodes.
Through the lens of Perseverance, the episode highlights the stories of four inspiring women from different fields:
Mridula Jain revolutionized India's shawl industry by breaking through Legal Barriers. (Episode 38)
Vanessa Van Ameyde navigated imposter syndrome through Strategic Preparation.(Episode 79)
Radha Kessar conquered self-doubt despite an ex...
2024-08-3015 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 83:[Republish] Preserving India's Rich Craftsmanship: Award-Winning Designer Rina Singh, Founder of Eka Design StudioRina Singh's roots are in rural North India, where she was raised within a culture of family and community craftsmanship, which continues to influence her. She has experience researching and developing indigenous Indian textile techniques with NIFT Gandhinagar, where she worked as an assistant professor. She gained international fashion insight through her travels and work with an international design studio based in Prato, Italy, and with Wills Lifestyle, where she headed the women's wear category.
In 2011, Rina Singh launched "ekà," primarily working with textile craftspeople in rural Western and Eastern India to develop natural and sustainable fabrics i...
2024-08-231h 00
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 82 : From Grassroots to Governance: Vinita Gursahani Singh’s Quest for Empowerment and Freedom Through Constitutional ValuesVinita Gursahani Singh is the Founder and Managing Trustee of We, The People Abhiyan, and she has dedicated over 28 years to advancing social development in India, with a focus on livelihoods, human rights, and active citizenship. Her work is grounded in the belief that empowering individuals with the skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary to address their own challenges is crucial for societal progress.
Vinita naturally excels in exploring issues and solutions through active dialogue and consultation, striving to build meaningful engagements with stakeholders at all levels—from grassroots communities to government agencies, corporations, and civil society organizations. Ov...
2024-08-1649 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEP 81: Navigating Leadership and Strategy: Monica’s Path from Chile to New YorkMonica has been a technology entrepreneur since 1999 and a social entrepreneur since 2015. As a founding board member of Nisum Latam, she played a crucial role in its growth and international expansion, transforming it from a Chilean startup into a global firm with 100 employees from over 25 countries, specializing in complex software development for the U.S. market.
Currently, Monica serves as the Executive Director of Kodea Nonprofit, which focuses on digitally empowering Latin Americans. Kodea promotes inclusive tech development, female digital empowerment, early innovation, and the integration of Computer Science in classrooms to foster digital talent.
...
2024-08-0939 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 80: Simran Jindal's Insightful Leadership: Navigating Global Tech and Empowering Personal GrowthWith over 20 years of international experience spanning Asia, North America, and Europe, Simran has been at the forefront of delivering transformative technology solutions across various industry verticals, including Education, Non-Profits, Retail, Real Estate, Media, and Shipping & Logistics. Her career has been dedicated to driving business operations towards a "digital first" approach, harnessing the power of technology to innovate and optimize.
Simran attributes her personal competitive advantage to a blend of pragmatism, ambition, intuition, trust in people, and an appreciation for data. Her commitment to closing the loop on any challenge that comes her way has been a...
2024-08-0243 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 79: [Republish] Vennesa Van Ameyde: Earning a Seat at the Table: A COO's Journey to Leadership and InfluenceVennesa Van Ameyde serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Kasasa, an award-winning fintech and marketing services company that provides reward checking accounts people love, the first-ever loan with Take-Backs™, and ongoing expert consulting services to more than 600 community financial institutions nationwide.
As COO, Vennesa manages the day-to-day operations, marketing, creative services, client implementation & support services, internal application infrastructure, operating standards, people programs, and culture at Kasasa.
She is a senior operating executive with demonstrated talent for transforming and scaling organizations by developing the operational infrastructure, systems, processes, reporting, and organizational strategies to foster rapid gr...
2024-07-2653 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 78: From Engineering to CIO: Diane Schwarz's Leadership InsightsDiane Schwarz is Johnson Controls' chief information officer and the global leader in smart, healthy, and sustainable buildings. She is responsible for leading a global, business-aligned information technology organization. Schwarz develops and executes enterprise-wide I.T. strategy to ensure a strong digital core for Johnson Controls to scale and achieve its global growth objectives.
A senior I.T. executive with experience in building and leading best-in-class I.T. teams, Schwarz most recently served as chief digital and information officer for Hunt Consolidated and previously worked at Textron, Bell and Honeywell. With a focus on diversity, equity and...
2024-07-1940 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 77: Championing Disability: Alina Alam's Trailblazing Work in Mitti CafeAlina Alam, founder of Mitti Cafe at the age of 23, embarked on a mission to showcase the magic of abilities to the world. She believes that compassion and courage are powerful tools in tackling global challenges, advocating strongly for inclusive development and empowering vulnerable communities. Mitti Cafe, initiated during her university years, provides sustainable livelihood opportunities for adults with physical, intellectual, and psychiatric disabilities.
Alina, a three-time TEDx speaker, is celebrated on Forbes' 30 Under 30 Asia list and has received numerous accolades, including the Commonwealth Youth Award, Niti Aayog-Women Transforming India Award, Helen Keller Award, United Nations Intercultural I...
2024-07-1241 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 76: Award-Winning Teen Trailblazer: Anoushka Jolly's Path from Bullying to Shark TankAnoushka Jolly is the 15-year-old founder of Kavach who embarked on her journey as a response to distressing childhood experiences with bullying.
Her mission began at just nine years old when she founded the Anti-Bullying Squad (www.antibullyingsquad.com), an impact enterprise that worked on creating awareness against bullying amongst children; she's since impacted over 2 million people in 20,000 schools.
After collaborating with a few NGOs and doing some more groundwork on bullying, she observed that the main reason bullying is such a big issue is that it isn't reported. Based on this ideology and the cu...
2024-07-0540 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 75: [Republish] Pooja Jesrani : The Flight Director at NASANASA’s first South Asian female flight director, Pooja Jesrani has a unique lens on building inclusive environments in high stakes circumstances.
As one of the 24 NASA Flight Directors, apart from guiding mission control Pooja is responsible for managing operations for all human spaceflight programs including the International Space Station (ISS), a habitable artificial satellite and microgravity laboratory that is maintained as a multinational collaborative project.
Pooja has managed life support and motion control systems on the ISS and has also been a capsule communicator (CAPCOM), speaking directly with the astr...
2024-06-2856 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 74: [Republish] Navigating Change: Vedika Bhandarkar's Transition from Investment Banking to Social Impact LeadershipVedika Bhandarkar, Chief Operating Officer for Water.org, is responsible for the operating efficiency and effectiveness of Water.org and for the attainment of strategic objectives and annual organizational goals. She works closely with the CEO, the executive team, and the President of WaterEquity to support the mission and vision of Water.org. She previously served as Water.org's Chief Global Impact Officer and the Managing Director of India.
Vedika has more than 25 years of experience building teams and businesses with Indian and international financial institutions. Prior to joining Water.org in January 2016, she served as Vice...
2024-06-2140 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 73: Diplomatic Diaries: Brenda Soya's Adventures in Cultural Exchange
Brenda Soya is the Public Affairs Officer at the Consulate General in Mumbai. She directs public diplomacy and outreach efforts to reach 400 million people in western India, further U.S. policy, and strengthen people-to-people relations. She leads Consulate General Mumbai's Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility organization and is committed to the aspirational goal of women's economic empowerment. Her State Department career includes working in Sierra Leone, the Holy See (Vatican), Togo, and Burkina Faso.
Brenda received a master's degree in security studies at the Naval War College in Newport, RI, and used that degree to te...
2024-05-3141 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 72: Bringing Justice, Hope, and Miracles: Judy Vaughan's almost Three-Decade Journey with Alexandria HouseJudy Vaughan, CSJ, is the Founding Director of Alexandria House, a transitional residence and neighborhood center supporting women and children in need since its establishment in 1996 in LA.
Before returning to Los Angeles, Judy served as Project Coordinator for Women for Guatemala, a solidarity organization committed to raising awareness about human rights abuses in Guatemala.
Judy also served as the National Coordinator for the National Assembly of Religious Women, a Catholic feminist organization dedicated to advocating for justice in church and society and has co-facilitated over 100 "Multicultural Look at Racism" workshops across the United States.
2024-05-1748 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 71: From Refugee to Educator: Claudia Adler's Vision for Modern EducationClaudia is a lecturer and Deputy Programme Lead at the University of York in London, where she contributes her expertise to the MSc in International Humanitarian Affairs (MIHA). Her research endeavors focus on critically examining learning approaches that empower girls and women from marginalized and rural backgrounds across South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. She engages with ancient wisdom from the Global South, seeking innovative solutions to contemporary challenges, particularly in the realm of climate change.
Central to Claudia's work is the exploration of non-mainstream pedagogical approaches within contexts marked by disasters, conflict...
2024-05-1033 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 70: [Republish] Shaheen Mistri, Founder & CEO, Teach For India - Reimagining Education in IndiaShaheen was born in Mumbai, grew up in five countries around the world and at the age of eighteen, returned to Mumbai to do something about the unequal opportunities that children have in India. Shaheen founded the first Akanksha (“aspiration” in Sanskrit) centre in 1989 with 15 children. The Akanksha Foundation today runs 26 Akanksha Schools across Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur impacting over 14,000 students and 4,000 student alumni.
In 2008, searching for a way to impact more children and inspired by the Teach For America model, Shaheen founded Teach For India with the audacious vision of providing an excellent education to all chil...
2024-05-031h 06
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 69: Leading the Change: Katherine's Influence on Youth Leadership Across SectorsKatherine has over 30 years of diverse leadership experience across the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors and a strong track record of developing leaders and connecting them across sectors to achieve collective impact.
Katherine is a graduate of Leadership Victoria's flagship Williamson Community Leadership Program, which she celebrates as a pivotal point in her life.
Katherine comes to Leadership Victoria from Youth Affairs Council Victoria (YACVic), where, as CEO, she forged a stronger youth sector and led innovative growth against the challenging backdrop of the pandemic and climate disasters. She previously worked in London as Director...
2024-04-2543 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 68: From Kitchen Beginnings to Culinary Icons: Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken's Four-Decade Gastronomic AdventureMary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger are James Beard and Julia Child award-winning chefs, cookbook authors, media personalities, and entrepreneurs.Trailblazers from the get-go, the culinary grads (Susan from Culinary Institute of America in New York and Mary Sue from Washburne Culinary Institute in Chicago) met in 1978 at Le Perroquet, one of Chicago's best French restaurants as the first women to break into the all-male kitchen. In 1981, they teamed up to open City Café and changed the culinary landscape of Los Angeles forever by introducing eclectic dishes from around the world. With a partnership of over four decades, they a...
2024-04-191h 01
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 67: Building Brands, Inspiring Leaders: The Lulu Raghavan StoryLulu Raghavan serves as the Vice President for APAC and Managing Director for India at Landor. With over 23 years of experience at Landor, spanning offices in San Francisco, New York, London, and Mumbai, Lulu has held various roles within the company. Under her leadership, Landor India received prestigious accolades, such as the Campaign South Asia Brand Design Agency of the Year 2023 and the Great Place to Work Award 2023.
Her notable awards and achievements include Campaign India Mentor of the Year 2023, Campaign India Woman Shaping Change 2023, IMPACT Top 50 Women in Media, Marketing, and Advertising (2023, 2019, 2015), and serving as a...
2024-04-1250 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 66: Dawn Paquette's Leadership Odyssey: Navigating Turbulence with Perseverance and ResilienceAs the Chief Information Officer of GE Aerospace's GE Additive, Dowty, and Unison Industries, Dawn Paquette leads the digital team and oversees technology systems worldwide. She manages three P&Ls, focusing on strategy and solutions for manufacturing 3D additive printers and powders, propeller systems for turboprop aircraft, and gas turbine engine components.
With over 20 years of leadership experience in healthcare, aerospace, and technology, Dawn previously served as a senior leader at Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, where she led business operations and technology with oversight across fourteen states and global offshoring.
Dawn is also the...
2024-04-0531 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 65: Bridging Cultures, Leading Change: Caterina's Journey from Corporate Executive to EntrepreneurCaterina Pavone is a highly experienced professional with over two decades of expertise spanning various renowned organizations worldwide. Born in Australia of Italian descent, she is currently based in the UK.
Caterina's expertise spans the Payments, Banking, and Technology sectors in leading organizations like TransUnion Ltd, Mastercard International, American Express, and Commonwealth Bank. She has spearheaded growth initiatives like Apple Pay's UK Launch and introduced innovative products for esteemed brands like HSBC, Marks & Spencer, and the John Lewis Partnership.
Caterina's contributions have earned her prestigious awards, including the CEO acknowledgment for the best strategic client...
2024-03-2247 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 64: [Republish] Sandhya's Triumph: Finding Strength and Purpose through DisabilitySandhya is a staff attorney in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division. She conducts legal research on constitutional issues and drafts judicial memoranda.
When Sandhya was two months old, she was diagnosed with a rare brittle bone disease called osteopetrosis, which caused her blindness. Sandhya attended Rice University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Behavioral Science. In June 1994, she received her Doctor of Jurisprudence from the Stanford University Law School. She was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in November 1994 a...
2024-03-1545 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 63: Empowering Indigenous Communities: Sandra Kwak's Impactful Path in SustainabilitySandra Kwak is CEO and Founder of social impact enterprise 10Power, working with Native American Tribal Nations to develop renewable energy projects with a community workforce development and gender empowerment lens. She sees renewable energy as one of the keys to forging a path for regenerative development, a concept explored in her TEDx talk "Fourth World Nation Building''. She is an advisor to Caremiles, a Board member at the Foundation for Climate Restoration, and a Partner at ResilientMarkets, applying regenerative design principles to realize the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Prior to that, she worked with AutoGrid (acquired by Schneider...
2024-03-0839 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 62: [Republish] Seema Iyer: The Untraditional People CustodianWith a Masters Degree in Demographics from University of Berkeley, California, Seema is an HR Executive with over 25 years of progressive HR experience in the technology and space industry and has played a key role in Building, Transforming and Restructuring Organizations for Success through Organizational Innovation.
She started her career with Sun Microsystems where she spent more than a decade and moved on to take on HR leadership positions at SAP, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, SSL and most recently as CHRO of MetricStream in California.
Positioned in non-traditional and transformative roles, Seema is recognized and respected f...
2024-03-0135 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 61: Shikha Malaviya: Navigating a Poetic Odyssey from the U.K. to California Championing Social JusticeShikha (Saklani) Malaviya, a poet, writer, and publisher, was born in the U.K. and raised in Minnesota and India. Co-founder of The (Great) Indian Poetry Collective, Shikha champions powerful voices from India and the Indian diaspora through a mentorship model press. Her involvement as an AWP (Association of Writers and Writing Professionals) poetry mentor and as a Mosaic America Fellow underscore her commitment to nurturing emerging talents and fostering cultural collaboration.
Shikha has released notable works such as "In Her Own Voice: Poems of Anandibai Joshee" and "Geography of Tongues," where the latter was acclaimed and...
2024-02-2333 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 60: Chiseling Sculptural Narratives: Priyanka Rana's Journey to Artistic LegacyBorn in India in 1980, Priyanka Rana's early inquiries into aesthetics and philosophy and professional work in exhibitions led her to establish a full-time sculpture practice in 2018.
Largely self-taught, Priyanka's experiments with various sculptural materials have led to a nearly singular engagement with untreated wood.
Her practice is rooted in ecology and sustainability, where she works with local trees, transforming naturally felled trunks into abstract sculptures using a range of power tools and chars many of her surfaces, which she likens to "painting with fire."
Living and working in San Francisco, California's Bay Area, Pri...
2024-02-1641 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 59: Navigating the Legal Landscape: Insights from Mexico's Successful Woman Lawyer, Claudia Aguilar BarrosoClaudia Aguilar Barroso, a distinguished lawyer from the Escuela Libre de Derecho, is the founding partner and director of the Aguilar Barroso Abogados firm. The firm was founded in 2009 and specializes in constitutional, administrative, regulatory, and human rights litigation.
Claudia is also a professor of the constitutional procedural law course at the Escuela Libre de Derecho, where she served as a member of its Board of Directors from 2018 to 2022. She served as a deputy in the Constituent Assembly of Mexico City from September 2016 to January 2017.
Member of the Mexican Bar-College of Lawyers, A.C. Since J...
2024-02-0950 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 58: Dead Woman Walking: Mountain Daughter Baljeet KaurBaljeet Kaur, an accomplished mountaineer from Solan, Himachal Pradesh, has etched her name in history with remarkable achievements. As the first Indian woman to conquer Mount Pumori Peak (7161m) and Mount Dhaulagiri Peak (8167m) in Nepal, Baljeet set a precedent. In 2022, she accomplished an unprecedented feat by becoming the first Indian to summit seven peaks above 8000m, achieving five of them within a remarkable 30 days.
Beyond her mountaineering skills, Baljeet excels in a variety of sports, demonstrating her skill in marathons, rock climbing, skiing, theatre, kabaddi, volleyball, and hockey. Her commitment to fitness is highlighted by a...
2024-02-0243 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 57: From Bureaucracy to Bookshelves: Rachna Singh's Path Beyond the Revenue ServiceRachna Singh former Principal Commissioner Income Tax is a multifaceted professional whose expertise spans across literature, finance, and writing. She authored notable books on economic matters, including 'Penny Panache: Piecing the Economic Puzzle' (2016), 'Financial Felicity: Making Sense of Money Matters' (2017), and 'Myriad Musings' (2016), a compilation of her published articles and travelogues. Her recent publication, 'The Bitcoin Saga: A Mixed Montage,' was released by Bloomsbury.
In the academic sphere, Rachna excelled in English Literature at Punjab University, earning gold medals for academic excellence. Her outstanding achievements led to the Nehru Centenary scholarship for a doctorate at the...
2024-01-2648 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 56: In Pursuit of Gender Equality: Srishti Bakshi's Epic 3800 km Journey - Inspiring the Award-Winning Film, WOMBSrishti is a dynamic and accomplished impact leader with a track record of successfully designing and implementing projects that create systems change.
After spending more than a decade in the corporate world, Srishti’s passion for gender equity led her to embark on a remarkable journey. She walked 3,800 kilometers over 230 days from the very south to the north of India to put a spotlight on social norms that limit a girl's potential in her country. Srishti put up a fight to bring systemic change for all women.
Her journey has been captured in an 11-time awa...
2024-01-1951 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 55: Enma's Musings: Growth and Breakthroughs on Atalanta DiariesJoin Enma as she reflects on a year of Atalanta Diaries, sharing personal insights and growth. Explore the transformative power of breakthrough stories and the inspiration they bring. Listen to how these insights extend beyond the podcast, sparking meaningful dialogue among professionals navigating their leadership journeys. Tune in for a unique perspective that might ignite your own journey to greatness.
Connect with Enma Popli on Linkedin:
>> https://www.linkedin.com/in/enmapopli/
Visit Enma Popli's website>> http://www.enmapopli.com/
2024-01-1203 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 54: [Republish] Leading with Purpose at Schneider Electric: Insights and Lessons from Annette Clayton's Inspiring JourneyAnnette Clayton serves as the chief executive officer for Schneider Electric North America. She is responsible for the business strategy and developing and fostering new growth business models in the areas of sustainability, decarbonization, and renewables for the company's largest operating region, which generated $12 billion in revenue in 2022. She is also a member of Schneider Electric's executive committee.
Annette has successfully led the execution of the North American region, overseeing a workforce of 30,000 employees and achieving impressive sales exceeding $8.5 billion in 2021. Her contributions extend further as she previously held the title of Chief Supply Chain Officer, responsible...
2023-12-1542 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 53: [Republish] Meenakshi Wadhwa - Award Winning Planetary ScientistMeenakshi Wadhwa is a planetary scientist and educator who studies the formation and evolution of the Solar System through analysis of planetary materials including Meteorites, Moon rocks and other Extraterrestrial Samples returned by Spacecraft Missions.
Meenakshi is currently director and Foundation Professor in the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University and is additionally appointed as a Distinguished Visiting Scientist and Mars Sample Return Principal Scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
She was previously director of the Center for Meteorite Studies at Arizona State University (2006-2019), where she oversaw the curation of on...
2023-12-0856 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 52: Nurturing Networks, Cultivating Friendships: Hafimi Abdul Haadii's Journey in International BoardroomsBorn into a third-generation business family in Brunei Darussalam, Hafimi Abdul Haadi is the Executive Director of the LVK Group of Companies. Her upbringing reflects a diverse cultural background since she spent her early years in Brunei, New Zealand, and Australia.
Dedicated to public service, Hafimi has held influential positions as the Chairperson of the Competition Commission of Brunei Darussalam since 2018. She was also a member of the Legislative Council of Brunei Darussalam from 2017 to 2022, where her contributions made a lasting impression.
Hafimi's commitment to fostering entrepreneurship is evident through her leadership at the Young E...
2023-12-0142 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 51: From Cricket to Commentary and Beyond: Mel Jones' Brave Strides in Equity and InclusionBorn in the UK, Melanie Jones (Mel) returned to Melbourne with her Australian mother at just 3 months old while her West Indian father remained in the UK.
Mel is currently a part of Fox Sports' Cricket team, anchoring coverage alongside renowned cricket personalities. She leads commentary for significant events like the World Cups and the 2023 men's and women's Ashes series for Sky Sport.
Her journey into sports commentary began in 2015 when she became one of the first-ever female commentators in the Indian Premier League (IPL). By 2018, Mel had transitioned into full-time sports commentary, notably becoming t...
2023-11-1745 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 50: Preserving India's Rich Craftsmanship: Award-Winning Designer Rina Singh, Founder of Eka Design Studio"Rina Singh's roots are in rural North India, where she was raised within a culture of family and community craftsmanship, which continues to influence her. She has experience researching and developing indigenous Indian textile techniques with NIFT Gandhinagar, where she worked as an assistant professor. She gained international fashion insight through her travels and work with an international design studio based in Prato, Italy, and with Wills Lifestyle, where she headed the women's wear category.
In 2011, Rina Singh launched "ekà," primarily working with textile craftspeople in rural Western and Eastern India to develop natural and sustainable fabrics i...
2023-11-101h 00
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 49: Breaking Norms and Embracing Identity: A Sikh-American CEO and LGBTQ Activist's Trailblazing JourneyRayman Mathoda is a CEO, board director, and social entrepreneur with a compelling track record of transforming companies to deliver exceptional growth and value creation. Rayman successfully transformed 5 companies, executing 4 M&A transactions with Fortune 500 buyers or sellers, including exits to Fidelity National Financial and Goldman Sachs.
Rayman serves as an independent board member for Mosaic Finance, a market-leading clean energy fintech, and previously served as a board director for Genesis Capital, Sharestates, GPX, the Housing Authority of the City of LA (HACLA), LA LGBT Center, and Planned Parenthood LA.
Rayman started her career at M...
2023-11-0342 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 48: [Republish] The Evolution of a Film Producer - Swati Shetty's Cinematic AdventureSwati Shetty is a producer based in Los Angeles and the Founder & Director of Samosa Stories. She is a Pharmacist and MBA by education.
Swati began her entertainment career at StarTV, followed by Disney. Earlier, as President of Balaji Motion Pictures, Swati put together a successful slate of films, starting with The Dirty Picture, the first-ever female-driven film that had extraordinary success at the box office. She also produced Umrika, a drama that won India's first Sundance award (2015).
Prior to launching her own company, Samosa stories, Swati was Executive Vice President at Imagine Entertainment and...
2023-10-271h 02
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 47: Championing Transformations: Asha Kharga's Leadership Journey in a Changing LandscapeAsha Kharga is the Chief Customer and brand Officer and a Member of the Group Executive Board of the Mahindra Group. In her role, Asha leads Group Corporate Brand, Group Corporate Communications, and Mahindra Culture Festivals for the Group. She is responsible for building two big capabilities for the Group – one on Customer Experience and the other is the Customer Data Platform – the largest repository of the entire Group's customer data that drives business impact.
She is the Chairperson of the Mahindra Group's Diversity Council and is a Director on the Board of Mahindra Holdings Pvt. Ltd, as we...
2023-10-2035 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 46: Zainab M. A. Omar's Inspiring Journey: A Tale of Mother's Wisdom and Husband's SacrificesZainab commenced her career with the Brunei Shell Joint Ventures Companies in 1983, accumulating valuable international experience in countries like Oman, Qatar, the UK, Netherlands, Norway, and the ASEAN region. She actively contributed to multicultural teams, enriching her global perspective.
In her role as the HR Director of Brunei Shell Petroleum from September 2017 to July 2023, Zainab played a pivotal role in enhancing the organisation's competitive performance and supporting ambitious growth goals through a strong commitment to people excellence.
Zainab's journey is deeply influenced by her family, drawing inspiration from her mother's values and benefiting from her...
2023-10-1337 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 45: Kim Kirkconnell's Legacy at Kimberly-Clark: A Journey of Choices and OpportunitiesKim Kirkconnell joined Kimberly-Clark in 1990 as a System Analyst.
Her leadership journey began as an ITS Team Leader for Manufacturing, which led to her taking on the positions of Organization Effectiveness Project Manager, IT Director of Kimberly-Clark Global Professional Division, IT Strategic Planning Director, and Senior Director of ITS KCP Business Partner KCP.
Kim is currently the Vice President and Head of Global Digital Supply Chain and Finance. In this role, she is driving technology enablement for the Kimberly-Clark Global Supply Chain, the Finance organization, and Digital Operations across the globe. Her current focus is e...
2023-10-0639 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 44: Navigating Change: Vedika Bhandarkar's Transition from Investment Banking to Social Impact LeadershipVedika Bhandarkar, Chief Operating Officer for Water.org, is responsible for the operating efficiency and effectiveness of Water.org and for the attainment of strategic objectives and annual organizational goals. She works closely with the CEO, the executive team, and the President of WaterEquity to support the mission and vision of Water.org. She previously served as Water.org's Chief Global Impact Officer and the Managing Director of India.
Vedika has more than 25 years of experience building teams and businesses with Indian and international financial institutions. Prior to joining Water.org in January 2016, she served as Vice...
2023-09-2940 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 43: Leading with Purpose at Schneider Electric: Insights and Lessons from Annette Clayton's Inspiring JourneyAnnette Clayton serves as the chief executive officer for Schneider Electric North America. She is responsible for the business strategy and developing and fostering new growth business models in the areas of sustainability, decarbonization, and renewables for the company's largest operating region, which generated $12 billion in revenue in 2022. She is also a member of Schneider Electric's executive committee.
Annette has successfully led the execution of the North American region, overseeing a workforce of 30,000 employees and achieving impressive sales exceeding $8.5 billion in 2021. Her contributions extend further as she previously held the title of Chief Supply Chain Officer, responsible...
2023-09-2242 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp. 42: Breaking grounds and Barriers: Lieutenant Colonel Kristal Turner-Childs' Inspiring JourneyKristal Turner-Childs served as a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper for 25 years. She was the first African-American female Deputy Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police. She has also distinguished herself as the first African-American female to command a troop and the second African-American female to obtain the rank of Major in the history of the Pennsylvania State Police.
Kristal Turner-Childs earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Elizabethtown College and a master's degree from Central Penn College. She is also a graduate of the Northwestern School of Police Staff and Command and the FBI National Academy.
2023-09-1547 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 41: From Filmmaking to Folklore: Shabnam Virmani's Passage into Kabir's LegacyShabnam Virmani is a national award-winning documentary filmmaker, writer, and artist. She is the founder of the Kabir Project, which was initiated in 2002 as a response to the Gujarat riots that propelled her on a quest for understanding. Over the past two decades, she has delved into the philosophy of mystic poets like Kabir and Shah Latif through a deep engagement with their oral folk traditions.
Her deep inspiration in this poetry has taken the shape of four documentary films on Kabir, a digital archive named Ajab Shahar, authored books, the organization of urban festivals and rural...
2023-09-081h 11
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 40: Breaking Barriers: Devita Saraf's Unconventional Entrepreneurial OdysseyDevita started her entrepreneurial journey at the age of 24 by founding the Vu Group in California, a leader in high-end consumer electronics. Vu Televisions has a revenue of Rs.1000 Cr ($130 Million) that has sold more than 3 million televisions to date. Her passion for technology, leadership and innovation has led Vu to become the highest-selling Indian-owned TV brand in the world, and her speech to the Prime Minister at the Young CEO Champions of Change initiative had an impact on the government's Make in India manufacturing policy.
Devita is the richest self-made woman in India under 40, according to...
2023-09-0154 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 39: Enma's Musings: Reflections from the Atalanta DiariesIn this edition, we delve into a thought-provoking article from the Wall Street Journal that sets Enma's thoughts in motion, leading her to pause and reflect on her journey.
As we walk alongside Enma, we'll uncover how conservative mindsets have an impact on the progress of women in the workplace and sometimes even hold them back.
Enma takes us on a journey into these attitudes, identifying them as barriers to women's empowerment and growth. Her exploration opens up a broader conversation, blending seamlessly with her own experiences through the 30 inspiring journeys chronicled in the Atalanta...
2023-08-2514 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 38: Weaving a Legacy: Mridula Jain's Entrepreneurial Journey in Shawl InnovationMridula Jain's journey is a testament to her dedication to innovation and entrepreneurship. In 1987, with only eight handlooms, she embarked on a transformational path that redefined the shawl industry. Her infusion of vibrant designs, bold colors, and contemporary aesthetics breathed new life into traditional shawls, setting Shingora Shawls on a trajectory of trendsetting success.
With a visionary outlook, Mridula Jain recognized the potential of the global market. Taking Shingora Shawls beyond borders, she expanded her brand's presence to over 275 cities across Europe, Australia, the USA, and China.
Mridula played a pivotal role in driving significant c...
2023-08-1839 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 37: Finding Purpose: Sandhya's Quest to Reimagining EducationSandhya is the founder of Aavishkaar - A Center for Science, Arts, and Technology that aims to make teaching science and math effective, efficient, and fun. The program aims to encourage hands-on learning through models, experiments, experience, and projects. This is where teachers become the storytellers, and the experiments/models become the props.
Sandhya is an electrical engineer, a math & science enthusiast, and a women's education advocate. She has a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Iowa State University, USA, with several publications and patents. She has been an academic achiever with many awards. She also has a...
2023-08-1144 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 36: [Republish] From Struggle to Impact: Nichol Ng's Inspiring Resilience in Life and Entrepreneurship
Nichol Ng is CEO and Managing Director of X-Inc Pte Ltd, the parent of a group of companies that has been in the food business since the 1930s. She oversees about 200 employees, more than 5,000 products, over 4,500 customers, and an annual turnover exceeding S$65 million. Together, the companies bring to life dreams in the food ecosystem – from foodservice and retail to logistics and property.
It was her passion for food as well as a desire to deliver service with a heart that drove Nichol to take over the family business and she rebranded the com...
2023-08-0452 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 35: [Republish] Dr. Ettie Zilber on Building Inclusive Communities: Lessons from an International School LeaderEttie has served as an educator and school leader at international schools in Israel, Singapore, China, Guatemala, Spain, and the USA and has also served as Adjunct Professor for various universities.
She has served as Secretary on the Board of the Academy of International School Heads and ECIS and participated on the Advisory Council for AAIE.
As a consultant to internationally mobile communities, she is passionate about sharing her experience, research, and strategies with communities worldwide and assisting them to thrive in a multicultural and multilingual world. After retiring from full-time work in international schools, Et...
2023-07-2844 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 34: [Republish] From Darkness to Empowerment: The Inspirational Journey of Sandhya RaoSandhya is a staff attorney in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division. She conducts legal research on constitutional issues and drafts judicial memoranda.
When Sandhya was two months old, she was diagnosed with a rare brittle bone disease called osteopetrosis, which caused her blindness. Sandhya attended Rice University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Behavioral Science. In June 1994, she received her Doctor of Jurisprudence from the Stanford University Law School. She was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in November 1994 an...
2023-07-2142 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 33: [Republish] Breaking Barriers, Embracing Neurodiversity: The Inspiring Journey of Tech Leader Jenny DearbornRecognized as one of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Tech for five consecutive years, Jenny is a thought leader in HR, Human Capital Management, the Future of Work, and data analytics. She is the Founder of Actionable Analytics Group, an advisory firm that supports Human Capital Management and Education Tech startups from Seed to IPO.
Her first book, Data Driven, was selected as one of the top 10 for “What Corporate America is Reading” out of 11,000 business books published that year. Her next book, The Data Driven Leader, was published in November 2017. She is a regular contributor to USA...
2023-07-1440 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 32: [Republish] Defying Conventions, Creating Legacies: Award Winning Architect Abha Narain Lambah's Trailblazing Path"Abha's architectural practice includes the restoration of 15th Century temples in Ladakh and Hampi, mosques, historic palaces, forts and caravansarais in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab. She has worked on Mughal gardens in Kashmir, urban and regional conservation in Kancheepuram and Shekhawati and conserving colonial heritage in Delhi, Nainital and Mumbai. She has prepared the UNESCO Nomination Dossier for the ancient Buddhist site of Sarnath as well as management plans for UNESCO sites of Ajanta, and Bodh Gaya, Amer Fort as well as modern heritage of Corbusier’s Capitol Complex and Mumbai’s Art Deco & Victorian ensembles.
2023-07-0742 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 31: From Badminton Courts to Boardrooms: Nandini Dias' Trailblazing Leadership in the Media ArenaNandini Dias, an independent Advisor to the Media and Entertainment industry, brings a wealth of experience as the former CEO of Universal McCann and Lodestar. She has consistently been ranked among the top 10 influential leaders in the Indian advertising and media industry by Economic Times for several years, being the sole woman leader in the initial two years.
With almost three decades of career milestones, Nandini has successfully launched over 400 brands while strategically managing communication and investments for more than 250 notable businesses across diverse sectors. Her innovative mindset has led to the development of research-based tools that...
2023-06-3047 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 30: Fatin Arifin: From Introvert to Influencer, Championing Brunei's Development and Youth EmpowermentFatin Arifin is an advocate for entrepreneurship and youth development and has made a significant impact both locally and regionally as a catalyst for development. She has founded and co-founded various initiatives, including the Brunei Chevening Youth Forum (BCYF) in 2015, the Chevening Youth Forum – Southeast Asia in 2017, and for-purpose enterprises like the Young Professionals Network. Through these platforms, she has engaged with over 10,000 young individuals, providing invaluable opportunities for personal and skills development.
In 2021, during Brunei's ASEAN Chairmanship, Fatin served as the Chairperson of the ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Council (AYEC), founded the ASEAN Young Women Entrepreneurs Club (AY...
2023-06-2348 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 29: Honoring Fathers: Tales of Love, Guidance, and InspirationIn this Father's Day special edition of Atalanta Diaries, we delve into the profound impact fathers have had on the lives of my amazing guests as they embarked on their journeys.
These fathers have served as role models, mentors, and sources of inspiration, shaping the dreams and guiding the paths of their daughters. From sacrifices made to unwavering support, their influence has been immeasurable.
This episode celebrates the fathers who have played instrumental roles in nurturing the incredible women we honor today. Join us as we listen to these powerful life lessons and the lasting le...
2023-06-1619 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 28: Building a Legacy: Tanya Hart Little's Inspiring Journey from C-Suite to EntrepreneurshipTanya Hart Little is the co-founder and managing partner of Hart Commercial. In addition to brokerage assignments, Tanya leads the strategic planning, operations, franchise, and corporate services accounts for the firm. With 35 years of experience in multiple aspects of commercial real estate, Tanya has built marketing and asset management platforms for some of North America's largest real estate and finance companies.
In 2009, Tanya founded a distressed debt real estate advisory company, Hart Advisors Group, where she and her team completed over $11 billion in commercial loan restructures, assumptions, recapitalizations, and loan sales through 2020, when she sold the company...
2023-06-091h 02
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 27: Breaking Barriers and Leading Change: Bhavani Vadlamudi's Inspiring Journey from Classroom to BoardroomBhavani Vadlamudi, a visionary in the field of Information Technology, is known for her expertise in ERP transformations and her innovative approach to business challenges.
Originally from the small town of Gudivada in India, Bhavani began her professional journey as a computer teacher at Aptech Computers. Driven by her passion for technology and a desire to make a broader impact, she pivoted into the field of Information Technology. With a degree in Computer Science and Engineering, Bhavani quickly established herself as an exceptional Systems Engineer, Network Administrator, and ERP database administrator.
Bhavani's career took a s...
2023-06-0253 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 26: Dr. Linnie S. Carter: Inspiring Success -A Leader's Commitment to Community College Education and PhilanthropyDr. Linnie S. Carter is an educator, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. She holds significant positions as the Vice President of College Advancement at HACC, Central Pennsylvania's Community College, and the Executive Director of the HACC Foundation. She also serves as the President and CEO of Linnie Carter & Associates LLC, a consulting firm specializing in public relations, marketing, fundraising, and executive services.
In 2011, Linnie co-founded Carter Scholars Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing financial assistance to students in Virginia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. With an impressive educational background, she holds a Ph.D. in Community College Leadership from...
2023-05-261h 04
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 25: Annette Philip - Embracing Imperfections: The Grammy-Nominee Art Entrepreneur's Journey in Leadership and Self-GrowthAnnette Philip is a multi-award-winning musician, educator, and arts entrepreneur. A seasoned recording and touring artist, composer, pianist, and voice-over actor, she is a Grammy-nominated producer, an Emmy-nominated TV personality, and a bonafide sari connoisseur.
At Boston's Berklee College of Music, Annette is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Berklee Indian Ensemble, a viral phenomenon with over 300 million views. In 2023, the Ensemble's debut album, "Shuruaat," was nominated for a Grammy for Best Global Music Album. Besides performances with several legends, including A.R. Rahman, Bill Whelan, Nona Hendryx, and Zakir Hussain, Annette has spent over a...
2023-05-191h 02
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 24: Tribute to Motherhood: Stories of Love, Sacrifice, and StrengthIn this special Mother's Day episode of Atalanta Diaries, we honor the amazing mothers and grandmothers who have made sacrifices, shown unwavering love, and inspired their daughters to become their best selves.
Our host pays tribute to her own mother, who encouraged her to pursue her dreams and has been the foundation of her success. We'll also hear from other Atalantas who credit their mothers for their success and how they have navigated different roles to become breakthrough women themselves. These women are inspiring the next generation of strong, resilient, and loving women.
Join us a...
2023-05-1225 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 23: Vennesa Van Ameyde: Earning a Seat at the Table: A COO's Journey to Leadership and InfluenceVennesa Van Ameyde serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Kasasa, an award-winning fintech and marketing services company that provides reward checking accounts people love, the first-ever loan with Take-Backs™, and ongoing expert consulting services to more than 600 community financial institutions nationwide.
As COO, Vennesa manages the day-to-day operations, marketing, creative services, client implementation & support services, internal application infrastructure, operating standards, people programs, and culture at Kasasa.
Vennesa is a senior operating executive with demonstrated talent for transforming and scaling organizations by developing the operational infrastructure, systems, processes, reporting, and organizational strategies to foster rapid gr...
2023-05-0554 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 22: Monica Manpreet Singh - America's First Female Sikh Judge: Breaking Barriers for Women of Color and the Sikh CommunityJudge Manpreet “Monica” Singh was born, raised, and educated in Houston, and earned her bachelor's degree from University of Texas at Austin and her Juris Doctor (JD) from South Texas College of Law.
Before her election to Harris County Civil Court at Law #4 in 2022 where she made history as Texas’ first Sikh Judge, Monica was a practicing attorney for 21 years. In 2010 she was runner-up for the Houston Young Lawyers Association Most Outstanding Attorney and the South Asian Bar Association honored her with the Distinguished Member Award in 2017.
Monica has served on the Board of Directors of the Am...
2023-04-2837 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 21: Jaya Padmanabhan, Software Engineer Turned Journalist, Juggled, Parenting and WritingJaya is a veteran journalist, essayist, and fiction writer.
An undergrad in Psychology and a software engineer Jaya made a foray in the world of writing much later, yet in her twenty years in the journalism field as an editor, columnist and reporter she has received 30 awards, most notably from the San Francisco Press Club and Writers Digest. Jaya has also garnered 8 fiction awards including the Lorian Hemingway Award for short fiction.
Her columns and articles can be found in India Currents, PBS Next Avenue, San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco Standard, Forbes, The Bold Italic, and...
2023-04-2144 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 20: Dr. Radha Kessar - Self Doubt is a Reality, Experiences of an Award Winning MathematicianRadha Kessar is a mathematician and educator working in the representation theory of finite groups, a branch of abstract algebra.
She is a professor in pure mathematics at the University of Manchester, having previously been a professor at City, University of London and the University of Aberdeen. She is the only woman to have been a professor of mathematics at the University of Aberdeen.
Earlier in her career, Radha held a Weir Junior Research Fellowship at University College, Oxford. Her career has spanned both sides of the Atlantic, and she has held positions at The Ohio State University...
2023-04-1453 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 19: Dr. Meeran Chadha Borwankar - Award Winning Indian Police Service Officer, Retired as Director General of PoliceDr. Meeran Chadha Borwankar is a retired IPS officer who served in the state of Maharashtra, India, from 1981 to 2017 and retired as the Director General of the Bureau of Police Research and Development.
Among many prestigious positions, Dr. Borwankar was the first woman Police Commissioner in Pune City, the first woman Chief of the Mumbai Crime Branch, and the Chief of the Maharashtra Prison Department.
In recognition of her illustrious police career, Dr. Borwankar was awarded the President of India Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 2006 and the Police Medal for Meritorious Services in 1997. She w...
2023-04-0747 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 18: Shaheen Mistri, Founder & CEO, Teach For India - Reimagining Education in IndiaShaheen was born in Mumbai, grew up in five countries around the world and at the age of eighteen, returned to Mumbai to do something about the unequal opportunities that children have in India. Shaheen founded the first Akanksha (“aspiration” in Sanskrit) centre in 1989 with 15 children. The Akanksha Foundation today runs 26 Akanksha Schools across Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur impacting over 14,000 students and 4,000 student alumni.
In 2008, searching for a way to impact more children and inspired by the Teach For America model, Shaheen founded Teach For India with the audacious vision of providing an excellent education to all chil...
2023-03-241h 06
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 17: Nichol Ng - The Traditional FuturistNichol Ng is CEO and Managing Director of X-Inc Pte Ltd, the parent of a group of companies that has been in the food business since the 1930s. She oversees about 200 employees, more than 5,000 products, over 4,500 customers, and an annual turnover exceeding S$65 million. Together, the companies bring to life dreams in the food ecosystem – from foodservice and retail to logistics and property.
It was her passion for food as well as a desire to deliver service with a heart that drove Nichol to take over the family business and she rebranded the company in May 2007.
...
2023-03-1751 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 16: Sandhya Rao - The Mission Driven Bionic LadySandhya is a staff attorney in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division. She conducts legal research on constitutional issues and drafts judicial memoranda.
When Sandhya was two months old, she was diagnosed with a rare brittle bone disease called osteopetrosis, which caused her blindness. Sandhya attended Rice University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Behavioral Science. In June 1994, she received her Doctor of Jurisprudence from the Stanford University Law School. She was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in November 1994 a...
2023-03-1046 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 15: Jenny Dearborn - Board Director, Author, Chief Talent Officer and Proudly NeurodiverseRecognized as one of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Tech for five consecutive years, Jenny is a thought leader in HR, Human Capital Management, the Future of Work, and data analytics. She is the Founder of Actionable Analytics Group, an advisory firm that supports Human Capital Management and Education Tech startups from Seed to IPO.
Her first book, Data Driven, was selected as one of the top 10 for “What Corporate America is Reading” out of 11,000 business books published that year. Her next book, The Data Driven Leader, was published in November 2017. She is a regular contributor to USA...
2023-03-0354 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 14: Meenakshi Wadhwa - Award Winning Planetary ScientistMeenakshi Wadhwa is a planetary scientist and educator who studies the formation and evolution of the Solar System through analysis of planetary materials including Meteorites, Moon rocks and other Extraterrestrial Samples returned by Spacecraft Missions.
Meenakshi is currently director and Foundation Professor in the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University and is additionally appointed as a Distinguished Visiting Scientist and Mars Sample Return Principal Scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
She was previously director of the Center for Meteorite Studies at Arizona State University (2006-2019), where she oversaw the curation of o...
2023-02-2457 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 13: Abha Narain - Award Winning ArchitectAbha Narain Lambah is a practicing Conservation Architect and a recipient of the Eisenhower Fellowship, Charles Wallace Fellowship (U.K.), Sankriti Award, Architect of the Year Award 2019 Architectural Digest and Architect of the Year Award CNBC Awaaz 2017. Her firm was awarded the Architectural Digest Architect of the Year in 2019 and has been included in the AD100 Architects List and the WoW List of 20 projects by Architectural Digest.
Abha's architectural practice includes the restoration of 15th Century temples in Ladakh and Hampi, mosques, historic palaces, forts and caravansarais in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab. She has worked on M...
2023-02-1759 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 12: Dr. Monalisa Sur - Making Tough ChoicesDr Monalisa Sur is a Professor in the department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine and an associate member of Department of Oncology, Juravinski Cancer Centre and Hospital in Ontario, Canada.
She is a Practising Diagnostic Anatomical Pathologist with expertise in Gynaecological Oncologic Pathology and Malignant Hematopathology and is the Chair of the Mentorship Committee in McMaster University and the Anatomical Pathology Specialty Chair and Exam Board Member at Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
In her role as Country Advisor and Co-Chair of Policy, Advocacy and Communications for the International Committee of the R...
2023-02-1147 min
Atalanta Diaries Breakthrough Women in Conversation with Enma PopliEp 11: Archana Chandra - The Purpose Driven LeaderArchana Chandra is a Board Member & CEO of Jai Vakeel Foundation & Research Centre, one of the oldest & largest NGOs serving those impacted by intellectual disabilities. She is a Trustee of SRCC, which operates the largest super specialty pediatric hospital in the country in partnership with Narayana Hrudayalaya.
She is also a member of the Advisory Board of Annamrita, one of the largest NGOs in the country serving mid-day meals, and of Antarang Foundation, which provides skilling and employment opportunities to less privileged youth.
Archana serves on the Board of the A.T.E.Chandra Foundation...
2023-02-0358 min