SWAMI MUKUNDANANDA

Swami Mukundananda is a world-renowned teacher of spirituality, yoga, and meditation. He is the founder of Jagadguru Kripaluji Yog, well known as JKYog. Swamiji has stimulated and guided many a soul on the spiritual path, and he has been offering yoga workshops across the world over nearly three decades.

Swamiji has a distinguished technical and management educational background that complements his profound spiritual wisdom. Learn more about Swamiji.

SENATOR DUCKWORTH

Combat Veteran of the Iraq war and A Purple Heart Recipient

Senator Tammy Duckworth is an Iraq War Veteran, Purple Heart recipient and former Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs who was among the first handful of Army women to fly combat missions during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Duckworth served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years before retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 2014. She was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2016 after representing Illinois’s Eighth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives for two terms.

In 2004, Duckworth was deployed to Iraq as a Blackhawk helicopter pilot for the Illinois Army National Guard. On November 12, 2004, her helicopter was hit by an RPG and she lost her legs and partial use of her right arm. Senator Duckworth spent the next year recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where she quickly became an advocate for her fellow Soldiers. After she recovered, she became Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs, where she helped create a tax credit for employers that hire Veterans, established a first-in-the-nation 24/7 Veterans crisis hotline and developed innovative programs to improve Veterans’ access to housing and health care.

In 2009, President Obama appointed Duckworth as an Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs, where she coordinated a joint initiative with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to help end Veteran homelessness, worked to address the unique challenges faced by female as well as Native American Veterans and created the Office of Online Communications to improve the VA’s accessibility, especially among young Veterans.

In the U.S. House, Duckworth served on the Armed Services Committee and was an advocate for working families and job creation, introducing bills like her bipartisan Friendly Airports for Mothers (FAM) Act to ensure new mothers have access to safe, clean and accessible lactation rooms when traveling through airports, which is now law. She helped lead passage of the bipartisan Clay Hunt SAV Act, which enhanced efforts to track and reduce Veteran suicides. She also passed the Troop Talent Act to help returning Veterans find jobs in the private sector and worked to cut waste and fraud at the Pentagon and throughout government, including passing a common-sense provision that was projected to save taxpayers $4 billion by reducing redundancy in military uniforms.

In the U.S. Senate, Duckworth advocates for practical, common-sense solutions needed to move our state and country forward like rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure, protecting Illinoisans from lead poisoning, growing manufacturing jobs while supporting minority-owned small businesses, investing in communities that have been ignored for too long and making college more affordable for all Americans. She co-founded the Senate’s first-ever Environmental Justice Caucus and also continues her lifelong mission of supporting, protecting and keeping the promises we’ve made to our Veterans as well as ensuring that we stand fully behind the troops our nation sends into danger overseas. In 2018, after Duckworth became the first Senator to give birth while serving in office, she sent a message to working families across the country about the value of family-friendly policies by securing a historic rules change that allows Senators to bring their infant children onto the Senate floor.

As Senator, she advocates for practical, common-sense solutions needed to move our country and our state forward

Senator Duckworth serves on several influential committees that give her an important platform to advocate for Illinois’s working families and entrepreneurs: the Armed Services Committee; the Environment & Public Works Committee; the Commerce, Science, & Transportation Committee; and the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Committee. The first Senate bill she introduced—which supports Illinois jobs by helping prevent bureaucratic delays in infrastructure projects—became law in record time. As a result of her achievements, Duckworth has been recognized by the Center for Effective Lawmaking as among the top five most effective Democratic Senators overall and the most effective on transportation issues in the 116th Congress. She was also recognized as the most effective freshman Democratic Senator in the 115th Congress.

Duckworth is fluent in Thai and Indonesian. She attended college at the University of Hawaii and earned a Master of Arts in International Affairs from the George Washington University. Following graduation, Duckworth moved to Illinois and began pursuing a Ph.D. in Political Science at Northern Illinois University and later worked for Rotary International. To this day, the Senator volunteers at local food pantries and participates in community service projects in her free time.

Padma Shri Dr. ROHINI GODBOLE

French National Order of Merit recipient

#Prof. Rohini M. Godbole, currently Honorary Professor at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, is a theoretical particle physicist. She retired from the Centre for High-Energy Physics of the IISc after serving as Professor for over 25 years. She was earlier at the Mumbai University., the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, and has also worked at a number of universities in India, Europe and the USA including at CERN, Geneva. Two-century old Universities, the S.N.D. T Women’s University and the Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth have conferred D.Litt. on her. IIT(Kanpur) and VTU(Karnataka) have honored her with a D.Sc. 

Her research over the past four decades, on exploring the Standard Model of particle physics and physics beyond the standard model, has resulted in over 300 publications in refereed journals/archived preprints as well as a graduate textbook. Her pioneering work on probing hadronic interactions of photons provided important insights for the design of electron-positron colliders, and her suggestions to probe standard model (and beyond standard model) physics have been used in experiments at different colliders. 

A Fellow of The World Academy of Science (TWAS), she has been elected to the three science academies of India. She has served as Vice President of the Indian National Academy of Sciences, Allahabad and is currently serving as the Vice President of the Indian Academy of Sciences. She is and has been a member of different national and international advisory bodies such as Scientific Advisory Body to the Cabinet (SAC-C), the High Energy Physics Advisory Panel of the USA, the International Detector Advisory Group for the International Linear Collider etc. She has been also a member of the CERN-India Task Force and now a member of the steering committee. She has been the chief editor of Pramana, journal of Physics of the Indian Academy of Sciences, a member of various editorial boards of national and international journals, and is serving on the Advisory Board of the Oxford Research Encyclopaedia for Physics.

Professor Godbole has been an avid supporter of the cause of women in science, working over the past decades to facilitate more effective participation of women in the scientific workforce. Among her lasting contributions is the (co-edited) book Lilavati!s Daughters: The women scientists of India comprising of autobiographical sketches of Indian women scientists, as well as landmark surveys on the status of women in science. She chaired the Committee on Equity and Inclusion for India!s Science, Technology and Innovation policy of 2020 (STIP 2020). 
Rohini Godbole’s extensive contributions to science and society have been recognised by the Government of India through the conferment of the Padmashri in 2019, by the French Government through the honour Ordre National du Mérite in 2021. Further the Karnataka Academy of Science has honoured her through the Lifetime Achievement award in 2021. Among her recent awards, is also the Birla Award of the Indian Physics Association. 

Activities related to Women in Science:  
Plenary speaker at the first international conference on Women in Physics, organised by the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) in Paris. After coming back from the IUPAP General Body meeting in Berlin the year after, she worked towards formation of Panels for Women in Science of the Indian Academy of Sciences (IASc) and Indian National Science Academy (INSA) being an elected fellow of both. Contributed to bringing out an INSA report; `Science Career for Indian Women: An examination of Indian women’s access to and retention in Science Careers’ a first report of such kind in brought out by an Academy of Science in India. She co-edited a book 'Lilavati's Daughters: Women Scientists of India', containing (auto)biographical sketches of about 100 Women Scientists of India, released in December 2008 and a book called 'A Girls' Guide to a Life in Science', containing material to inspire young girls to take up a career in science.  She directed a landmark survey of ‘Loss of trained scientific women power: what fraction are we losing and why?’. Has conducted a lot of workshops ‘Career in Science: Women in Science’ as a chair of the Panel for Women in Science of the Indian Academy of Sciences. She is editor/author of many reports on women in science in India, a steering committee member of the Joint Academy Panel for Women in Science and member of the Standing Committee for Women in Science of the Government of India. Worked towards pioneering a variety of programs, at various fora, to raise awareness about Women in Science. Chaired the committee which drafted discussions on Equity and Inclusion in India’s Science, Technology and Innovation policy of 2020.

CHARLOTTE DU PLESSIS

“I believe that as we empower ourselves and assume every bit of responsibility to do so, we are empowering and building a new nation of women and men.”
Charlotte is the Founder and CEO of the Woman of Stature brand which she officially launched in April 2013. 

She has succeeded in establishing a successful women’s business network in South Africa and across the globe because of her innate ability to form strategic partnerships.

Her passion to help women has extended beyond the call of duty and in 2018 she registered the proudly South African Non-Profit Organisation, Woman of Stature 
Foundation, with a vision to support women through its various programmes.

Through the Woman of Stature Foundation, Charlotte has speer-headed the formation of the Woman Rise programme. She has helped several women to restore their lives and go on to become very successful. She is now planning the 7th South African Woman of Stature. Recognition Awards on the 12th March 2022 and the first Woman of Stature Global Awards 
in Dubai on the 13th May 2022.

The Woman of Stature Awards recognises the achievements of women in community and business including an ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ award.

Charlotte’s most recent achievement is the publishing of a book during lockdown in 2020. Forgotten Women, the South African Story has been entered in the Humanities and Social Sciences Book, Creative Collections and Digital Contributions Awards 2022. The proceeds from the sale of the book go to the Forgotten Women of COVID19 fundraising project under the Woman of Stature Foundation.

Charlotte received the Margaret Hirsch Women in Business Achiever Award in 2016. She is a visionary, philanthropist, entrepreneur and mentor, building her legacy as a tenacious 
woman who is making a significant impact in the lives of others.

Dr. PADMINI MURTHY

US Presidential Award Winner, Global Public Health Expert, And Human Rights Activist

• Dr. Padmini (Mini) Murthy is a globally recognized health professional in her roles as a physician and public health expert. Currently she serves as Professor and Global Health Director at New York Medical College School of Health Sciences and Practice, USA. She currently serves as chair of the International Health Section of American Public Health Association A. She is global health lead for the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) and the NGO rep to United Nations.
• For the past 30 years Murthy has been working globally on projects and programs promoting women’s health and human rights Dr. Murthy has been working with UN ambassadors and UN missions to promote women’s health globally with local efforts. Some of the projects she has worked on include safe motherhood, spearheading the procurement of medical equipment to serve communities in Grenada, Kenya, India, Malawi, Liberia, and Nepal. She has worked with the former 1st Lady of Malawi on a Safe Motherhood Project by providing funds to establish maternity waiting home and supply safe motherhood kits to women.
• During the COVID crisis in 2020/ 2021 Murthy has spearheaded efforts working with other NGOs, foundations in the US and other countries in sending Oxygen Concentrators to India and PPE (over 85,000,) masks, face shields to the Navajo Nation, local organizations, and individuals. She is currently working on a Menstrual Equity Project with the First Lady of Suriname. Dr. Murthy has made over 150 presentations nationally and internationally is widely published and is the author and editor of Women's Global Health and Human Rights, Technology and Global Public Health (both of which are used as textbooks worldwide). Her other books include Mini’s Musings and Glorious Global Ganesh
• Dr. Murthy’s research interests focus on women’s health and human rights, social determinants of health, global health diplomacy, and promotion of global health with a focus on bridging inequities and promoting gender harmony.
• Dr. Murthy has been the recipient of numerous national and international awards, some of them include the following: First Indian born American in over 75 years to receive the Elizabeth Blackwell Medal from American Medical Women’s Association for her work in promoting women’s health globally.
• Recipient Sojourner Truth Pin given to those women who excel in community service Recipient Jerusha Jirad Oration for service to women from Association of Medical Women in India conferred in S. Korea
• In December 2021, Murthy has been the recipient of President of The United States Lifetime Achievement Award for Volunteer Service

RAKSHA NAIDOO

Topic: Leadership: Unspoken Truths

Raksha is a BSc graduate and an executive-level professional who has amassed over 18 years of experience in all facets of efficient and effective analytical research, mineral processing and production, process optimization, project management, development, and implementation of a business strategy, leadership, and general management. 

Raksha views teamwork, consultation and communication as the key pillars of all her successes. To this end, she is passionate about the transfer of knowledge to enable all members of her team to grow both personally and professionally. She has built harmonious relationships at all levels of the organisation to enable the achievement of common goals. This includes constructive relationships with organised labour, which has assisted in her growth as a leader.

One of Raksha’s biggest passions is people. Over the years that has come in different forms, always being the go-to friend, the listener and problem solver, mentor and leader, getting involved in various charity initiatives whenever possible, and even play match maker to friends looking for love. When Raksha sees potential in someone, she invests hard in them. She wants to see them develop, grow and become the best version of themselves. This mentorship passion propelled Raksha to get involved with Women in Mining South Africa organisation, where she currently serves as the Deputy Chairperson. And she holds the position of Managing Director of AMIS Group.

NEHA HUSEIN

Topic: Entrepreneurship, Time Management, and School

CEO of ZSTASH
Neha Husein is a human rights entrepreneur and SMU graduate with degrees in human rights and marketing and minors in advertising and nonprofit studies. Neha is the Founder & CEO of Just Drive, an app that rewards undistracted driving that she created after she was rear-ended by a driver that was texting. Neha gave a Tedx Talk on the importance of creating your own personal brand and was named one of Her Campus's 22 Under 22 Most Inspiring College Women and one of Poets&Quants Best and Brightest Business Majors of 2019. Since then, Neha created ZSTASH, a peer-to-peer marketplace rooted in sustainability for boutiques to buy and sell leftover inventory.

SHIVALAY MAHARAJ

Topic: Youth Inspiring Youth & Making Impact

TALK SHOW HOST, Brand Ambassador of the Endorphin Group Global
Public Speaker, Coaching, 
RedRadio – news reader
Awarded: Women of Leadership scholarship last year from the United Nations Association of Greater Boston

Shivalay Maharaj, is a grade 10 student, who is currently enrolled for the Pre- International Baccalaureate, majoring in advanced mathematics and physical science programs and with a strong interest in human psychology and health sciences at Redhill School.

She is only 15 years old and has always held herself to a very high standard. Shivalay is good at solving problems, asking questions, actively listening, and delivering on assigned tasks, she is especially passionate in everything she chooses to spend my time on. She tries to lead by example and when she has the free time in between focusing on her studies and taking time out for my hobbies, she is very active in community upliftment by helping out at the SPCA, June’s Haven Old-Age Home and she is also a brand ambassador for the Endorphin Foundation, a non-profit organisation that helps communities and entrepreneurs find ways to find sustainable forms of income. Shivalay is a motivational speaker on many platforms and on many topics from entrepreneurship, youth in business, gender, bullying, etc.

She always treats people with kindness and respect as you never know what people are going through and bringing smiles to people’s faces always makes her happy. She tries to always be punctual and inspire others when she can, and at school she tries to be active in numerous projects and initiatives to better the environment and her school, for example, she has her own motivational Instagram channel and also mentor junior kids and peers with problems by lending a listening and non-judgemental ear and by giving them the guidance to find their own solutions by themselves without dictating what she thinks the right answer is. 

Additionally, she won a Women of Leadership scholarship last year from the United Nations Association of Greater Boston in the USA. She is an active participant of the Enviro and Media committees at school and deeply treasure her friendships and peers. I am also very accepting of people, no matter their weight, race, color, sexuality or pronouns. She tries to be an upstander and does not tolerate bullying or discrimination to take place when she is around.

STACY HOPE

Social Intellegence Specialist

Stacy Hope has more than 14 years of experience working as an International Development Specialist and Strategic Advisor on areas surrounding gender, natural resources, renewable energy, social impact investment, disaster risks and climate resilience, and large national and international infrastructure development projects across the commercial, public and multilateral sectors. She is currently consulting and advising various United Nations agencies, and sits on the advisory boards of the UTU Social Impact Investment Fund and Actions for the Development of Africa where she focuses on the interface between large-scale mining investments and gender transformative community development aligned to the UN SDGs and ESG standards. She is also an advisor on a geothermal energy project in Turkey and is the former ESG Director at Africa-focussed strategic advisory firm, Africa Matters Limited.