We see ourselves as a node in a larger ecosystem of partners with whom we work on creating implementable actions and streams of knowledge that serve as training grounds for the next generation of wicked minds.
Not only do we need to understand the methods of system’s thinking, we need to cultivate the mental habits that go with them. We tend to think in siloes and imagine the effects to be linear. We need to move away from specialization and recognize the interconnections.
We need solutions that combine data and technologies with culture and politics.
We have been fortunate to be able to work with a large extended community of advisors, partner organisations and individual volunteers. They not only bring in their experiences but actively shape the organisation. Socratus was started by Ananthapadmanabhan Guruswamy and Rajesh Kasturirangan, as a non-profit with support from Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies
- Rajesh Kasturirangan, CEO and Co-Founder
Rajesh is a scholar, practitioner, teacher and technologist with over ten years of experience in creating scholarly networks, research programs, curricula, and online technologies. He also has organisational expertise in managing distributed groups of activists and scholars in the context of creating networks for social and environmental justice. Rajesh has a PhD in Cognitive Science from MIT and a PhD in Mathematics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
- Arvind Balasubramanian, Director
Arvind joins Socratus to further his interest in systems thinking, design and behavioural economics. Before Socratus he worked with Azim Premji Philanthropic Initiatives (APPI) where he anchored the Impact and Learning function and led their strategy refresh exercise. Through his work in consulting for over a decade, at Deloitte and PricewaterhouseCoopers, he has worked across areas related to education and skill development, government planning and e-government initiatives. Arvind is an industrial engineer and a management graduate from IIM Lucknow.
- Prachur Goel, Director
Prachur Goel is a Director at Socratus Foundation for Collective Wisdom. Earlier he has worked at Sattva, an impact consulting firm where he advised major international philanthropies on program design and strategy. Right after college, Prachur joined the Teach for India fellowship where he taught primary grades in Bombay. After this fellowship, he worked with youth on technical and employability skills by teaching, creating national curriculum frameworks, and partnering with employers and governments. He has a B.Tech in Computer Science from IIT Bombay and a Masters’ in Public Policy from Azim Premji University.
- Devjit Mittra, Director Programs
Devjit leads the work on Citizenship in Socratus. He brings more than 20 years of experience working in the field of public health, nutrition and social development communication. He was the former Vice President, Programmes leading the Nutrition programme at Azim Premji Philanthropic Initiatives. He worked with the Govt. of Odisha to deliver a multi sector nutrition program. Devjit has worked as a Consultant, Advocacy and Communication Officer in Odisha with UNICEF and as Deputy Team Leader of Technical and Management Support Team for Odisha Health Sector and Nutrition Programme of DFID.
- Bhargavi Nagendra, Fellow
Bhargavi Nagendra is a Fellow at Socratus. She worked at the Public Affairs Centre before joining Socratus and led action research projects in themes related to food security and energy. She has experience of working on strengthening the last mile delivery by engaging with various stakeholders in the themes of waste management, migration and climate change. Bhargavi has a Master’s degree in Environmental Studies and Resource Management from TERI University, New Delhi.
- Smriti Tiwari, Program Associate
Smriti Tiwari is a Program Associate at Socratus. She previously worked at an environmental research based not-for-profit, Vikalp (Nai Dishayein), New Delhi where she was a part of projects under the themes of sustainable development, water, energy and co-led the work on environmental education and mental health impacts of climate change. Smriti has completed her Master's degree in Climate Studies from Wageningen University, Netherlands and has a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Sciences from St. Joseph's College (Autonomous), Bangalore.
- Srinivas Mangipudi, Fellow
Srinivas is a bio-informatics & computer science researcher turned artist. His interest is in solving complex problems through drawing, visual thinking interventions and facilitation. His work spans from cognitive research in understanding oneself through drawings and arts practice to interdisciplinary work helping organisations with generative knowledge through visual heuristics. Over the past 20 odd years he has been mixing everything together.