Dr. Saundarya Rajesh is an award-winning social entrepreneur, acclaimed workplace culture strategist, and globally recognized expert in inclusive workplace design, workforce transition and ESG transformation. With over 25 years of experience, she has reimagined the world of work through the lens of ethics, empathy, and enterprise. As the Managing Director of Avtar
Group, Managing Trustee of Avtar Human Capital Trust and Managing Director of Avtar ESG Services Pvt Ltd, she has led more than 1000 organizations to shape workplaces that are as human as they are high-performing.
Following her journey at Citibank responsible for setting up the Merchant Services division for the Credit Card business during its launch, Dr. Rajesh launched her entrepreneurial journey with Avtar Career Creators, followed by ventures like Flexi Careers India, Avtar Human Capital Trust, and myAvtar.com, India’s first career portal for the Indian Woman Professional. Her landmark initiatives include Avtar I-WIN, a workforce transition project for people who have taken career breaks, Project Puthri (career pathing for adolescent girls), Project Nipuni (career empowerment for first-generation graduates), and Project MITR (male allyship through adolescent sensitization). Together, these projects have transformed the lives of over 200,000 individuals.
Dr. Rajesh is the architect of intentional career pathing – a game-changing concept that has led to measurable impact in women’s career participation. Her frameworks such as the 4A ESG Model and the Avtar Certified Diversity Audit (ACDA) have helped companies navigate ESG metrics, drive sustainable impact, and comply with India’s BRSR norms.
A trainer par excellence, she designs and delivers deep-dive, actionable learning programs on DEI metrics, ESG adoption, ethical leadership, and inclusive culture-building. Her sessions are lauded for blending strategy, sensitivity, and structure, making them effective with senior executives and operational teams alike.
Dr. Rajesh is also a powerful voice on global platforms, having spoken at TEDx, UN Women, World AI Conference, and TOP Women South Africa, where she highlights how workplace culture can become a key lever for ESG success. Her bestselling books – The 99 Day Diversity Challenge and Conversations with the Career Doctor – are practical playbooks for organizations and professionals aiming for sustainable, inclusive growth.
Among her numerous accolades are the NiTi Aayog’s Women Transforming India Award 2016, Chevening Global Changemaker 2018, MWCD’s #100Women Achiever 2015, Twitter Web Wonder Women 2017, and The Hindu’s Contribution to Society Award 2024. But beyond the awards, it’s her on-ground impact and authenticity that sets her apart.
As Avtar enters its 26th year, having completed a successful quarter century, Dr. Rajesh envisions a world where businesses are not just profit-making but people-positive, planet aligned, and purpose-fuelled. Her mission: to ensure that inclusive workplace culture becomes the heartbeat of every successful leadership agenda.
