Stories Of
Change
One thing that binds us at ISDM is a shared commitment to creating meaningful change—each in our own way. Our alumni carry this forward as courageous doers, leading with equity, compassion, and purpose to make the world better, every day.
The Changemakers
ISDM alumni are shaping change across sectors and geographies. They lead across themes like health, education, gender, and sustainability, driving impact through research and advocacy.
Political Consultant, IPAC
Tanushree Jain, an ISDM alum of the founding batch, moved to Delhi NCR in 2017 and soon her health started deteriorating due to the increasing level of pollution in the national capital. However, the impact of pollution on Tanushree’s health, couldn’t let her spirit down and rather, it made Tanushree reflect on the unhealthy and toxic products of our modern day lives and ponder on solutions to lower the damages of such lifestyles.
Eventually it led to the creation of Nushaura. Nushaura, Tanushree's brain child, is a social enterprise that is working on socio- economic development of rural Indian communities with an environmentally conscious business model delivering high quality, sustainable everyday products and merchandise to a market saturated with harmful products. Nushaura by far has created livelihood opportunities for over 275+ artisans from marginalised communities from rural and remote villages in India.
Tanushree and Nushaura have been nationally recognized multiple times.Most recently, Tanushree has been recognized as ‘India’s 100 Emerging Women Leaders’ by Yourstory Media.
Nushaura is backed by Project Her and Now, Startup Oasis, Supported by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH GIZ India and Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Developme
CLASS OF 2017-18
Assistant Manager, CARE India, Design and Program Innovation Center
Assistant Manager, CARE India, Design and Program Innovation Center
Krishna, an ISDM alumni of the Class of 2020-21 had started Blood warriors to support Thalassemia patients who need blood every twenty days.
Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder characterised by less oxygen-carrying protein (haemoglobin) and fewer red blood cells in the body than normal In India,.Over 10,000 children are born with the condition every year in the country. Of these, 50 per cent do not survive till the age of 20 due to poverty and lack of treatment. Over four million Indians are thalassemia carriers. (source: The Economic Times)
Apart from working with Blood Warriors, Krishna supports multiple organisations and individuals who are working full-time in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Hyderabad. He has been volunteering to fill gaps in information, resources and mobilisation. He has launched fundraisers with the community to raise more than 10 Lakhs to support patients who do not have the means to afford emergency treatment. Together with his team, he has raised funds to get oxygen concentrators, PPE kits and Pulse Oximeters for communities in need.
CLASS OF 2020-21
M&E Specialist, Udhyam Learning Foundation
Read Adarsh’s story
The literacy rate of Urban regions in India is 87.7% whereas in rural India it is only 73.5%. Among many other reasons behind it, one key reason is lack of availability of resources.
Adarsh Rai, an advocate of love and full potential for everyone and an alumni of ISDM Class of 2018-20 is not just pondering over these questions but solving these problems as a Founder and Program Manager of Encompass and Hayden Hall Institutions, Darjeeling.
Adarsh with his team, is on a mission to make education accessible for the children of remotest villages of Darjeeling with ‘After School Study Program’ for 1300+ children on a daily basis. With a focused objective to improve literacy in rural West Bengal, recently Adarsh and his team has started an initiative to establish 48 libraries across 110 villages in 3 Districts. 3 of these libraries are already functional with books crowdsourced all across India.
CLASS OF 2020-21
Alumni Journeys
ISDM alumni are forging diverse career paths across the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors. Each journey reflects a commitment to purpose-driven leadership and meaningful impact.
Shreya Bhatia
{
Save the Children UK
Programme Development Manager
2022
}
{
Institute of Development Studies
2021-22
}
{
Pathfinder International
Program Officer
2020-21
}
{
ISDM
PGP-DM
2018-19
}
{
XL Catlin
Analyst
2016-18
}
{
Amity School of Economics
M.A Economics
}
{
Save the Children UK
Programme Development Manager
2022
}
{
Institute of Development Studies
2021-22
}
{
Pathfinder International
Program Officer
2020-21
}
{
ISDM
PGP-DM
2018-19
}
{
XL Catlin
Analyst
2016-18
}
{
Amity School of Economics
M.A Economics
}
Kshipra Ajrekar
{
Dalberg
Associate, Global Strategic Communications
2022-Present
}
{
Dasra
Communication Associate
2019-22
}
{
ISDM
PGP-DM
2018-19
}
{
Teach For India
Fellowship
2016-18
}
{
Sophia College, Mumbai
Bachelor in Mass Media
2013-16
}
.avif)
Mridul Upadhaya
{
UNDP
Regional Youth & Peacebuilding Specialist
2022
}
{
Interpeace
Researcher
2021-22
}
{
UNESCO MGIEP
Individual Specialist - Youth Engagement and Empowerment
2020-21
}
{
Blue Orb Foundation
Consultant
2018-19
}
ISDM
PGP-DM
2017-18
}
{
Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology And Sciences
MBA, International Business
2015-17
}
Jhilmil Garg
{
Accelerate India Philanthropy
Program Manager 2023
}
{
Samhita
Assistant Manager
2020-22
}
{
ISDM
PGP-DM
2019-20
}
{
Teach For India
Academic Coordinator
2017-19
}
{
TISS Mumbai
Social Sciences
}
Aalika Anne Peres
{
Ford Foundation
2021
}
{
Thinkthrough Consulting
Consultant 2018-21
}
{
ISDM
PGP-DM
2017-18
}
{
Teach For India
Fellow
2015-17
}
{
B.A. Political Science
Lady Shri ram (Delhi University)
}
Srikanth Chakraborty
{
Educational Initiatives
Associate Manager
2022
}
{
Samhita
Assistant Manager
2020-22
}
{
ISDM
PGP-DM
2019-20
}
{
MagicBus India Foundation
Program Coordinator
2018
}
{
Accord NGO
Program Coordinator
2015-17
}
{
Tata Institute of Social Sciences
Master of Social Work - MSW, Rural Development
2013-15
}
Ravali
{
Esther Foundation
Co-Founder
2021
}
{
Udhyam Learning Foundation
Entrepreneur Transformation Lead: Udhyam Vyapaar
2018-21
}
{
ISDM
PGP-DM
2017-18
}
{
Teach For India
City Alumni Impact Lead
2014-17
}
{
B.Tech
Gokaraju Rangaraju Institute of Engineering and Technology
}
.avif)
Shreya Verma
{
Harvard University
2022
}
{
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment Govt. of India
Senior State Coordinator 2020-22
}
{
Lend a Hand India
Officer - Skill Education 2019-20
}
{
ISDM
PGP DM, Batch 2019
}
{
Delhi University
Bachelor of Arts 2015-18
}
Rajneesh Kumar Vishwakarma
{
Srijan
Project lead at Srijan
2022-present
}
{
ISDM
PGP DM (2021-22)
}
{
Banaras Kitchen Corner
Founder & Restaurateur (2020-21)
}
{
TISS
MSC Climate Change and Sustainability Studies (2014-16)
}
.avif)
.avif)
.avif)
