Advisory Council
Mr. Anant Bhagawati
Anant Bhagwati, a Partner at The Bridgespan Group’s Mumbai office, is deeply committed to empowering Indian NGOs and fostering domestic philanthropy to reach their full potential. Collaborating with multi-generational families, technology entrepreneurs, corporates, and global foundations, he helps shape bold, equitable visions for transformative impact. With over 30 leading Indian nonprofits, including scale actors and high potentials, Anant supports their journeys toward transformative growth. A prolific writer and speaker, he has co-authored the India Philanthropy Report for over five years. Before joining Bridgespan, Anant served as Director for Capacity Building and Expertise at Dasra, focusing on strategic philanthropy and field building. His career began in the corporate sector, culminating as Partner at Bain India, where he led digital transformation efforts. Passionate about applying corporate strategies to philanthropy, he now helps philanthropists and NGOs design, implement, and scale impactful initiatives. Anant lives in Mumbai with his wife, teenage daughter, and mother.
Prof. Sanjeeb Kakoty
Currently an Associate Professor at IIM Shillong, he also serves as visiting faculty at IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Bangalore. Beyond history, his academic interests include sustainability, entrepreneurship, communications, and governance. With prior teaching experience at St. Anthony’s College, Christ King College, and St. Edmund’s College in Shillong, he has also contributed to the entrepreneurial landscape, founding several startups. Notably, he co-founded the North East Data Bank in 1988, the region’s first news agency, providing well-researched news, features, and documentaries for national and international media. A prolific writer, he has authored over 200 articles for newspapers and magazines, alongside researching, scripting, and directing 40 documentary films. As an academician and filmmaker, his recent book, Science, Technology and Social Formation in Medieval Assam, published by Cambridge University Press, adds to his repertoire, which includes Tawang: The Abode of Prayers and Technology, Production, and Social Formation in the Evolution of the Ahom State, among others.
Dr. Ajanta Phatowali
Dr. Ajanta Phatowali passed MBA from Tezpur University in 1998. Currently she is working as GM with IDBI Bank and based at Hyderabad. Prior to IDBI she had worked with NeDFi and ONGC and has vast experience in the finance and Development sector in the North East. She is a PhD from Tezpur University in 2013. She is associated with various Associations of Diaspora Assamese in different countries.
Mr. Ravi Sreedharan
Ravi Sreedharan, the Founder of the Indian School of Development Management, brings with him 24 years of valuable experience in the corporate sector. Notably, his extensive tenure at HSBC included diverse roles, culminating in his position as CEO and president director of Bank Ekonomi.
Mr. R.K. Anil
R.K. Anil has worked in the rural / community development sector for the past two decades in various organisations including grassroots NGOs in Rajasthan and Telangana, World Bank supported poverty alleviation programs in Andhra Pradesh and Chattisgarh, and withRavi Sreedharan, the Founder of the Indian School of Development Management, brings with him 24 years of valuable experience in the corporate sector. Notably, his extensive tenure at HSBC included diverse roles, culminating in his position as CEO and president director of Bank Ekonomi. United Nations Development Program (UNDP) across the country. Had also worked as an Engineer with SAIL and taught at Development Management Institute. Sudied Engineering and Science in Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani and Rural Management in Institute of Rural Management (IRMA), Anand. Also was the CEO of National Mineral Development Corporation CSR Foundation. Cuurently Anil is the ED of SEWA International.
