Shivani Parihast

Work History

Lead, Communication and Advocacy

Shivansh Farming, Hans Foundation

4 2019 - Current

Developed strategic partnerships with key stakeholders to advance sustainable agriculture objectives
Influenced farmers to adopt sustainable agricultural practices, thereby improving food security and livelihoods
Designed and implemented outreach programs, including Single Trainer Farmer initiatives, Remote Trainings, kitchen garden implementations, and Farm Tours, in collaboration with universities
Undertook outreach activities, monitored sector trends, ensured target achievement, and presented progress reports with comprehensive analysis
Acted as spokesperson and liaison with media, government, and stakeholders
Provided capacity building support and guidance for project implementation, including establishment of Contact Centre for broader impact
Enhanced community participation through volunteer programs, social media engagement, and Demo Farm Tours
Inspired global farmers to transition away from chemical fertilisers through awareness campaigns promoting chemical-free and sustainable agriculture practices
Conducted policy analysis and authored organisational position statements
Designed internal and external communication strategies aligned with organisational goals
Generated thought leadership content such as evidence papers, policy notes, expert blog posts, research publications, and media articles.

Head, Social Initiatives

MyRoots Foundation

10.2018 - 03.2019

Led team across India to implement best practices in responsible agriculture and spearheaded initiatives like Going Bananas and Better Potato Farming
Created value chains in Indian agricultural landscape through forward and backward integration, establishing Demo Farms and Banana Hardening Centres to support farmers
Increased farmers' income through market linkages, buyback programs, contract farming, and minimum price support
Led industry advocacy efforts to influence social policies and improve community welfare, designing and executing social initiatives with focus on policy implications and sustainable impact
Engaged with local and regional authorities to promote policy-driven social change
Raised corporate funds and managed various social impact projects.

Head, Financial Inclusion

Geosansar Advisors Pvt. Ltd.

01.2017 - 09.2018

Portfolio Management: Oversaw and managed Geosansar's Financial Inclusion portfolio in India and Bangladesh, while also introducing program to Bangladesh, Ethiopia and Sri Lanka
Policy Advocacy: Prepared White Paper for Governor of Bank of England on novel concept introduced by me, highlighting its potential impact on financial policies
Inclusive Growth: Promoted meaningful financial, social, and economic inclusion within supply chains, enhancing transparency and accountability in entire ecosystem
Program Expansion: Accelerated Financial Inclusion program across multiple Indian states, including Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi NCR, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka
Access to Financial Services: Ensured convenient access to a comprehensive range of formal financial products and services, including savings, credit, government supported insurance, and pension products, particularly targeting factory workers and low-income groups
Technological Implementation: Facilitated last mile delivery through technology-based, target-oriented approach using Fintech products to enhance accessibility
Strategic Partnerships: Developed and implemented program strategies for global partnerships and social innovations in supply chains, collaborating with brands like M&S, Tesco, Nike, George Asda, Goodricke, Duncan (Bangladesh), and Camellia PLC
Pipeline Development: Created pipeline to identify, vet, and engage with key partners (NGOs, social enterprises such as CFI, and industry platforms) to achieve organizational objectives
Managed grants amounting to GBP 100,000 annually, ensuring partners met objectives and contractual requirements
Cross Functional Coordination: Coordinated with cross-functional and project implementation teams to ensure quality and timeliness of deliverables
Stakeholder Management: Managed multiple stakeholders, including brands, manufacturing units, and senior management teams across various countries, to align efforts towards common goals
Training and Capacity Building: Trained thousands of factory workers in financial inclusion modules developed in-house, significantly enhancing their financial literacy
Scalable Impact: Successfully trained over 10,000 workers in India within a short time span, driving significant uptake of financial products among low-income groups and empowering economically marginalized sections, especially women.

AVP Corporate Strategy, Sustainability, and CSR

Amrapali Group

04.2015 - 12.2016

Corporate Strategy Development: Developed and executed corporate strategies with focus on sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policies, ensuring alignment with regulatory standards
Government Relations: Fostered relationships with government entities to support policy-driven business expansion and diversification, enhancing company's strategic positioning
Policy Advocacy: Advocated for sustainable development policies and optimized business operations to comply with evolving regulatory standards, driving long-term business sustainability
Strategic Vision: Developed long-term strategic visions that integrated policy considerations and stakeholder engagement, promoting effective policy advocacy and sustainable growth.

Senior Manager, Corporate Strategy and Sustainability

Amrapali Group

04.2013 - 03.2015

Resource Allocation: Managed corporate strategies focused on sustainable resource allocation and stakeholder engagement, ensuring efficient use of resources in line with sustainability goals
Policy Collaboration: Collaborated with policymakers to advocate for and support policies that promoted sustainable business practices, aligning corporate objectives with regulatory requirements
Stakeholder Engagement: Engaged with various stakeholders to incorporate their input into corporate strategies, fostering collaborative approach to policy development and business optimisation.

Manager, Corporate Strategy

Amrapali Group

04.2011 - 03.2013

Led government relations initiatives to support sustainable development and policy compliance
Developed long-term strategic visions that integrated policy considerations and stakeholder engagement
Promoted business optimization and diversification through effective policy advocacy
Managed corporate strategies focused on sustainable resource allocation and stakeholder engagement
Collaborated with policymakers to advocate for policies that supported sustainable business practices.

Soft Skills Trainer, Freelance

Bank of India and Engineering Colleges

01.2009 - 01.2013

Develop customised training programs tailored to specific needs and objectives of clients
Deliver engaging and interactive training sessions that effectively transfer knowledge and skills to participants
Evaluate effectiveness of training programs through participant feedback and performance assessments
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of industry trends, best practices, and regulatory requirements to ensure training content remains relevant and compliant
Cultivate strong client relationships through clear communication, responsiveness, and ability to adapt to evolving needs
Meet project deadlines and budget constraints while delivering high-quality training solutions
Continuously seek opportunities for professional development and skill enhancement to enhance training delivery and effectiveness.

Research Associate

Kaiser Foundation

07.2006 - 07.2007

Subedit articles for health journalism publications, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and adherence to editorial standards
Conduct thorough research on wide range of health topics, including but not limited to HIV/AIDS, to gather relevant information for articles and reports
Collaborate with journalists and writers to generate story ideas, develop angles, and provide research support for health-related content
Assist in planning, organisation, and execution of HIV/AIDS workshops, including logistical arrangements, participant communication, and materials preparation
Support workshop facilitation by providing expertise on HIV/AIDS topics, contributing to presentations, and facilitating discussions
Stay updated on latest developments in HIV/AIDS research, treatment, and prevention strategies to inform journalistic content and workshop materials
Coordinate with subject matter experts, healthcare professionals, and community organisation to ensure accuracy and relevance of health journalism content and workshop materials
Contribute to development of educational materials, fact sheets, and other resources aimed at raising awareness and promoting understanding of HIV/AIDS and related health issues
Participate in editorial meetings to brainstorm ideas, provide input on content planning, and discuss strategies for improving quality and impact of health journalism initiatives
Maintain organized records of research findings, workshop outcomes, and journalistic contributions to track progress and inform future projects.

Academic Associate

Sardar Patel College of Communication & Management

05.2003 - 07.2006

Edited articles and contributed written content for in-house journal, while providing guidance to students in selecting appropriate courses
Assisted Prof. Pillai in curriculum development and delivery of lectures across various subjects
Organised orientation sessions and facilitated training for new students, ensuring smooth integration into academic programs
Evaluated instructor performance and training program effectiveness, offering recommendations for enhancement and implementing evaluation procedures
Facilitated on-going soft skills training and personal development classes for staff members
Collaborated with management to identify training needs for MBA and PG Diploma students through surveys and consultations
Utilised training methodologies to enhance student morale and engagement
Developed individualised training plans to reinforce student skills and competencies
Supported students in preparing for inter-college and intra-college competitions
Crafted copy for advertisements promoting institute activities and initiatives
Provided logistical support and prepared briefs on educational matters
Restructured syllabi for 10 Post Graduate Diploma courses, each comprising a minimum of 5 subjects, to align with educational objectives and industry standards.

Summary

Overview

Work History

Lead, Communication and Advocacy

Head, Social Initiatives

Head, Financial Inclusion

AVP Corporate Strategy, Sustainability, and CSR

Senior Manager, Corporate Strategy and Sustainability

Manager, Corporate Strategy

Soft Skills Trainer, Freelance

Research Associate

Academic Associate

Education

Ph.D. - Sustainability Studies

Executive Programme in Public Policy and Management -

Post Graduation - Mass Communication

PG Diploma: Public Relations - Public Relations

Bachelor of Arts: Economics & Philosophy -

Skills

Certification

Work Availability

Timeline

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