Great female IT role models: Sheetal Mehta
Sheetal Mehta is founder of Shanti Microfinance, which is a social enterprise charity that provides access to technology and capital for entrepreneurs in slums and villages in Gujarat, India.
She's a former director of venture capital relations at Microsoft, and she's currently the UK deal maker for the UK Trade and Investment's Global Entrepreneur Programme. In this role, she helps innovative technology start-ups make the UK their base.
This month's Open Soho event tonight is doubling up as an event for Shanti Microfinance. The charity loans money to men, women and families (many microfinance organisations target women specifically) in the slums and villages of India. You can find more information on their website, and we hope to feature more of Sheetal's work on here. You can follow her on Twitter @sheetalmmehta.
Why Shanti Microfinance?
We are one of the few not-for-profit organizations and all funds are used for social ends to promote entrepreneurship.
The management team has unrivalled experience in investment, technology and training and a broad international network.
Historical track record of work within the region focused on strong partnerships at a professional and personal level with local partners.
Development focused rather than just providing aid. By providing training, technology and capital, positive knock on effects are realized across the community.
Sustainability is of critical importance. The communities that Shanti works with are ones with long-term sustainable visions and goals.
Strategic partnerships with corporations to facilitate lending and training for entrepreneurs.
No bias towards religion or caste. Many MFIs work with a particular group whilst Shanti places no emphasis on gender, age, religion or caste.
Shanti provides an ability for a wide range of stakeholders to participate in grass roots development and philanthropy opportunities without the need to build their own corporate social responsibility strategies.
http://shantimicrofinance.org