Our team of over 100 researchers, strategists, designers, developers, and implementers has worked across industries, building evidence that investing in worker wellbeing is a strategic imperative.

ABHINAV KASHYAP

Software Engineer 2
i remained busy all my life, loved a little, worked a little.

An avid listener at heart, Abhinav holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Technology. Always intrigued to fathom new perspectives and ideologies about himself, society, and the universe. Loves to sing and will constantly ask you to share your Spotify playlist.

ACHYUTA ADHVARYU

CDO & Co-Founder
dad, economist, & fearless wielder of bad puns

Ach has a PhD in economics from Yale. He leads innovation for GBL and serves as a principal investigator on research projects. He is also an Associate Professor at the University of Michigan.

ANANT AHUJA

CEO & Co-Founder
exporter of beats, garments, & good business

Anant holds a B.A. in political science from the University of Pennsylvania. He is the CEO at GBL & the head of Organizational Development at Shahi Exports, a company started by his grandmother which is now India’s largest apparel exporter.

ANANT NYSHADHAM

Chief Strategy Officer & Co-Founder
baby wrestler, jive talker, renaissance man

Anant holds a Ph.D. in economics from Yale. He helps to set overall strategy and often serves as a Principal investigator on research projects. He is also an Associate Professor at the University of Michigan.

ANANYA KURODE

Design Associate
Snacking my way through life

Anaya holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Space Design from the Srishti Institute of Art, Design, and Technology. She is passionate about finding creative ways to address climate change and is exploring developmental impact from a social perspective. In her free time, she is learning the art of doing nothing.

ANISHA DAS

Associate, Fundraising
often found between spotify playlists

Exploring the world one trip at a time, fuelled by a love for mountains and momos. Committed to making a positive impact on society. Finding joy in a good cup of coffee and uncovering the stories of the past.

ANKUR MISHRA

Partnerships Consultant
An Inquisitive chai lover

An engineer turned public policy professional, Ankur is passionate about working on intersectionalities, primarily with gender and labor. Having worked in consulting, program management and now in partnerships, he believes impact at scale can be achieved through effective collaboration. Loves naps, chai, dogs and conversations.

APOORV SOMANCHI

Senior Research Associate
appreciates chai, coffee and kurtas

Apoorv holds an M.A. in Economics from the Delhi School of Economics. His research interests include governance, sanitation and worker well-being. Find him in his free time obsessing over football analytics and music.

ARVIND PATIL

Associate Director - Design
good by design, better by intent!

You will find Arvind observing – people, places, and interactions. A believer in experientialism, Arvind holds a master’s in strategic design management from the National Institute of Design.

AVDHOOT BHARATI

Research Associate
aspiring Researcher, failing Cricketer

Avdhoot has a M.A. in Economics from Azim Premji University with a keen interest in labor, inequality and information asymmetry. His is interested in  poetry, literature and modern art movements. He can be seen cooking for friends and hyping his middling food.

AYUSHI VERMA

Frontend Engineer
every day i grind!

An IT engineer, Ayushi is great with people and code. She has a keen interest in exploring and learning new things. She loves to travel and keep herself busy with her loved ones. A binge watcher, she has an artistic side too. In her free time, you can find her drawing and being creative in her own ways.

B RENUKAPRASAD

Senior Ventures Manager
championing compassionate capitalism

Prasad is an engineer and entrepreneur with skills and interests in marketing, economics, and design. He loves Hindustani music, reading books, and traveling.

BOPANNA CHANGAPPA

Senior Field Manager
adventures / basketball / coffee (abc)

Bopanna holds an MBA in CSR, and loves coffee, basketball and cars. At GBL he works on implementing and monitoring field operations.

BRANDON CHETTRI

Finance Operations Assistant
when nothing goes right, you can always go left

A mountain dweller, avid reader, and a gourmand at heart, Brandon holds a Masters’ in Social Work with a specialization in Medical and Psychiatric Social Work. He has experience working for international non-profit organizations. He is passionate about advocacy for mental health. At GBL, he put his organizational skills and love for numbers to work in supporting the finance vertical.

CARESSE BROWN

Associate, Fundraising
a work in progress

Caresse holds an M.A. in Politics and Sociology from the University of Glasgow. She cares deeply about people and is a firm believer in the kindness of strangers, even if the evening news leaves her questioning it all. Navigating life, armed with sarcasm, compassion, and a healthy dose of skepticism.

CHODEN ROCHE

People Operations Senior Associate
mom, travel junkie, high on life

Choden has a Master’s degree in Organizational Psychology with experience in diverse fields like advertising, education, and IT. She’s got a long bucket list of things to do.

DEBASMITA MOHANTY

Senior Field Associate
music boosts positive energy

Debasmita holds a bachelor’s in Electro-Homeopathy Medicine and Surgery. She has worked closely with numerous slum communities across Odisha for more than seven years. Her interest lies in community mobilization, women empowerment, youth counseling, health, and sanitation development.

DEBORAH YAZHINI CHARLES

Senior Design Associate
likely to misconstrue full stops at the end of texts as an act of aggression

Motivated to understand the how and why of human behaviour, Deborah is a researcher and psychologist with an MSc in Clinical Psychology and a BA in Psychology. Her research interests include relationships, well-being, & culture. You can find her (re)reading her favourite books, (re)watching her favourite shows, and (re)listening to her favourite artists. She also denies being a creature of habit.

DHRUV BANSAL

Finance Operations Associate
travel, play, solve: life's winning trio
Dhruv has completed his Bachelor’s in Management Studies with a specialisation in Finance from Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies. He thrives on adventure through travel, masters sports and stocks, cherishes rare coins, and has a knack for problem-solving

DIA BANGERA

Director, Operations
navigating the world of a working mother

Live music, festival and theatre enthusiast, Dia studied environment & development and psychology. She cares about equality and the environment, and dreams of a world without borders.

DILIP SINGH SHEKHAWAT

Field Associate
Stay connected to the land

Dilip has completed a B.Ed in Social Education from Jammu University. With over 12 years of experience collecting diverse field data across various subjects, he is highly interested in meeting new people and learning from their experiences.

DIVYA ALEX

Senior Research Associate
procrastinating philomath, momo connoisseur and quirky art collector

An occasional Chelsea fan, Divya moved from the world of equations to hypotheses. She holds an MA in public policy and governance from Azim Premji University. She strongly believes education is the one-pill fix to most problems in the world. Outside work, you’d find her hosting board game nights, looking for restaurant and Airbnb reviews, and rooting for her favorite F1 team!

ESHIKA GOMBAR

Senior Partnerships Manager
living in a sitcom

Eshika holds a Bachelor’s in Political Science and a Diploma in Conflict and Peace Studies. She has a keen interest in business sustainability, labor, and gender. At GBL, she works on building strategic partnerships.

GAURAV SARASWAT

Research Associate
A social scientist but neither social nor a scientist

Balancing seriousness with whimsy, Gaurav holds a Master’s in Economics from Calcutta University. He is passionate about understanding political philosophy and exploring the intricate influence of norms and culture on his daily experiences. In his free time, he either reads or journals.

GAUTHAM RAJ G

Senior Associate, Fundraising
‘star-gazer and expert dosai maker’

Gautham holds a Master’s in Sociology from the Delhi School of Economics. Previously, he taught Sociology for a living. He loves listening to music and taking long walks by the beach. His academic interests include Development, Education, Political Economy, and Public Health.

HARISH PM

Senior Field Associate
let's be better humans

Harish holds a B.A. in sociology and a master’s in social work. Involved in survey training, he works on the implementation of projects in rural Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

HARIT KUMAR SINGH

Research Associate
PhD in charlatanry

Harit holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration (Hons.) from Christ University, followed by a Master’s in Econometrics and Applied Economics from Monash University. He is interested in Economic history, political economy and policy. In my free time, he always looks for that extra dopamine rush through good reads and food.

INDU CHHATWANI

Senior Research Associate
your friendly neighbourhood nerd

Indu has an M.Sc. in Economics from The University of Bonn and has previously worked on Inequality and agriculture. She has a soft spot for gender and sustainability research. Good books, documentaries, poetry, and travel are what keep her going.

IPSITA PANDA

Business Development Manager
A psychology geek & spiritual junkie

Ipsita holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from NIT Rourkela. A software engineer turned Business Development Manager, she is passionate about singing, dancing, and avidly reading.

KARAN MENON

Manager, Fundraising
observer of society & comedy panel shows.

Karan holds an M.A. in Sociology from the Delhi School of Economics. He is a lover of history, films, and good British comedy.

KARLA DOMINGUEZ

Senior Manager, Funding and Finance, Global
adventure chaser and scars collector

Karla holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and is currently fighting her way through a master’s in international development at The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). She is a foodie who loves the beach, movies, and baby Yoda.

KARTHIK BELLIAPPA

Field Analyst
More zen the better

Karthik holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance and Business Administration, He loves to travel and explore new places and cultures. His biggest dream is to travel around the world and explore different cuisines. Here at GBL, he works in implementing projects across Factory Units.

KARTHIK K

Field Associate
the freedom of mind is the real freedom.

Karthik holds a master’s in social work specializing in Human Resources Management and a bachelor’s in Computer Applications from Kristu Jayanti College, Bangalore. At GBL, he works on the implementation of projects across factory units. Prior to GBL, he was an HR Executive at D1 Fortification. When not working, you’ll find him playing cricket or riding a bike.

KEZLINE DHARSHINI SURESH

Research Associate
it's just music, movies and an extroverted me

An animal lover and vivid art fan, Kezline has completed her Masters’s in Economics from Azim Premji University. She currently works as Research Associate at GBL to learn more, explore her interests and contribute to society. She firmly believes that living in the present is the secret to happiness.

KRISHNA MARED

Field Analyst
Expressing soul through art, music is a catalyst to it

Krishna holds a BSc. (Hons) and MSc. in Economics from BASE University, Bangalore. A cordial person who loves to sketch, and a music nerd who’s also always eager to watch and discuss about movies and series. At GBL he is responsible for overseeing project execution on the field.

LAVANYA GARG

Director, Growth
history walks and cat talks

Lavanya holds an M.A. in international & development economics from Yale University. She works on growth, organizational policies & culture, and key stakeholder relationships at GBL. She believes that fairy lights and books make the world a better place.

MADHU MANJUNATH

Design Manager
elephant's memory for trivia

A food and movie enthusiast who spends her free time exploring the city, Madhu holds an M.A. in international development and wishes to someday work for the UN.

MALKA DOSHI

Senior Funding Associate - Post Award Management
Surrounded by books

Malka has a masters degree in environmental science from the Institute of Science, Mumbai. Avid reader, decent cook, aspiring bread maker!

MAMTA PIMOLI

Associate Director - Ventures
economic gender equality is another 217 years away, ceteris paribus

Mamta holds an M.A. in Applied Economics from the University of Michigan. She works on scaling GBL’s impact by turning evidence-based solutions into marketable products.

MANSI KABRA

Associate Director - Marketing & Transformation
take my advice. i’m not using it.

Writer of thoughts, player of keys, natural with rhymes, and M.A. in development studies. You’ll see her drinking chai, with ideas on the fly, always looking for something new, something fresh to try.

MANSI RAMANI

Research Associate
hates and loves being confused

Mansi has completed her undergraduate education in Economics from Ashoka University. She is interested in understanding social policies and the economics of education and gender.

MEGHANA KANE

Research Manager
A meme connoisseur and fantasy enthusiast

Meghna has a Master’s in Economics from Delhi School of Economics. She has experience working in the social networks space, and tech project management. In her free time, you can find her watching travel vlogs, listening to Taylor Swift and stalking book lists on Goodreads.

MEHA SHAH

Partnerships Associate
outfit-repeater, kpop stan, nerdfigther, covered in cat hair

Meha holds an MSc. in Global Development from the University of Copenhagen and a B.A. in Economics. She has previously worked at Carnegie India. She spends her free time listening to true crime podcasts and daydreaming.

MOHIT VERMA

Senior Research Associate
aspiring roadscholar and hoarder of articles and screenshots

Your friendly neighborhood introvert, Mohit holds an MA in Economics from Madras School of Economics, Chennai. A firm believer in social justice, he lives for popular culture and believes in the power of empathy and kindness in making the world a better place.

MURCHANA NATH

Research Associate
Likes movies, chai and conversations.

Murchana Nath is from Assam. She holds a Masters’ degree in Economics from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Her interest lies in the intersection of gender and worker welfare.

NAISHA GUPTA

UI/UX designer
designer i baker i dancer i sportsperson "expect the unexpected!"

Tireless seeker of knowledge, who finds ways to understand and solve real-life problems. Naisha likes how designing is interlinked with everything around us, and how things we learn in life help us while designing or vice-versa. A big fan of aesthetics and simplicity, Naisha tends to be a perfectionist, because I like to be thoughtful about my steps and tread carefully in all her actions.

NIRMAL(NIM) DESHPANDE

Managing Director
Chutney maker and seeker of witty banter

Nim is a strategist and operational problem solver who helps organizations articulate an aspirational vision and then develop the strategies, capabilities, and processes to bring it to life. He has held roles in marketing, corporate strategy, design, and technology and is driven by a desire to connect dots and find moments of shared humanity. He holds an MBA from the University of Michigan and a BA in political science from Williams College.

PALASH SHANKER

Senior Design Associate
the slower i go, the more i observe

Palash has studied design at the National Institute of Design. He tries to use a systems approach in understanding behaviors and cultures and gets his inspiration from nature itself for it!

PRIOTA PAUL

Senior Field Manager
trying to be a minimalist!

Priota holds a master’s in social work. Her commitment to minimalism is tested by her love for cute stationery. At GBL, she oversees the ins and outs of field operations.

PRIYANKA DHAWAN

Finance Manager
love to play with numbers and kids

A Chartered Accountant with a decade-long experience of working with international organizations, Priyanka truly believes that good planning is halfway to success. With the two most demanding jobs in hand (motherhood and career), always trying to do justice to each without neglecting the other.

Rahul Mahajan

Backend Software Engineer
Sky is never the limit. Wielding wit like a double-edged sword: the sarcasm maestro.

Rahul holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering and is driven by a passion for continuous learning, whether it involves exploring new technologies or uncovering fascinating facts about the universe. A dedicated sports enthusiast, he has competed at the national level in both basketball and chess and also enjoys singing and reading.

RAJNEESH SINGH

Field Associate
expert gardener

Rajneesh holds a master’s in political science from Delhi University. Always looking to learn new things, his work comprises field visits to execute & monitor surveys across factory units, recruitment, training & production data.

RAVINDER KUMAR

Product Manager
man of culture and sheer will

Ravinder is a product manager and designer with a passion for solving complex business problems. He works to create innovative solutions that solve business challenges and delight customers.

RENU

Field Associate
simplicity is in my genes!

Renu has done her Bachelor’s and Master’s in social work. She loves exploring new places and enjoys reading and watching crime fiction.

RIYA KALIA

Fundraising Assistant
trying to understand the world one page at a time

Riya holds a Bachelor’s in Economics from Miranda House, University of Delhi. She is enthusiastic about action-oriented research. In her free time, she indulges in various crafts and media content.

ROCHAK JAIN

Senior Partnerships Associate
jared, 19

Rochak holds a P.G.D in Economics from Ashoka University. His interests include development economics, fantasy football, Manchester United, and making obscure vine references. At GBL, he works on building strategic partnerships

ROOPIKA R NAIR

Field Associate
we can. we will. we must!

With a Bachelor’s and Masters’s in social work, Roopika is driven towards empowering communities through education and aspiring to inspire the ones who seek it.

ROSHAN MISHRA

Technical Project Manager
Dad, Nerd. A Tea Snob who likes Old Technology

Roshan buys too many books and reads too many old school websites. Roshan believes in a techno-optimist Indian future and he has helped build multiple technology products. He is a programmer at heart. He would someday hopes to finish reading all his books.

RUSHMIKA NAGPAL

Executive Assistant
Life's like a movie, write your own ending. Keep believing, keep pretending." - Jim Henson

Dehradun boarder turned Oberoi grad with a quirky MICA digital marketing cert. Not just into pixels but a mountain-hopping, dog-loving wizard who can disconnect from the world faster than you can say “hashtag wanderlust.”

SAHIL BAGWE

Senior Research Associate
supplying life as it demands

Sahil holds a Bachelor’s in Economics from Ashoka University. His research interests revolve around public finance and development economics. When he’s not obsessing over nerdy things, find him enjoying classical music and the outdoors, and possibly having full-blown internal monologues.

SANCHITA OHRI WADHWA

Senior Research Manager
dogs over humans for life!

Sanchita has a master’s in development economics from Boston University. Her interests lie in gender economy and education. When not working, she is either baking a cheesecake or looking for dogs to pet!

SANGEETHA ESTHER

Senior Research Associate
a little bit of phoebe, a whole lot of monica

Trained as a geographer and population analyst, Sangeetha is now venturing into the world of experimental economics. She has research experience in homelessness, street children, and ageing. She’s a cat person with cat allergies!

SAPNA AWATRAMANI

Senior People Operations Manager
picking up the beats and making the best move

Sapna holds a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management. She believes engagement is the essence of all people initiatives. Solving Sudoku is one of her stress busters.

SAUMYA MATHUR

Research Manager
just a tiny speck in the Universe

Saumya is a generalist who has more than five years of experience in setting up impact evaluations in South Asia and South East Asia. She has a double Masters in Economics and Development Studies. At GBL, she is managing research projects in the health, gender and environment space.

SHAILA M

Field Analyst
never let yourself or anyone down.

Starting her career in research as an enumerator, Shaila has been committed to working on field operations and has had vivid experiences in different sectors. She has a creative mind and a kind heart which she carries over in her profession as well. Her dream is to travel and discover the world with her daughter who is also her world. She is a definition of a superwoman who can handle her professional and personal life like a pro.

SHALINI KAPOOR

Senior Associate, Fundraising
A dreamer, a doer, and in pursuit of happiness

Shalini holds a Master’s in Geography from Presidency College   and is deeply curious to understand and dismantle the systems behind inter-generational poverty. When she is not planning her next adventure always with an Excel itinerary), you’ll find her binge-watching the latest shows, and dreaming of a world where every coffee break includes a wagging tail.

SHERWIN FRANCIS OLIVEIRA

People Ops Associate
just a boy caught up in dreams

Sherwin has a PGDM in HR and is an avid sports enthusiast who loves playing and watching sports. His passion for travel, singing, and dancing complements his social nature, as he spends quality time with friends and helps in sourcing the right candidates for Good Business Lab.

SHIKHAR RANA

Senior Data Associate
exploring the ways of seeing

Shikhar is an economist by training and curious by nature. He is addicted to buying books and trying to nurture an addiction to reading them as well. He oscillates between optimism and cynicism regarding the world in general.

SHREEPAD PATIL

Senior Project Lead
engineer by profession, cricketer by soul

A Mechanical Engineer with the zest to travel. When not working, Shreepad likes to read history and management books. At GBL, he works as a Project Coordinator, overseeing the implementation of different projects.

SHREYA BATRA

Senior Partnerships Associate
books, coke studio, coffee and a pair of earrings can make anything right!

An engineer turned social scientist, Shreya is a constant learner. She holds a master’s in women’s studies from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (Mumbai) and aims to work at the intersection of labor, gender, and sustainability.

SMIT GADE

Director, Research and Data
economist by day, biryani vigilante by night

When not thinking about data and economic models, Smit is poring over history and monuments. He holds an M.Phil. in economics from Oxford, and looks after Data & Research at GBL.

SNEHA PALEKAR

Senior Field Associate
a humanist, gym rat!

Sneha has a Master’s in Social work (specialized in medical and psychiatric social work) from the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE). Living her life by the principles of Social Work, deep philosophical conversations interest her. She’s a cliché murder mystery binge-watcher.

SOWMYA DHANARAJ

Senior Research Fellow
embarked on a life-long journey of learning!

Sowmya has a Ph.D. in Economics from IGIDR Mumbai. She is a Senior Research Fellow at GBL and researches on gender, health, education, and labor issues. She was previously Assistant Professor at Madras School of Economics.

SUNNY KUMAR

Senior Operations Associate
let’s do it.

An Electrical Engineer keen to know the mechanism and change for the better version. Fond of walking at any time anywhere.

TANIYA DSILVA

Associate Director, Program Management
Some cat petting, some napping and some living

Taniya brings in 12 years of work experience in the development sector in roles at the intersection of sales, fundraising and non-profit advisory. She currently leads program management at GBL. Always on the lookout for cats to pet and a good laugh.

TANYA SINGH

Partnerships Associate
homebody. cold coffee lover. animal rights advocate.

Tanya has studied BA in Economics from Christ University, Bangalore, and she is working on forming partnerships through marketing and direct outreach in GBL. Passionate about the development sector, she seeks to broaden her understanding of diverse societies and their challenges. Outside of work, she is all about books, R&B grooves, and epic hikes.

UDIT KALRA

Marketing Associate
done is beautiful

Udit has an unwavering passion for achieving the best results, with the curiosity of a four-year-old pushing him toward new opportunities and experiences. He works on bringing GBL’s innovations to a broader audience nationwide and beyond.

UMESH KUMAR

Senior Field Associate
confuse them with your silence and shock them with your results

Umesh holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees in social work and is currently pursuing his PGDNGOM from Annamalai University. At GBL, Umesh works on the implementation of different projects across factory units.

USHMITA SETH

Data Associate
easily distracted, usually socially awkward, grateful to those who are able to laugh at my puns

Ushmita holds a Bachelors degree in Engineering from Delhi Technological University and a Masters in Economics from Ashoka University. She is interested in exploring the use of tech in empirical research and on-ground program implementation.

UTKARSH CHAWLA

Business Operations Associate
wanderer, tickling funny bones, and testing ai limits

Utkarsh holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Loves to travel, wants to explore every corner of the world and has got a special place in his heart for mountains, likes to do standup, has an interest in Open AI and how it will shape the world. At GBL, he works on business end of operations.

VAISHAKH

Research Associate
a footballer in some alternate universe

Vaishakh holds a Masters in Economics from GIPE, Pune. One thing he’s surely learned from the subject is that anything can be solved if subjected to enough assumptions. Always ready to discuss sports, music, motorcycles, videography, etc.

VAISHNAVI JHARIYA

Senior Associate Product Manager
i am making real steady tangible progress everyday

With a bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering, Vaishnavi is a tech-savvy person who loves exploring new tech-related products or features. She’s an all-time crocheter and dog feeder in her free time. In short, she’s a person with lots of hobbies!

VARUN JAGANNATH

Associate Director - Field
to chill and chai
Varun is pursuing a Ph.D. in cultural ecology from the TISS Mumbai, holds a master’s in social work from St. Joseph’s College and a B.A. in industrial relations, sociology and economics from St. Joseph’s College. At GBL he works on on-ground research operations.

VARUN P SHENOY

Design Associate
measures happiness in kilometres per litre

As a graduate in Visual design, he possess a boundless enthusiasm for discovering novel opportunities, be it creating innovative projects, achieving success like scoring a goal on the football field or embarking on exciting long drives.

VENKATESH ALUR

Research Associate
laying foundations for hypothetical future

Venkatesh has a Master’s in Economics from BASE university. His interest lie in labor & livelihood. When away from work, he can be found spending time with his friends and cooking.

VERENA VAZ

Senior People Operations Associate
lover of all things sportive and creative.

With a PGDM in Human Resources, Verena believes that learning is a life-long process for both, individuals and organizations. When at play, she spends her time curating workout content and creating playlists to enhance her gyming experience.

VINAY ADITYA SANNIDHI

Backend Engineer
foodie, film buff, melophile

A finance enthusiast, Vinay loves to explore new things. He holds a bachelor’s in Computer Science and a curiosity for future technologies. His major interests are science fiction and business case studies.

VISHAL

Product Manager
we don't quit at halftime! you don't score until you score!

Vishal is in constant pursuit of ideas and learning how to build businesses. He is also a web3 enthusiast, exploring the potential of technology in the times to come.

YASASHVI PAREKH

Research Associate
perpetually craving academic validation

Yasashvi has completed her undergraduate education in economics from Ashoka University. She is interested in development and labour economics, and their intersection with the modern political context.

YESHA SHAH

Field Analyst
Beach and cafe hopper

Yesha holds a degree in Masters in Social Work (Medical and Psychiatry), along with four years of work experience in Marketing. In her free time, she’s found exploring places, good food and cafés.

Our leadership, composed of our Founders and Senior Management, provides overall strategic direction to GBL and its ten verticals, designing and executing world-leading economic research for evidence-based worker wellbeing initiatives.

ACHYUTA ADHVARYU

CDO & Co-Founder
dad, economist, & fearless wielder of bad puns

Ach has a PhD in economics from Yale. He leads innovation for GBL and serves as a principal investigator on research projects. He is also an Associate Professor at the University of Michigan.

ANANT AHUJA

CEO & Co-Founder
exporter of beats, garments, & good business

Anant holds a B.A. in political science from the University of Pennsylvania. He is the CEO at GBL & the head of Organizational Development at Shahi Exports, a company started by his grandmother which is now India’s largest apparel exporter.

ANANT NYSHADHAM

Chief Strategy Officer & Co-Founder
baby wrestler, jive talker, renaissance man

Anant holds a Ph.D. in economics from Yale. He helps to set overall strategy and often serves as a Principal investigator on research projects. He is also an Associate Professor at the University of Michigan.

ARVIND PATIL

Associate Director - Design
good by design, better by intent!

You will find Arvind observing – people, places, and interactions. A believer in experientialism, Arvind holds a master’s in strategic design management from the National Institute of Design.

DIA BANGERA

Director, Operations
navigating the world of a working mother

Live music, festival and theatre enthusiast, Dia studied environment & development and psychology. She cares about equality and the environment, and dreams of a world without borders.

LAVANYA GARG

Director, Growth
history walks and cat talks

Lavanya holds an M.A. in international & development economics from Yale University. She works on growth, organizational policies & culture, and key stakeholder relationships at GBL. She believes that fairy lights and books make the world a better place.

MAMTA PIMOLI

Associate Director - Ventures
economic gender equality is another 217 years away, ceteris paribus

Mamta holds an M.A. in Applied Economics from the University of Michigan. She works on scaling GBL’s impact by turning evidence-based solutions into marketable products.

MANSI KABRA

Associate Director - Marketing & Transformation
take my advice. i’m not using it.

Writer of thoughts, player of keys, natural with rhymes, and M.A. in development studies. You’ll see her drinking chai, with ideas on the fly, always looking for something new, something fresh to try.

NIRMAL(NIM) DESHPANDE

Managing Director
Chutney maker and seeker of witty banter

Nim is a strategist and operational problem solver who helps organizations articulate an aspirational vision and then develop the strategies, capabilities, and processes to bring it to life. He has held roles in marketing, corporate strategy, design, and technology and is driven by a desire to connect dots and find moments of shared humanity. He holds an MBA from the University of Michigan and a BA in political science from Williams College.

SMIT GADE

Director, Research and Data
economist by day, biryani vigilante by night

When not thinking about data and economic models, Smit is poring over history and monuments. He holds an M.Phil. in economics from Oxford, and looks after Data & Research at GBL.

VARUN JAGANNATH

Associate Director - Field
to chill and chai
Varun is pursuing a Ph.D. in cultural ecology from the TISS Mumbai, holds a master’s in social work from St. Joseph’s College and a B.A. in industrial relations, sociology and economics from St. Joseph’s College. At GBL he works on on-ground research operations.

Meet the researchers working together with GBL to prove the business case for worker wellbeing.

ANDELYN RUSSELL

Junior Principal Investigator

Andelyn Russell is a Ph.D. student in Wharton Applied Economics. She completed her B.S. in Operations Research from Columbia University. Prior to joining Wharton, Andelyn was a research assistant in health economics at J-PAL North America. Her research interests include identity, discrimination, education, and health among women and migrants in developing economies.

DAVID LEVINE

Principal Investigator

Dr. Levine is a Eugene E. and Catherine M. Trefethen Professor at Walter A. Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley. He is the chair of the Economic Analysis and Policy Group. He has also chaired the Advisory Board for Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA). His research interests include health-related behaviors, health-promoting goods, and organizational learning.

EMIR MURATHANOGLU

Junior Principal Investigator

Emir Murathanoglu is a Ph.D. candidate in Economics and Business at the University of Michigan. Prior to his doctoral degree, he was an economic consultant at Cornerstone Research for 2 years in New York. His research interests include economic development, economic geography, and migration.

GAURAV KHANNA

Principal Investigator

Dr. Khanna is an Assistant Professor of Economics at UCSD’s School of Global Policy and Strategy. He is also a faculty affiliate at the Center for Effective Global Action, and a Non-resident Fellow at the Center for Global Development. His research interests include Development Economics, Labor Economics, and Applied Econometrics with a focus on education, migration, infrastructure, and conflict.

HEATHER ESPER

Principal Investigator

Heather Esper, Director of the Performance Measurement and Improvement team at the University of Michigan’s William Davidson Institute, specialises in designing and implementing tailored monitoring, evaluation, and learning solutions. With 15+ years of experience, she leads partnerships and research in low- and middle-income countries to assess and improve organizations’ economic, social, and environmental performance.

HEATHER SCHOFIELD

Principal Investigator
Dr. Schofield is an Assistant Professor at Perelman School of Medicine and The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. She’s an economist studying development, health, and behavioral economics. Her research interests include health human capital, its role in economic productivity, cognitive function, and decision-making and the role of financial and social incentives in promoting healthy behaviors.

HUAYU XU

Principal Investigator

Dr. Huayu Xu is an Assistant Professor of Economics in the National School of Development and ISSCAD at Peking University. He received his Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Michigan in 2020. His research interests are in development economics and political economy.

JEAN-FRANÇOIS GAUTHIER

Principal Investigator

Jean-François Gauthier is a Ph.D. candidate at Boston College where he is also a teaching fellow for Intermediate Microeconomics. He completed his M.Sc from HEC, Montreal. His research interests include personnel economics, labor economics, and development economics.

JORGE TAMAYO

Principal Investigator

Dr. Jorge Tamayo is an Assistant Professor of Business Administration in the Strategy Unit at Harvard Business school. He is an applied microeconomist. Prior to his doctoral degree, he worked at the Central Bank of Colombia and as an adjunct professor in the department of economics at Eafit University. His research interests include industrial organization and development economics.

KARAN NAGPAL

Principal Investigator

Karan Nagpal is an Economist at IDinsight. He received his PhD in Economics from the University of Oxford, where his research focused on governance and urbanization in developing countries. At IDinsight, he has led the design and analysis of impact evaluations and sample surveys across several sectors –  financial inclusion, sanitation, and healthcare. He is a Co-Principal Investigator on Financial inclusion project which is a collaboration between GBL and IDinsight.

NATHAN CONGDON

Principal Investigator

Prof. Nathan Congdon is the Ulverscroft Chair of Global Eye Health at Queen’s University Belfast, Professor of Preventive Ophthalmology at Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center (ZOC) in China and Director of Research for Orbis International. His research focuses on improving the quality of eye care service in underserved settings in LMICs, and on high-quality, policy-relevant randomized trials demonstrating specific ways in which vision care accelerates progress towards the SDGs.

PARKER HOWELL

Research Associate

A former data scientist with a B.S. in statistics, Parker is making a transition toward economics and public policy research and is excited to be a partner of the GBL team.

PEDRO SOUZA

Principal Investigator

Dr. Souza is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Economics, Warwick University in the UK. He completed his PhD in Economics at the London School of Economics. His research interests include Microeconometrics, applied Microeconomics, and Social Networks.

RUSSELL MORTON

Junior Principal Investigator

Russell Morton is a Ph.D. Candidate in Economics at the University of Michigan. Prior to his doctoral degree, he worked at Cornerstone Research as a Research Associate. His research fields are development and industrial organization and he is interested in understanding how market frictions impact low-income countries and researching policy solutions that can reduce their negative effects.

SANDHYA SRINIVAS

Research Associate

Sandhya holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics and previously used to work at Harvard University as a researcher. When she is not dissecting and analyzing popular media for tropes, she is most often trying to survive and keep herself motivated to enter a doctoral program in the near future. (Remember to wish her luck and unsolicited advice appreciated).

TERESA MOLINA

Principal Investigator

Dr. Molina is an Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a Research Affiliate at the IZA Institute of Labor Economics. Her research interests include development, health, and labor economics.

VITTORIO BASSI

Principal Investigator

Dr. Bassi is an Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Southern California. He is also a Lead Academic of the Uganda Country Team of the International Growth Center, as well as a CEPR and CEGA Affiliate. His research interests include labor and development. Vittorio joined USC in 2017, after completing his Ph.D. in Economics from University College London.

*Research affiliates are not employees of GBL.