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Gloria Benny
Co-Founder at Guardians of Dreams | Enabling Childcare Ecosystem | Ex Google
Professional Background
Gloria Benny is a trailblazing social entrepreneur and advocate for children's rights, renowned for her commitment to transforming the childcare ecosystem in India. With a firm belief that childcare is the bedrock of societal development, she has dedicated her life's work to enhancing the quality of care provided to the most vulnerable children. Starting her journey at an impressively young age, Gloria founded her first non-profit at just 20 years old, which quickly grew to become one of the largest youth-driven organizations in the country. This significant achievement reflects her remarkable leadership skills and unyielding dedication to social change.
Currently, Gloria is at the helm of Guardians of Dreams, an organization focused on upgrading and transforming the standards and quality of care in Child Care Institutions, such as orphanages and shelter homes. Under her guidance, Guardians of Dreams has become an incubatee of IIM-B's social incubator, receiving support from esteemed institutions like the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation and the N/Core Alpha program by The Nudge Foundation. Her multifaceted experience in both the non-profit sector and corporate environments has enriched her approach to social entrepreneurship and child advocacy.
Gloria's career spans a diverse range of roles that showcase her capabilities in both leadership and operational excellence. She previously held pivotal positions at Make A Difference, where she served as the Co-Founder and Director of Research and Impact Evaluation. Her extensive experience with Make A Difference included serving as CEO for Child Programs and Fundraising Programs, where she developed and executed impactful initiatives aimed at improving the lives of at-risk children. Moreover, she has worked at Google in various capacities, including Project Manager for Global Ad Operations and Insights and Improvements for Global Customer Services. This blend of experiences positions her uniquely to understand the intricacies of both operational efficiency and impactful social programming.
Education and Achievements
Gloria's educational background laid a solid foundation for her professional endeavors. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Business/Commerce from Sacred Heart College in Kochi, Kerala, where she honed her analytical and management skills. Prior to that, she studied Commerce at Chinmaya Vidyalaya also in Kochi. She began her education at the International Indian School in Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where she developed a global perspective that continues to influence her work today.
Throughout her career, Gloria has received numerous accolades that highlight her dedication to societal progress. In 2019, she was honored as a Gratitude Fellow, a distinction awarded for her impactful contributions to society. In 2016, she gained recognition as an unconventional entrepreneur in the 'Outstanding Women' series by Outlook Business, celebrating her innovative approach to addressing social challenges. Gloria was also selected to represent India at the launch of the Queen’s Young Leaders Program in 2014, a prestigious initiative aimed at empowering young leaders across the Commonwealth. Furthermore, she received special recognition during Michelle Obama's visit to India in 2010, underscoring her commitment to child rights and education on an international platform.
Achievements
- 2019: Received the Gratitude Fellowship for exemplary contributions to social impact.
- 2016: Recognized as an unconventional entrepreneur by Outlook Business in their 'Outstanding Women' series for her innovative work in child care.
- 2014: Selected to represent India at the launch of the Queen’s Young Leaders Program, a significant leadership initiative aimed at empowering youth.
- 2010: Honored with special recognition during Michelle Obama's visit to India, highlighting her role in advancing children's rights and care.
Gloria Benny embody a true leader in the realm of child advocacy and social entrepreneurship, with a proven record of transforming childcare systems while empowering the next generation of leaders to contribute to societal development through compassionate care and systemic change.
Highlights
9-years ago, I had the opportunity to look at issues / challenges facing the childcare sector on a fresh slate.
After having spent 9 years before that – building an organisation that leverages volunteers to influence change – it was exciting to have the option to start over. I was 30 and I remember asking myself, do I really want to do this again? Starting an org organically, at 20 – was one thing, but starting over at 30 – was an entirely different ball game.
I remember it was during an auto ride amidst the noisy, chaotic Bangalore traffic, that the clarity emerged. Having worked with 1000s of bright, passionate young people in their late teens and early 20s, I was convinced of the power of channeling conviction to impact a problem one feels strongly about. It was an irrational drive – that would enable 18-year-olds to run 80-member volunteer chapters and do a fantastic job at it. It showed me how age really was just a number. That idealism mixed with conviction is a potent cocktail.
Clarity emerged that there is a whole line of ‘unseen people’ – on whose shoulders India’s child protection system heavily leans. People who have carried their irrational drive and commitment into their late 40s and 50s – not letting the trauma they see, the intractable problems they confront – jade their optimism. People who take in 20-30 of the most vulnerable children, look after them as their own, helping heal their scars along the way and when ready —letting them go into the world – many a times never to be called again.
Clarity emerged that there’s something miraculous about their work. Empowering, enabling, strengthening their hand – must have outsized impact. That there is a magical mix of human conviction, resilience and irrational drive that’s enabling founders / leaders of children’s homes to continue their work into their twilight years.
Guardians launched off of this insight. That standing shoulder to shoulder with these groups of unseen people – gives us a good shot at providing nurturing childhoods – to lakhs / crores of vulnerable children.
Guardians Of Dreams / www.godreams.org
#socialentrepreneurship #impact #nonprofit #childcare
Nation building is thrilling!
Come, join us at Guardians Of Dreams or the tons of other non-profit organizations that are hiring right now.
There are intractable social issues that need the most resilient, brilliant minds to solve. Apply if you think YOU are one!
Link to JDs: https://lnkd.in/gk6BHZv Link to Apply: https://lnkd.in/gFUQ2pGB
#hiring #development #nonprofit
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Mesh offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Mesh is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Mesh's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Mesh has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Mesh is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Mesh beneficial.
Mesh offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Mesh offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Mesh's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
Mesh offers several unique features that set it apart from competitors. Mesh focuses on aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of a user's network, consolidating data from various sources. Its Nexus AI feature is particularly innovative, allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network. Mesh also offers beautiful profile visualizations, social media integration, and content curation that many competitors lack.
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