93. Ratna Viswanathan, First Indian CEO, Reach To Teach

In this episode, we host Ratna Viswanathan, the first Indian CEO of the social impact organization, Reach To Teach, funded by the Larry Ellison Foundation. Ratna shares her experience transitioning from a 21-year career in civil service to leading significant changes in the development and education sectors. She discusses the importance of community engagement, designing for scale, and fostering partnerships with government entities. Ratna emphasizes the critical role of leadership in both government and social enterprises, shares valuable insights on improving education in low-resource environments, and highlights the importance of passion, patience, and flexible policies within the social sector. With a mission to drive substantial impact, Reach2Teach has already positively affected the lives of 8.2 million students in India. Timestamps: 00:59 Ratna Viswanathan's Career Journey 03:06 Challenges and Insights in Government and Development Sectors 04:33 Focus on Education Sector and Community Building 07:27 Scaling Education Initiatives 15:30 Leadership and Management in Social Enterprises 23:47 Advice for Aspiring Social Impact Enthusiasts 26:29 Conclusion and Final Thoughts