Giving Compass' Take:

• The author highlights the journey of changemaker Pradnya Kharbari, a software engineer and former employee at Google to becoming passionate and engaged with the social sector.

• The intersection of tech and social impact is becoming more popular, as society relies on technology for various pursuits. How can changemakers like Kharbari keep spreading messages that tech and social impact work can blend together to create more good in the world?

• Read about how humanitarian philanthropists are examining the potential benefits of technology for development work.

Over the past ten years, thousands of people have come forward to support our mission of promoting financial inclusion and alleviating poverty. Many of these changemakers have been our pillars of support and their passion and commitment to the cause has been a touchstone for our own work. Pradnya Kharbari is one such changemaker who inspires many of us with her understated passion and commitment to change.

A software engineer by training and a former employee of Google, Pradnya’s association with charities and NGOs began early, during her days as a graduate student in the USA, when she volunteered for charities like Child Rights and You (CRY) and VIBHA.

After nearly a decade spent abroad, Pradnya shifted back to India some 11 years ago and has since continued her association with the social sector.

Pradnya had been hearing about Rang De through her friends for years but stopped shy of involving herself with the organisation because she was unsure of the whole process of providing loans “My main question initially was how to handle the interest component of it. And initially I didn’t have any clear answers about that.” she says.

During her time at Google, Pradnya was the chairperson of the ‘Google India Women in Engineering’ for two years, where she helped select candidates for the Anita Borg scholarships, providing “women students in computer science” with scholarships. The field of computer technology is notoriously male-dominated and as a passionate advocate for ‘Women in Tech’ Pradnya naturally gravitates towards women’s empowerment.

In her association with Rang De, this has translated towards her supporting individual women entrepreneurs. Another cause that Pradnya believes in is the universal access to education.

Read the full article about changemakers at Rang De.