Meet the Team

Sheetal M Mehta Walsh
Founder and President
Sheetal
Sheetal M. Walsh
Founder and President

Sheetal is an entrepreneur, angel investor and social entrepreneur. In 2009 she founded Shanti Life, a microfinance organization that helps the poor in India build sustainable businesses and access sanitation through microfinance. Since 2006, Sheetal has served as Deal Maker (by appointment) for the Global Entrepreneur Programme, Department for International Trade (UK Government) where she attracts entrepreneurs into the UK so that they can build global networks through Deal Maker networks. Sheetal serves on various boards including MetaCert a mobile security start-up and UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School.

Prior to this Sheetal founded Innovative Social Ventures, a consultancy for start-ups to provide social impact through technology. From 2000- 2005 Sheetal was Director of VC Relations at Microsoft where she worked with the Venture Capital community in EMEA and the Silicon Valley to help their portfolio companies leverage the .NET initiative, access smart funding and go to market.

Sheetal is a spokesperson on microfinance, angel investing, entrepreneurship, technology, social enterprise and women in tech and has presented at Stanford, Berkeley, Cambridge, LSE, Doha Forum, Big Society, House of Lords, TEDx and other prestigious forums.

Sheetal has received several awards: Asian Women of Achievement: Social and Humanitarian (Prince Charles and Cherie Blair) for her efforts on taking technology to developing communities in India and Africa (2005); Management Today Magazine 35 Under 35; Success Magazine No 5 of top most powerful Asian women in the UK (2006), Award for Entrepreneur of the Year by Asian Woman Magazine and No 3 Ones To Watch’ section of the Asian Power 100 list – the most influential and highest achieving Asian women in Britain (2007). Sheetal has been invited to Buckingham Palace for “Women in Business” reception hosted by Her Majesty, The Queen in November 2007, Alumni Award of Excellence from the University of Alberta and awarded funding from the Microsoft Alumni Integral Awards 2012. Sheetal has a Masters in International Relations (Economics) at the London School of Economics and a BA (Honors) in International Politics at the University of Alberta, Canada. Sheetal is a British and Canadian citizen based in the Silicon Valley and teaches yoga globally.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheetalmehtawalsh
Help us Flush It Forward by giving the gift of a toilet so that beneficiaries can be safe, healthy and productive enough to set up their own businesses. Your gift is given in the form of a low interest loan along with financial literacy training and a bank account. Upon repayment the funds get recycled - Flush It Forward - means another woman can have access to a toilet and so on and so on. Your gift keeps on giving. Financial inclusion and empowerment of women are key to the future of these vulnerable communities. Thank you for your support.
Signature

Paul Walsh
Paul Walsh
Co Founder and USA Board
Paul Walsh
Co Founder and USA Board
Paul Walsh - I co-founded Shanti Life with my wife to help poor entrepreneurs in India get their businesses off the ground with low-interest microfinance loans, mentoring and education in basic literacy skills.

After raising just over $1M in seed funding from 14 angels across Silicon Valley, Russia, Dubai and London, I’m building the next generation Internet Security Company for smart devices, called MetaCert. With the biggest data set of its kind worldwide, MetaCert helps families, schools and enterprises provide better protection against harmful and inappropriate content. Now focused on solving the security threats behind mobile apps that use WebView.

In 2004 I became an investor and Partner in one of Dublin’s most glamorous Michelin star Indian restaurants called Jaipur in Malahide, Dublin.

In 2003 I founded a software testing company called Segala, generating $2.2M revenue in year one. It was profitable within months and later became one of the most respected test houses in the mobile industry. Segala was the first test house worldwide, to become an Associate member of the GSM Association.

I started my Internet career when I joined AOL as a young startup during the mid 90’s. I started as a technician and soon after I became the first Technical Accounts Manager and International Beta Coordinator in Europe.

I spent 12 years in the UK where I was Chair of the British Interactive Media Association (BIMA) for 3 years and Advisor to the British Council on its Digital Pioneer Program with Hong Kong and Advisor to its Creative Entrepreneur Program with India. I gave regular speaking engagements throughout Europe and was a judge at many startup awards. I’ve spoken at numerous Universities including Hass Business School Berkley, University College Dublin and National University of Ireland in Galway.

I have been Advisor to numerous tech startups in the UK and Ireland as well as Angels Den, Europe’s largest Angel Network. I helped to stimulate the startup ecosystem in the UK by creating some of the most widely attended networking events for entrepreneurs and investors. I am currently on the Board of iTagged, an artificial intelligence platform with social applications.

I have contributed to more than 10 Industry technical standards and specifications and was one of the seven original founders of the W3C Mobile Web Initiative and I co-instigated the creation of the W3C standard for content labeling, formally replacing PICS in 2009.
Sanjay Joshi
Sanjay Joshi
CEO, Shanti Life India
Sanjay Joshi
CEO, Shanti Life India
Sanjay has been a long time advisor to our activities in the Gujarat region in helping to alleviate poverty through microfinance, health and education. He is instrumental in collaborating with our partners and managing Shanti’s local activities. Sanjay brings 25 years of experience in the development sector with leading NGOs of India and specifically developing and conducting field based projects and programmes. His hands on experience, local understanding of the issues and trust of the communities make him an invaluable asset to our team. Sanjay works with IIM Ahmedabad, focusing on Child Health projects and has consulted with several organizations (including CEE, SAATH, FRHS, and CHETNA) in providing capacity building, material development and documentation for training and reporting. Sanjay holds a Masters of Social Work and BA and has an expertise in film.
Jitender Jain
Jitender Jain
Board Member India
Jitender Jain
Board Member India
Jitender is a lawyer specializing in Indian corporate & tax laws. Jitender is law graduate from University of Delhi, India and is also a member of Institute of Company Secretaries of India and Institute of Chartered Secretaries & Administrators, The United Kingdom. Jitender previously worked with top Indian law firms. Presently, Jitender is partner of Mumbai based law firm ArcIndo Law. Jitender has vast experience on the Indian laws and business environment and his name is included in the list of Recognized Legal Practitioners by Chambers & Partners – Asia Pacific 2013 for ‘Private Equity in India’.
Nihaal Khanna
Nihaal Khanna
Director UK
Nihaal Khanna
Director UK

Nihaal is a Private Equity Finance Solicitor at a Tier-1 law firm in the City of London. He specialises in acquisition finance with a particular focus on advising private equity houses and financial sponsors on their domestic and cross-border leveraged finance acquisitions and investment holdings. He also sits on the India Group Committee at his law firm. As part of his professional career, Nihaal has spent 6-months on secondment as Legal Counsel in the private equity division of an international specialist bank and asset manager.

By background, Nihaal read Law at the University of Warwick and achieved a Master of Laws with distinction at the University of Law. He has spent 6-months working in leading Indian corporate law firms in Mumbai and New Delhi from which he has developed strong relationships within India.

Nihaal is also a board member of City Hindus Network, a 3,000 member strong networking organisation in London; he was recently elected as Vice-Chairman.

Rohana Samtani
Rohana Samtani
Director UK
Rohana Samtani
Director UK
Rohana manages business development for family rung business, The Lux Travel Group (London, USA and UAE) where she attracts new clients, suppliers and corporate contracts. . She specialises in crafting unforgettable journeys specifically tailored to a limited number of high net worth individuals and corporates. Rohana has been instrumental in developing a sustainability model for the artisans and craftsmen in Gujarat so that they can scale their businesses. Rohana has made several field trips to Gujarat to meet with the recipients. She graduated in Law at King’s college London in 2012.
Mrudula Mehta
Mrudula Mehta
Global Advisor, Director Canada
Mrudula Mehta
Global Advisor, Director Canada
Mrudula is Sheetal’s mother and most influenced her at a young age to get involved in community efforts especially giving. Mrudula started the Alberta Gujarati Association of Alberta in 1976 which has now evolved to over 4000 families. Mrudula spent most of her career working for the Alberta Government as Accounting Officer first for Municipal Affairs and then for Public Works Supply and Services. She has made numerous field trips to India to meet Shanti partners and is responsible for ensuring our model and numbers align with our recycling of donations and scaling the operations.
Brent McDonough
Brent McDonough
Director Canada
Brent McDonough
Director Canada
Brent McDonough has been an educator for his entire career with broad experience in both middle and high schools. He has chaired, advised, and served on various committees for the Alberta Minister of Education and has taught curriculum courses at the university level. Brent is currently a Field Experiences Associate/Sessional in the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta, facilitating the practicum component for education students and engaged in special projects for the Dean. Next year, Brent will also be coordinating the Internationally Educated Teachers Bridging Project. Globally, Brent has extensive experience with the International Baccalaureate Organization and is a member of the IB Educator Network (IB Americas)

Among his many community activities, Brent has served on the Senate of the University of Alberta, Chaired the Edmonton Public Library Board of Trustees, held an executive position on the University of Alberta Alumni Council , and was a long time board member of a multicultural fundation serving the needs of south Edmonton communities.
Sue Malone
Sue Malone
Board Member USA
Sue Malone
Board Member USA
Sue Malone is the founder of Strategies For Small Business where she helps people obtain access to capital in the form of small business start up loans so that they can expand their businesses. She is the undisputed, number one SBA loan provider for the Community Express Loan Program in the nation. As of April 2008, she is responsible for closing over 20,000 loans which are all grass roots serving all communities across the USA.

Sue dispenses a plethora of capital through innumerable loan workshops to: organizations, groups, churches, associations, chambers of commerce, non-profits, colleges, franchises, and entrepreneurial organizations. She is proud, along with other banks, to work directly with the SBA, as well as SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives), Women’s Business Centers, and SBA Small Business Development Centers (SBDC’s).

An inspirational speaker, she has been highlighted in countless speaking engagements, as well as in newspaper articles, magazines, television, radio, conventions, and CNN. Together with her numerous awards and with the assistance of the lenders she has partnered with, she has been responsible for their achieving the #1 SBA lender status in West Virginia, South Carolina, Louisiana, Tennessee, Hawaii, North Carolina, and in the top five lenders category in other districts.

Sue Malone has a degree in accounting and an MBA in finance. As such, she brings not only the requisite education and expertise, but also the proven commitment to care deeply for the success of this Nation’s small businesses.
Jessie Mordine Young
Jessie Mordine Young
Board Member USA
Jessie Mordine Young
Board Member USA
Jessie Mordine Young is a textile curator, educator, and maker living in New York City She is an MA candidate in the History of Decorative Arts, Design History, and Material Culture at the Bard Graduate Center in New York City and currently works at the Teachers College at Columbia University. She graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) with a dual degree in Textile History and Studio Art in Textiles.Her interest in pursuing a career in textiles began when she attended high school in New Delhi, India. Jessie has a sincere interest in supporting artists and promoting the preservation of traditional textile practices. She educates others on the importance of cloth as a way to tell stories and histories. Jessie aims to create a large appreciation for the medium and for the communities who make textiles, hoping to one day be able to make an a positive impact globally.
John Hummer
John Hummer
Board Member USA
John Hummer
Board Member USA
John has provided Shanti with guidance in the early days of setting up in the UK. John graduated from Princeton in 1970 with an AB in English and ten years later, received his MBA from Stanford Business School in 1980. During the interim, John was a professional athlete, having been drafted in the first round of the National Basketball Association’s annual college draft in 1970, played six years and retired in 1976 from the Seattle SuperSonics. In 1989 John founded Hummer Winblad, with Ann Winblad, John’s prior investments include Octel, Wind River Systems, Powersoft (where Mitchell Kertzman was the CEO), Extensity, Global Center and Employease. He currently sits on the boards of Baynote, and Birst.
Vivian Pucher
Vivian Pucher
Fellow
Vivian Pucher
Fellow
Vivian has conducted a social impact study on behalf of Shanti while she spent time in India working directly with the beneficiaries. She currently works at Google in Ireland as Account Strategist for the German market. Prior to this she worked with Mrs. Doyle’s team company promoting the sales of ethically sourced tea in the UK and Ireland where she set up an online presence and increased sales by 20% over six months. She has spent time working with widows in Guatemala to develop and sell textiles and has skills in project management, marketing and communications and strategy. Vivian is a graduate of UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, Dublin, Ireland, ESB Business School Reutlingen, Germany and Universidad Pontificia Comillas (ICADE).
Kieran Gates
Kieran Gates
Fellow
Kieran Gates
Fellow
Kieran has created awareness on behalf of Shanti through her video of her experience working with Shanti, in India. While in India, she gathered resources and oversaw the construction of a sanitation system for a family in a village near Bhavnagar. After her trip, she accompanied Sheetal Mehta Walsh to conferences in Dublin, Ireland, for awareness and networking purposes. Currently, she is a student at the University of Arizona, specifically, the Eller College of Management.
LiaLarrea
LiaLarrea
LiaLarrea
Lia Larrea is a fashion designer who focuses on creating women’s RTW clothing and accessories. Born in Ecuador, she is greatly influenced by her cultural background and society. Lia’s love for fashion began at a young age as she would spend her free time drawing and painting. This encouraged her to pursue a career in the arts and evolve as a designer. She enjoys working with a mix of media to bring detail and characteristics to her work.

Lia has been involved with Shanti to help bring out other people’s art. Ideas are born and at many times lost, but if given the opportunity to shine they will not fade away. This is one of the goals Lia is working towards along with Shanti. Not only to bring the beauty and craftsmanship to a variety of designs, but to help people in India have their ideas shown.
Emma Baier
Emma Baier
Intern
Emma Baier
Intern

Emma Baier is a student at the University of California, Davis, and is currently interning for Shanti Life, working to assist in Shanti’s web development, writing of online content, and event planning and set-up.

Majoring in Design and Cognitive Science (with a Computational Emphasis) and pursuing a minor in English, Emma is set to begin her third year of study in the Fall. The work she does for Shanti shows her passion for everything that it stands for, as well as a bit of her emerging simple yet bold style of design and writing. She plans to graduate from UC Davis in 2021, and aspires to have a career in design and technology.

Anurag Varma
Anurag Varma
Board Member USA
Anurag Varma
Board Member USA

Anurag Varma is Head of Global Government Government Affairs for Infosys Limited, a global technology consulting firm where he develops and executes public policy strategies involving national and regional governments in each of the company’s key markets, including the U.S., Canada, European Union, Australia and India. Prior to joining Infosys, Anurag served as public policy counsel before the U.S. Congress and Administration on behalf of foreign sovereign clients, Indian private sector interests and Indian American trade associations. Among the wide variety of trade and policy matters covered by Mr. Varma, he served as lead U.S. policy counsel for the U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC) on the passage of legislation for the U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Agreement and also for U.S. corporate efforts to limit the adverse impact of U.S. immigration legislation on U.S.-India relations. Over his career, the sovereign entities represented by Mr. Varma have included the Governments of India, Sri Lanka, the Republic of Korea, the Maldives, and a national political party in Bangladesh on U.S. policy.

Mr. Varma also provided strategic trade advice, engages U.S. and Indian government officials, and coordinates legal strategy for U.S. multinationals facing market entry and other policy matters in India.

Mr. Varma also represented numerous national organizations of Americans of Indian descent in Washington, D.C., including the Asian American Hotel Owners Association whose 15,000 Indian American members own 50% of all U.S. hotel properties.

In addition to his public law and policy work, Mr. Varma served on the lead plaintiffs’ counsel teams for national civil rights class action cases on behalf of African American farmers and Native American farmers resulting in settlements of over $2 billion and $760 million, respectively.

Community Involvement
- Member, Presidential Rank Award Review Board (2014, 2015)
- Member, Advisory Board, Resnick Program for Food Law and Policy, UCLA Law School (2014-present)
- Member, United Way Worldwide, Leadership Council for India (2007–2013)
- National Board Member, Indian American Leadership Initiative (2003–2013)
- Pro bono counsel (Global Advocacy Team), Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights (2003–2011).

Speaking Engagements
- Speaker, “Addressing USDA Discrimination With Civil Rights Litigation,” UCLA Law School, January 28, 2015
- Speaker, “ObamaCare & How Government Impacts Your Business,” Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) Annual Convention, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, March 21, 2014

Morlai Kargbo
Morlai Kargbo
Director UK
Morlai Kargbo
Director UK
Morlai was appointed a Director and Trustee of Shanti Life in August 2013. He is a Chartered Certified Accountant and specialises in most aspects of charity finance including both general and Churches. In addition, he works with private sector companies.

Before he set up Moracle in 2008, he has worked with over 60 diverse charities and not for profit organisations on financial matters including: external and internal audits, due diligence work, systems and procedures reviews, investigations, benchmarking, financial reporting and governance.

After all his experience, knowledge and qualifications gained over the years in his former employments, Morlai felt that he could make a career by training accounting graduates in helping smaller charity clients, and also by assisting with management information systems, accountancy matters as well as audit matters. So he decided to leave haysmacintyre in 2008 to set up his own audit firm called Moracle. As a success, Morlai has now been running Moracle for nearly 6 years with over 80 clients in the charity or non-charity sectors.

In 2010, he also set up Moracle Foundation as a vehicle for Moracle, the Firm to invest some of its resources into a charitable venture that gives back to the communities in which it operates. The vision of Moracle Foundation is to provide realistic and sustainable vocational training opportunities to accountancy trainees and graduates from disadvantaged backgrounds, in a manner that augments local and community benefits.

Hundreds of Colleges, Universities and specialist training and distance learning institutions provide academic training to prepare accounting technicians and accountancy students. After passing the different stages of the academic exams, graduates/students need to build up a vocational record documenting their practical work experience covering different competency areas. This vocational training is provided by accountancy firms with the required portfolio of senior qualified staff and practice licenses. The large multinational accountancy firms provide trainee contracts, paying attractive salaries. For most trainees from disadvantaged backgrounds, training is provided by small accountancy practices/firms.

There is a dearth of schemes that purposefully recruit and place these trainees with a view to getting them fully qualified, through an efficient and socially beneficial framework. Moracle Foundation operates within a niche by providing work placement and vocational training to disadvantaged trainees, who would work under supervision from qualified and experienced accountants, to provide subsidised accounting support to community organisations and social enterprises.

Morlai uses much of his spare time working for voluntary organisations and he is also a Steward at his local Church.