Atalanta Diaries

Archana 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.

In 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.

Denise 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.

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 practitioner of Bach Flower Remedies, she focuses on fostering self-motivated transformation and empowerment.

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 the London School of Economics and Political Science.

In 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.

(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.

Devita 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.

Nicky 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.

In 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.

Vinita 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.

Alina Alam, founder of Mitti Cafe at the age of 23, embarked on a mission to showcase the magic of abilities to the world.

Anoushka Jolly is the 15-year-old founder of Kavach who embarked on her journey as a response to distressing childhood experiences with bullying.

Judy 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.

Shaheen 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.

Katherine 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.

Srishti is a dynamic and accomplished impact leader with a track record of successfully designing and implementing projects that create systems change.

Join 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.

In 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.

Sandhya 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.

In 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.

In 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.

Shaheen 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.

Archana Chandra is a Board Member & CEO of Jai Vakeel Foundation & Research Centre, one of the oldest & largest NGOs serving those impacted by intellectual disabilities.