Geetha Murali, CEO of Room to Read

South Asian Trailblazers

In this episode, Simi welcomes Geetha Murali, CEO at Room to Read.
Dr. Geetha Murali is the first non-founder CEO of Room to Read, an international education nonprofit that seeks to transform millions of children’s lives through the power of education. In her 12 years with them, Geetha has expanded Room to Read’s presence to 20 countries and reached 20 million children globally. Geetha began her nonprofit journey as a Program Officer at the American India Foundation, an organization committed to improving the lives of under-resourced individuals in India. Prior to that, she spent time in the world of pharma, startups, and as a teacher.

A senior leader in the industry, Geetha is also a member of Forbes Nonprofit Council, an invitation-only organization for executives at nonprofits. She holds an impressive BS in Biostatistics and a PhD in South Asian politics, and a member of the Young President’s Organization. Her extensive and transformational work in nonprofits has been recognized by the former First Lady Michelle Obama and the Gates Foundation. In this episode, Geetha gives Simi a peek behind the scenes into the world of nonprofit leadership, from an organizational redesign during the pandemic to her path to the sector.

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