Perched high above the inhabitants of India in an air-conditioned tour coach, I acquired a unique perspective to which few are privileged. The beautiful landscape and rich culture contrasts with crumbling infrastructure and massive poverty. Touring village after village, meeting numerous leaders advocating for human rights, and more specifically for women and children, something awoke inside of me. As one of only two males on a trip to study women’s leadership and social entrepreneurship, I expected to be challenged to keep an open mind. What I didn’t expect, however, was that by the end of the trip, India would have me in her grip, refuse to let go, and in exchange for my experience, instill a drive in me that would demand a call to action.

That call to action came in an instant for many of the students on that trip. By witnessing first-hand how many of the world’s people live, often on less than a dollar per day, I came to realize that I had within me the power to change lives and to be the leader that I always knew I could be, but until now failed to understand how.

Purvi was born in India and moved to California in middle school. After graduating from University of California, Berkeley with a degree in Business Administration, she joined Deloitte & Touche, San Francisco, where she audited public and private firms in the financial services, healthcare and not-for-profit sectors. Subsequently she spent 17 years in the investment management industry as CFO of a pan-Asia private equity firm (H&Q Asia Pacific), a Silicon Valley early-stage venture capital firm (Allegis Capital) as well as a public equities firm in Seattle (Taiyo Pacific) that she helped through its SEC registration process. At H&Q Asia Pacific, Purvi was CFO of a 10-country operation after co- leading the spinout of her firm from JP Morgan Chase and its subsequent expansion into Japan, Korea, India and further growth in China. In addition to helping H&Q Asia Pacific raise over $1.5 billion, Purvi oversaw the firm’s public relations and investor relations activities as well as exit strategy for its 100+ portfolio companies. Purvi has served as an investment committee member of H&Q Asia Pacific’s India fund and board member of some of its US and Asian portfolio companies in the technology and non-technology sectors. Purvi has also served as CFO of a healthcare informatics start-up in San Francisco where she helped the founder raise a $15M Series A round and advised the company on its subsequent sale to IMS. In 2009, Purvi was recognized as one of 100 most influential women in Silicon Valley by the San Jose Business Journal.

Purvi speaks and reads Hindi fluently. She loves the outdoors and running/skiing, particularly since moving to the Pacific Northwest in 2010 with her husband and son. More recently, Purvi has made conscientious efforts to support women entrepreneurs, serving as a judge for the SBA’s 2015 InnovateHer business competition for women’s entrepreneurs in Lacey, Washington. She is also passionate supporting causes relating to children in developing countries

When I was 9 years old I had the opportunity to visit my mother's home town. During this trip I met many cousins and young girls whose only desire was to go to school; unfortunately due to their family circumstances they couldn't. Knowing that the only difference between me and these girls was that I was born in the US instilled in me a deep desire to get a college degree and put myself in a situation where I ccould help make a difference one day. I went back again before attending college and that fueled my passion even more as my cousins/friends were now married with kids still telling me how they wished they could have gone to school instead. I have since graduated from Western Washington University and work at Amazon on the Global Expansion team. I am fully committed to helping provide scholarships for as many girls as possible.

Bio coming soon.

Bio Pending

While studying women’s leadership and social entrepreneurship immersed in rich Indian culture this past summer, I gained a greater understanding of the social realities of India and an admiration for its people. Throughout my journey, I knew in the back of my mind that I wanted to find a way to alleviate some of the social realities faced in India, yet could not put my finger on what would be the best way to do so. I found that a common thread among many of my experiences was the importance and power of education. More specifically, my eyes were opened to the positive social changes that can be brought to India merely through educating young women. Because education was never something that I had given much thought to prior to my travels, this idea inspired me.

Once back in Seattle, my team and I have founded this project as one that fulfills our desire to give back to India in what we believe is the most sustainable way possible. By working to raise awareness among our own peers at home and simultaneously being able to provide education for young women in India, we hope to create a catalyst for change.

Co-founding the Girl in Yellow Foundation is perfectly aligned to my personal interests and skills. I am passionate about social change and helping others. This project also aligns with my academic and long-term goals in that I am a student at the Michael G. Foster School of Business who hopes to use my business knowledge and skills to continue to create social change both locally and globally. I could not be more enthusiastic to embark on this venture with the rest of the GIY team as we work toward our shared goal of providing education to young women in rural India, much like those that we had the opportunity to meet over our own journey.

Namaste!

I’m a recent graduate of the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business. I majored in Business Administration with a focus on Operations and Supply Chain Management, and I will be graduating with a Certificate of International Studies in Business (CISB). As part of CISB, I am currently spending four months in India and Nepal, volunteering and traveling, as well as practicing Hindi. When I return, I will be joining Hitachi Consulting in Seattle as a full-time consultant.

I joined the Girl in Yellow project because I have seen how much an education can help change a life, especially in India. I am half-Indian and have a deep connection to the country as well as the cause of women’s empowerment. I had the opportunity to shadow members of the Self Employed Women’s Association Bank in Ahmedabad, Gujarat in 2009, and I was able to meet some of the rural women who had received micro loans from the organization. They were able to achieve so much from the program, and with a college education provided by scholarships from Girl in Yellow, I am confident and excited that these women will be able to achieve even more.

In the summer of 2012, my feet first touched the grounds of New Dehli, India. I observed my surroundings and saw the beauty of the country. I fully injected myself into the land as I tasted its foods, smelled its air, and talked to its people. Although no words can capture India’s internal beauty; it also has a dark side. Due to India’s poverty, there are many early childhood academic institutions that lack resources, and many families that cannot support their child to go to college. This creates an entrapment—a physical and psychological state that paralyzes an individual, making it impossible for them to reach their fullest academic potential. I personally saw this entrapment when studying abroad in India, and now I want to make a difference!