WHO WE ARE
Sunil Nayak
Professional Background:
CEO Corporate Services, Asia Pacific – Sodexo and President – Vivekananda Youth Forum (VYF)
Sunil Nayak is the Asia Pacific CEO for the Corporate Services segment in Sodexo. In this role, he manages business across 12 countries, impacting the quality of life of over a million consumers. He has over 20 years of experience in food and facilities management.
In his last assignment, Sunil was the Chief Transformation Officer for the Sodexo Group as well as the Chief Executive Officer for India. In his Transformation Role, Sunil worked with Sodexo Global Comex supporting the Transformation of the Organization in implementing the new Organizational and Value Proposition model with the key objective of making Sodexo the World Leader in Quality of Services. Sunil is passionate about health and fitness and has a keen interest in sports. He is involved in various social initiatives, which seek to make a difference to the community. He is the Founder and Trustee of RA Foundation – a project dedicated to the education of the less privileged children of India. Sunil is also a member of the India Advisory Board of Catalyst, a global non-profit organization with a mission to expand opportunities for women in business.
Sunil has been associated with VYF for the past 20 years and is actively involved in all the projects. Soup kitchen – the street children project is his brain child.
Purnima Contractor
Professional Background:
Principal of Greenfields Pre-Primary School, Juhu, Mumbai; premier institute of repute, Founder Member of Vivekananda Youth Forum (VYF), Honorary Secretary of Association for Early Childhood Education & Development (AECED), Mumbai Branch and also on the National Committee.
PurnimaDi has been working in the field of early childhood education since three decades. She has conducted numerous workshops for pre-school teachers and educators. She is a practical facilitator for several early childhood training colleges and family workshops and has been a featured speaker and presenter at several educational conferences nationally. She has been on several committees of framing guidelines of RTE Act and National Policy on Education.
Secretary General/ Trustee: VYF
A life inspired by Swami Vivekananda’s call – “You are the Creator of your own Destiny”- PurnimaDi found her destiny in VYF. She is the Founder Member of VYF and plays a pivotal role in bringing about grass root reformation. Choti Didi, as fondly addressed by all, is a taskmaster and a sound decision maker; a guide to all members and beneficiaries alike of VYF, motivating others to realize their hidden potentials is what spurs her on.
Aloka Dutta Gupta
Professional Background:
Founder Member of Vivekananda Youth Forum (VYF); Vice Principal of Greenfields Pre-Primary School and Teacher Trainer at GiggleBerry Creative Learning Solutions.
AlokaDi has Mastery in Music and Eurhythmics. AlokaDi has been working in the field of early childhood education since 30 years. She has been instrumental in creating innovative techniques in the teaching-learning process and has conducted a variety of workshops for pre-school teachers. She is known for her effective and innovative teaching style, as well as being able to captivate and inspire children in large groups throughout her teaching career.
Trustee and Treasurer: VYF
A life inspired by Swami Vivekananda’s fearless message, AlokaDi is loved by all the thousands of children she has worked with since 30 years and children lovingly call her Badi Didi! She has inculcated in them the spirit of love, compassion and service to humanity. She is a founder member of VYF and instrumental in inculcating the values of honesty and the power of Truth in all.
AlokaDi is also a master in Ikebana – the Japanese Art of Flower Arrangement, with several exhibitions to her credit.
Sharada Harihar
Professional Background:
Sharada Harihar is a Bachelor of Commerce, FCA with over 22 years of experience in her profession. As a practicing Chartered Accountant she has handled many high profile clients across all categories, with a specialization in the Indian Entertainment Industry.
Sharada is an avid reader and a music buff. Besides those outlets for her high pressure job, she has always been involved with giving back to the community in any way she can. This is what led her to Vivekananda Youth Forum (VYF) and the Sandhyalaya Project.
Sharada’s association with VYF now spans over 15 years and her role at VYF is both fiduciary and supportive.
Given her expertise in financial management and operations, her role in VYF as a Trustee includes fundraising and monitoring the financial standing of the charity and reports to the Board regarding cash-flow forecasting, income streams, out-going expenses and the overarching strategic management of the organization’s financial resources.
Sharada is also associated with various other non-profits like Dreamcatchers foundation where she is one of the founding Trustees.
Mukulika Ghosh
Professional Background:
Mukulika Ghosh has worked for 29 years with British Airways as Cabin crew. She has nine years of Personal, Marital and Family counseling experience. Mukulika is associated with Vivekananda Youth Forum (VYF) since 1991. She holds a 3 years Diploma in Hotel Management, is a Bachelor of Arts and done her Post Graduation – Masters in Arts in Sociology. She also holds the LLB degree and has done a year’s Diploma in Guidance and Counseling.
And she says…
“VYF has seen me through my most trying times in life. It’s been a constant, a rock solid support and has given me the opportunity to do something worthwhile. I wouldn’t be what I am today, without VYF.
I’m proud of VYF and proud to belong to it. It has given me an anchor and a sense of belonging like nothing else in life. For this, I owe everything to Vivekananda Youth Forum.”
Deepak Chhabria
Deepak Chhabria is a Media professional who has worked for various TV channels and production houses. Although Deepak is associated with various causes it is the work that happens at Vivekananda Youth Forum (VYF) that is closest to his heart. He is associated with the NGO since the past 20 years. VYF’s philosophy inspires him to contribute on various projects and also helps him as a guiding light in his professional world. Deepak’s other interests are organic food and farming. Born and brought up in Mumbai, he is an avid traveller and enjoys meeting people during his travels.
Sameera Kamulkar
Sameera joined Vivekananda Youth Forum in 1990 at a then annual youth camp on 15th of August. She was hooked for life. Swamiji’s words were a call she could not refuse. She continues to be inspired by and live by His words.
At a professional level, Sameera has been leading people strategy to drive organizational results, building highly motivated teams, through a conscious culture of learning and engagement for over two decades now. In her various roles though her career she has been instrumental in driving and facilitating initiatives which have helped teams to grow personally and professionally. As an entrepreneur, she likes to say that she is in the ‘energy business’. She currently works with people and organisations in the space of creating energy and light in their lives.
Sameera is a Post Graduate in Social Work from Mumbai University, with a specialization in Education and Counseling. She is also a trained facilitator with DDI International and a certified coach. She is a tarot reader and a reiki healer.
Madhureeta Mukherjee
Professional Background:
Madhureeta Mukherjee has 19 years’ experience in media – across television, print and online. She has an excellent understanding of various mediums and possess a strong connect with the Bollywood industry. Madhureeta has created some of the best entertainment news and features show as Content Head, ZOOM, and also anchored a celebrity chat show called “Hangout with Madhureeta”. She is adept at managing large teams and creating content across print and online platform.
Currently, she is an Editor of a daily – Bombay Times. She has been associated with Vivekananda Youth forum for the past 20 years. She is actively involved in all the projects.
Hetal Vora
Hetal Vora’s association with Vivekananda Youth Forum (VYF) started 20 years back when she was studying in college. Guided by the principles of Swami Vivekananda, the eternal spiritual genius, Hetal believes that VYF has been instrumental in making her life more meaningful. VYF has provided her a platform where she can contribute and give back to the society. Hetal is associated with almost all projects of VYF ranging from Sandhaylaya, Soup Kitchen, Little Lamps to Sakwar. Since funding plays a very integral part to continue the good work and outreach, Hetal like all Members/Trustees helps in fundraising through personal contacts and word of mouth from time to time.
Professionally, Hetal is a qualified Chartered Accountant having worked across the banking and finance sector for 10+ years. She is currently employed with one of India’s leading FMCG Company as Senior Manager –Mergers & Acquisitions.
Vidyasagar Ayyappan
Vidyasagar Ayyappan is an Electronics Engineer and an MBA from ISB Hyderabad. Vidyasagar’s association with Vivekananda Youth Forum (VYF) dates back to 2006, when he joined Sandhyalaya as a volunteer. From hosting the annual “Dance Masti” programme as part of Disha, to being a key member of the “Journey to Divinity” troupe, Vidyasagar has been part of many key initiatives at VYF.
He is a Radio Jockey with FM Rainbow in Mumbai and has spent over 10 years of his life as a business consultant helping corporations realize the potential of re-imagining their business. In his current role at Sanctum Wealth Management (ex-RBS Private Banking), he is part of the Corporate Strategy team in the CEO’s office.