Our People
Inakshi Sobti, Chief Executive Officer
Inakshi Sobti is the Chief Executive Officer of the Asia Society India Centre. With extensive experience in education, research and business she is responsible for leading Asia Society’s mission and mandate in India and building a greater engagement across business, foreign policy and the arts between India, the rest of Asia and the US.
Prior to joining Asia Society she spent seven years with Harvard Business School’s India Research Centre leading Community Initiatives for them in South Asia. In this role she worked closely with HBS faculty, its South Asia Advisory Board and alumni to shape & implement the school’s strategy in the region and to deepen linkages with leaders in business, government and academia in South Asia. She curated and convened a series of conversations, conferences, research roundtables and led alumni delegations across South Asia making the HBS South Asia Centre an intellectual hub for academic and global expertise in the region. While at HBS, she also co-authored the center’s first case on Nepal, Chaudhary Group: Re-building Nepal as also a case on family business on the engineering company Thermax Ltd: Changing of the Guard.
Previously, she spent over 15 years with Citigroup India in its Corporate and Investment bank supporting senior corporate relationships over a spectrum of industries developing a comprehensive understanding of banking, credit and financial markets.
An alumnus from The Lady Shriram College, Delhi University and the London School of Economics, she is an avid reader and has a keen interest in art and aesthetics. Committed to inclusion and social enterprise, she serves as a mentor for a not for profit called Katalyst and has supported Ummeed and the Akanksha Foundation.
You can connect with Inakshi at isobti@asiasociety.org
Karishma Talwar, Programme Manager
Karishma serves as the Programme Manager for Business and Policy at Asia Society India Centre. Prior to joining the organisation, she graduated with a Masters’ in International Studies and Diplomacy from School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Prior to her Masters’ she was a Consultant with Michael Page India and holds an MBA with a specialisation in Marketing and Human Resources.
You can connect with Karishma at ktalwar@asiasociety.org
Alekha Ranjitsinh, Programme Officer
Alekha is Programme Officer for Arts and Culture at Asia Society India Centre. She has previously worked as an arts administrator with organisations including Mumbai Gallery Weekend, Volte Gallery, Avid Learning, and the Kochi Biennale Foundation, where she headed education and community outreach, including the 2016-17 Students’ Biennale. Alekha graduated with a BFA (Hons) in Visual and Critical Studies from the School of Visual Arts, New York, and is currently pursuing an MA in Arts Administration and Cultural Policy at Goldsmiths, University of London.
You can connect with Alekha at aranjitsinh@asiasociety.org
Ketaki Varma, Programme Manager
Ketaki is Programme Manager for Arts and Culture at Asia Society India Centre. She has previously worked as an arts administrator and researcher with various arts organizations in India and abroad, notably Serendipity Arts Foundation and Critical Collective. She is interested in the visual cultures of South Asia, specifically the intersection between popular cinema and contemporary art. Ketaki graduated with a Masters in Art and Cultural Management from King's College London.
You can connect with Ketaki at kvarma@asiasociety.org
Rahul Thekdi, Programme Assistant
Rahul is Programme Assistant for Business and Policy at Asia Society India Centre. He holds a Masters’ Degree in Public Policy from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai. During his college years, he has been part of the Praja Foundation's Elected Representatives Fellowship. Rahul has a bachelor's degree in Mass Media with a specialisation in Journalism from Symbiosis Centre for Media & Communication (SCMC), Pune.
You can connect with Rahul at rthekdi@asiasociety.org
Rachna Shah, Administrative Officer
Rachna is Administrative Officer at Asia Society India Centre. She is responsible for carrying out tasks involving finance, human resources and administration among others. Rachna has been working with the India Centre for more than 13 years. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Arts from the University of Mumbai.
You can connect with Rachna at rshah@asiasociety.org