Atalanta Diaries – The Why Story
In this episode of “Atalanta Diaries,” Enma talks about her personal motivations behind starting the podcast.
Embark with me on inspiring journeys as I delve into insightful conversations with Trailblazing Women from around the world.
Listen to their stories of resilience as they overcame biases, advocated for themselves, and secured their rightful place at the table.
Atalanta Diaries takes its name from the legendary Greek figure Atalanta, who challenged gender norms and showcased unparalleled courage and capability. Her story serves as a symbol of female empowerment and resilience in the face of adversity.
Through Atalanta Diaries, I invite you to meet modern-day ‘Atalantas’, discover their unique journeys and find inspiration to carve your own path and secure your place at the table.
Listen in order of release or tailor your podcast experience based on the themes below.
In this episode of “Atalanta Diaries,” Enma talks about her personal motivations behind starting the podcast.
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.
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.
(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.
Devika 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 Year by She Runs It, and the ADCOLOR Innovator award.
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.
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.
Sita 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.
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.
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.
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.
Monica 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.
With 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.
Vennesa 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.
Diane Schwarz is Johnson Controls’ chief information officer and the global leader in smart, healthy, and sustainable buildings.
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.
NASA’s first South Asian female flight director, Pooja Jesrani has a unique lens on building inclusive environments in high stakes circumstances.
Vedika 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.
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.
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.
Claudia 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).
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.
Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger are James Beard and Julia Child award-winning chefs, cookbook authors, media personalities, and entrepreneurs.
Lulu Raghavan serves as the Vice President for APAC and Managing Director for India at Landor.
As 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.
Caterina 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.
Sandhya 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.
Sandra Kwak is CEO and Founder of social impact enterprise 10Power, working with Native American Tribal Nations to develop renewable energy projects
With 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
Shikha (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
Born 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.
Claudia Aguilar Barroso, a distinguished lawyer from the Escuela Libre de Derecho, is the founding partner and director of the Aguilar Barroso Abogados firm.
Baljeet Kaur, an accomplished mountaineer from Solan, Himachal Pradesh, has etched her name in history with remarkable achievements.
Rachna 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,
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.
Annette 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
Meenakshi Wadhwa is a planetary scientist and educator who studies the formation and evolution of the Solar System through analysis of planetary materials including Meteorites,
Born into a third-generation business family in Brunei Darussalam, Hafimi Abdul Haadi is the Executive Director of the LVK Group of Companies.
Born 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.
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
Rayman Mathoda is a CEO, board director, and social entrepreneur with a compelling track record of transforming companies to deliver exceptional growth and value creation.
Swati Shetty is a producer based in Los Angeles and the Founder & Director of Samosa Stories. She is a Pharmacist and MBA by education.
Asha 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.
Zainab 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.
Kim Kirkconnell joined Kimberly-Clark in 1990 as a System Analyst.
Vedika 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.
Annette Clayton serves as the chief executive officer for Schneider Electric North America. She is responsible for the business strategy and developing
Kristal 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
Shabnam 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.
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.
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.
Mridula 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, setti
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.
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
Ettie 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.
Sandhya 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
Recognized 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
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
Nandini 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
Fatin 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
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.
Tanya 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.
Bhavani Vadlamudi, a visionary in the field of Information Technology, is known for her expertise in ERP transformations and her innovative approach to business challenges.
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.
Annette 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.
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.
Vennesa 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.
Judge 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.
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
Radha Kessar is a mathematician and educator working in the representation theory of finite groups, a branch of abstract algebra.
Dr. 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.
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.
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
Sandhya 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.
Recognized 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
Meenakshi 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.
Abha 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
Dr 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.
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.
Dona Kay Rule is a cowgirl, wife, mother and grandmother and at an age when most rodeo champions decide to retire, Dona decided to jump right
Manisha Girotra is Chief Executive Officer of Moelis & Company in India. She was previously Chairperson and Country Head for UBS in India,
NASA’s first South Asian female flight director, Pooja Jesrani has a unique lens on building inclusive environments in high stakes circumstances.
Dusica H Lukac is Partner and Managing Director of DL Capital Partners. She crossed from Money Street to Tech Street after decades..
Swati Shetty is a producer based in Los Angeles and the Founder & Director of Samosa Stories. She is a Pharmacist and MBA by education.
Ettie 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
Claude Pellerin, owner of ‘The French Lady’, a charming French restaurant in Birmingham, Michigan was born in Nord-Pas-de-Calais.
With a Masters Degree in Demographics from University of Berkeley, California, Seema is an HR Executive with over 25 years of progressive HR experience in…
Madhura DasGupta Sinha is a business leader and advocate for women’s economic justice and rights.
DR LORETTA CHEN is a multi-hyphenate: creative producer, theatre director, professor , entrepreneur and author.