We are building an ecosystem to unleash the power of survivor-led innovations that prevent and respond to violence against women and girls.
Women and girls from marginalised, rural communities face countless barriers to accessing safety and justice, discriminated against due to their gender, caste, class, religion, and rurality.
Against all odds, survivor-led grassroots organizations, centred in marginalised communities, become a beacon of hope for survivors, working hard to prevent and address violence in their communities.
At Parity Lab, we recognise the importance and expertise of survivor-led organizations and help magnify their impact.
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survivor- and community-led organisations with innovative solutions to tackle root causes of gender-based violence in marginalised communities
organizations through capacity building, leadership development, mental health support, and legal counselling.
survivor- and community-led organisations with peers, mentors, funders and leaders in the space to amplify collective change.
Parity Lab empowers:
Founder & CEO
Mathangi has worked in the technology and development space, specifically on violence prevention, environmental sustainability and livelihoods across India and the US. She was awarded the 2019 Jane Mansbridge Award by Harvard University for her work on reducing gender bias in organizations in India. Previously, she co-directed Waste Ventures India and led efforts to provide composting and recycling services to 20,000+ households, 10+ corporates and mobilized citizens to create a zero-waste model village in Hyderabad.Mathangi Swaminathan is an alumna of the Harvard Kennedy School and holds an MBA from the Indian School of Business. She is an Acumen India fellow, a Senior Fellow of Foster America and a World Economic Forum Global Shaper. She loves hiking in the woods, traveling and reading.
Senior Director, Advocacy & Strategic Partnerships
Sheela Bowler, MPH, MEd, is a social entrepreneur who has dedicated her career to building child wellbeing systems that enable families to thrive together. Sheela fundamentally believes that communities know what they need to thrive, and focuses on supporting the leaders who are creating positive change for children and families in their own communities. Sheela was the founding COO of Kidogo, Senior Program Consultant for the African Early Childhood Network, Senior Advisor for Programs Strategy at NYC's Administration for Children's Services, and Foster America's first Director of Strategic Initiatives and Innovation. She currently works for Elevate Children Funders Group, where she supports a network of child-focused philanthropies to leverage more and better funding for children in adversity.
Operations Associate
Pooja is a South Asian Intersectional Feminist. They have completed their Bachelor's in Journalism and Masters in Gender studies. They have worked with the Red Dot Foundation and Delhi Commission for Women. They want to continue their work on reducing Violence Against Women (VAW), child abuse, and caste-based discrimination. Pooja is keenly interested in writing academic papers, research, and journalism. In their free time, they love to watch movies, spread joy by helping and talking to people, and create awareness through social media.
Finance Associate (Part-time)
Mr. MV Ganesh is a seasoned professional with over 35 years of experience in Accounts & Finance, as well as a diverse array of roles spanning HR, Admin, Legal, Liaising, Logistics, Import, and Export.Beginning his career in the Paramilitary in the Government of India in 1988, he later joined the Essel Group of Companies, working closely with prominent figures such as Dr. Subhash Chandra, and Shri. Laxmi Goel, and Shri. Jawahar Goel. He also collaborated with Ex-Power Minister Late Shri. Rangarajan Kumara Mangalam for several years.With seven years as Director of Finance in a Telecommunication company, he spearheaded operations in the South Asia Unit. Mr. Ganesh has demonstrated his expertise across diverse industries including IT, Infrastructure, Oil & Gas, Aviation, and Manufacturing.For the past two decades, he has been instrumental in assisting numerous NGOs with compliance issues and crafting Financial Projections for grant applications. Additionally, he has provided advisory services at Board Committee Meetings for schools, academic institutions, NGOs, and trusts.
Technology Lead (Part-time)
Conor is a dedicated digital innovation leader with a passion for leveraging technology for social impact. Committed to creating transformative digital experiences, Conor collaborates with nonprofits and NGOs to empower communities and address real-world challenges. With certifications in Accessibility Core Competencies and a graduate degree in Human Computer Interaction and Design, Conor is dedicated to advancing accessibility and inclusivity in all aspects of web design and development. Conor is excited and honored to bring his expertise to Parity Lab, and looks forward to collaborating with the team to empower survivor-led organizations and their missions.
Parity Lab
Mathangi has worked in the technology and development space, specifically on violence prevention, environmental sustainability and livelihoods across India and the US. She was awarded the 2019 Jane Mansbridge Award by Harvard University for her work on reducing gender bias in organizations in India. Previously, she co-directed Waste Ventures India and led efforts to provide composting and recycling services to 20,000+ households, 10+ corporates and mobilized citizens to create a zero-waste model village in Hyderabad.Mathangi Swaminathan is an alumna of the Harvard Kennedy School and holds an MBA from the Indian School of Business. She is an Acumen India fellow, a Senior Fellow of Foster America and a World Economic Forum Global Shaper. She loves hiking in the woods, traveling and reading.
Code For America
Michelle Partogi is a design strategist interested in building more inclusive systems. Her background in design, humanities, and computer science helps her facilitate co-creation processes and uncover “levers” to shift complex services and systems. Michelle is currently a Service Designer at Code For America. Her previous experiences as a designer at Mayo Clinic provided her opportunities to dovetail scientific methods with human-centered principles. Having grown up in Atlanta, she received her master’s in Digital Media from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Michelle is an avid foodie and loves getting lost in new cities and landscapes.
Elevate Children Funders Group
Sheela Bowler, MPH, MEd, is a social entrepreneur who has dedicated her career to building child wellbeing systems that enable families to thrive together. Sheela fundamentally believes that communities know what they need to thrive, and focuses on supporting the leaders who are creating positive change for children and families in their own communities. Sheela was the founding COO of Kidogo, Senior Program Consultant for the African Early Childhood Network, Senior Advisor for Programs Strategy at NYC's Administration for Children's Services, and Foster America's first Director of Strategic Initiatives and Innovation. She currently works for Elevate Children Funders Group, where she supports a network of child-focused philanthropies to leverage more and better funding for children in adversity.
Director of Grantmaking, MADRE
Divya Sooryakumar is MADRE’s Program Officer for Partnerships and Grantmaking. She leads MADRE’s portfolio focused on resourcing young feminists and intergenerational leadership. Prior to MADRE, Divya spent eight years working directly with adolescent girls in India through grassroots feminist organizations, including the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA Bharat) and smaller initiatives like Chhoti Si Asha. She brings expertise in education, gender, and economics. She received her M.Ed in International Education Policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a B.A. in Economics from Northwestern University.
Senior Director of Portfolio Fundraising Strategies, DRK Foundation
Emily supports the portfolio in their efforts to build successful and sustainable fundraising strategies that are tailored to each organization’s model and unique strengths. She is a whole-hearted non-profit leader with a lifelong commitment to equity and poverty alleviation. Emily dedicated the first two decades of her career to Summer Search, a national youth development organization that envisions a world where young people can fulfill their potential and lead families and communities to thrive. Emily’s interest in working at Summer Search was sparked by her experience attending Central, a Philadelphia public high school, where she watched her classmates break through barriers of poverty, access, and racism to graduate and go onto college. Emily graduated with a BA in African American Studies with a concentration in Sociology from Wesleyan University.
Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Specialist, UNICEF
Jyothi Ravichandran is a psychologist with over a decade of experience working with children, adolescents, and influential adults in their lives in clinical, community, and school settings. She founded Thrive Foundation in 2016 to address systemic cognitive, socio-emotional, and academic health in under-resourced schools in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. She led the first ed-tech mandate of Social and Emotional (SEL) programming and teacher well-being in India through LEAD Schools. She holds a postgraduate degree in Psychology (Clinical) from Christ University, Bangalore. She is also a Young India Fellow (2016) and Acumen Fellow (2017).
Mid-Career program, Harvard Kennedy School
Krishna is currently a Foster America Fellow working with the Colorado Partnership for Thriving Families, a statewide collaborative that strengthens underserved families, and reduces the number of families who touch the child welfare system. Prior to her work in Colorado, Krishna led the Acumen India Fellowship, managed a community of over 130 social impact leaders, launched a women-led handicraft enterprise in Hyderabad, and set up a boutique hotel in California. Through these roles she's developed an expertise in entrepreneurship, leadership development, collective impact, and community building. Krishna holds a BS in Business from Babson College and is a current MPA ‘23 Candidate at the Harvard Kennedy School. Krishna is driven by connection and seeks to build community and strong social fabric in her work and personal life.
Gender and Development Practitioner, University of London
Dr Nora Khalaf-Elledge is a Gender and Development practitioner and a Post-doctoral Fellow at Goldsmiths, University of London. Since 2008, she has worked on gender initiatives with international development organisations including the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), the International Partnership on Religion and Sustainable Development (PaRD), the German Development Agency (GIZ), the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI), Development Alternatives Inc. (DAI), as well as the gender offices of multiple United Nations (UN) agencies. Since 2015, she specialises in the intersection of religion and gender within international development policy and practice. Nora holds a Master's in Gender and Development from IDS, and a PhD in Gender, Religion and Development from the University of London
Founder, Girls Rights Project
Stacey Keare is an attorney, philanthropist, and public policy analyst. She, along with her husband, is the Founder of the Girls Rights Project, an organization dedicated to advancing the rights of girls throughout the world using a combination of research, advocacy and philanthropy. Ms. Keare studied international relations at Stanford University, has a Master of Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School and a law degree from Hastings College of the Law. She is a current Board Member of Women Moving Millions. She has also been on the Board of the San Mateo County Legal Aid Society and was a founding Board member of Summit Prep Charter High School and Summit Public Schools, organizations creating progressive college prep charter schools in the Bay Area. She is on the Bay Area Advisory Board of the Tahirih Justice Center, the Advisory Board of The Global Center for Gender Equality, and is on the Kennedy School’s Women’s Leadership Board. Ms. Keare has three daughters, Haley, Ryan, and Brooke, and lives in Woodside, CA with her husband John Hodge.
Engagement Manager, McKinsey & Company
Vamsee Gurram is currently an Engagement Manager in McKinsey and Co and has served clients in the private equity, operations and public sector across India and the US. Prior to joining McKinsey in 2015, he was the founding team member of the National Social Entrepreneurship Forum where he was recognized by the World Economic Forum for nurturing 100+ social enterprises in India. As the program manager at Industree Crafts Foundation, he implemented Govt. of India and IFC projects to promote livelihoods through handicrafts. He helped set up community-owned business units impacting the livelihoods of 5000+ artisans and improving their incomes by 75%.Vamsee holds an MBA from the Indian School of Business and a Bachelors in engineering from BITS-Pilani. He is also an avid chess player and a foodie. When he is not working, you can find him on chess.com.
