Core Team
Joyce Thayil, Program Lead
Joyce is a Graduate in Psychology and English. She has worked across various domains such as Administration, as Teacher and an International Coding Instructor over a career spanning eight years. She has been an active part of Bipolarindia's Peer Support Community since 2017. Currently, she is also pursuing her Bachelor's Degree in Education. She also has Certifications in AI & ML, Web and Basic App Development. Having lived experience with Bipolar Disorder, Joyce can relate better with the challenges faced by persons with serious mental health conditions in context of their careers. She is committed to take this initiative forward.
Vijay Nallawala, Co Founder & Co Lead
Inspired by his own journey of recovery from Bipolar Disorder, Vijay founded Bipolarindia in 2013, probably India's first peer led peer support community of its kind. He conceptualised and Co Founded Let's Walk Together and is Co Founder & Managing Trustee of Mental Health Support Foundation. He is an Author and has prior entrepreneurial experience of over 3 decades. Vijay has been invited as Speaker at important International Conferences and Symposia on Mental Health and Disability Rights. He is on the Institutional Ethics Committee of BALM, Chennai and on the Advisory Board of several Organisations.
Asha Pillai, Policy & Liaison
Asha is Global Planning & Appraisal Manager at Shell- Information & Digital Technology. She has been a CFO and Finance Director for Hazira Group of Companies (HGC), which comprises of Shell Energy India Pvt. Ltd. and Hazira Port Pvt Ltd. For Shell’s India businesses, she has served as Controller in Projects and Technologies and headed the Finance Function for the Retail business in Bangalore. She subsequently took on a virtual global role for Shell’s Marketing businesses with a bi-monthly stint in London. Asha is a Chartered Accountant and has been Chairperson for Confederation of Indian Industries' (CII) Indian Women's Network (IWN) Gujarat. Her contribution to LWT has been immense.
Ruchi Bhatia, HR & Recruitment
Ruchi is an IIM-C Alumni and Founder of HRGurukul. She was Recruitment Branding Leader at IBM, where she had over a decade of Corporate HR work experience and earned the Most Valuable Ambassador award for Digital Transformation. In 2018, She won 40 under 40 HR Leader award. She is a Feminist, honoured as Top 10 HR Influencer by SHRM India, Top 10 Sheroes Mentor, Top 30 Feminist by ShethePeople, Top 100 #FutureofWork Influencer. She has given guest lectures at IIM Rohtak, O P Jindal University, MDI Gurgaon, Delhi School of Economics. She has been invited as Speaker by many forums on HR, Gender Diversity, Women issues, Social & Digital Technologies.
Nandita Sugandhi, Peer Mentor & Trainer
Nandita is a passionate Supply Chain professional, avid reader and a person living with Bipolar Disorder. She is currently Productivity Manager at Mondelez International where she has also garnered experience in manufacturing and logistics. She is an alumnus of IIT-Bombay SJMSOM, where she did her MBA in Operations and Supply Chain Management. She is pursuing an executive MBA in Project Management from IIM-Mumbai. Nandita wants to benefit persons with serious mental health conditions from her experiences and passionately supports this livelihoods initiative.
Prakash Shenoy, Mentor & Resume Advisor
Prakash has a diploma in Textile Technology from SASMIRA, Mumbai and has extensive work experience with Kamala Mills Ltd, Piramal Mills Ltd and later, for several decades with Eastern Engineering Co, Mumbai, where he retired as G.M. (Technical). He currently continues with them as an Advisor (Technical). His job profile as Marketing in-charge of European textile machinery meant travel within India and to Europe and Asia. What inspires most is his success in his work profile of such high responsibility while coping with Bipolar Disorder. A shining example of overcoming mental illness and managing and sustaining a career with great resilience for over forty years. He brings all this experience as guide and mentor.
Dr Tripti Mishra, Mentor and Career Counselor
Tripti is a knowledgeable and accomplished educationist with a PhD (Computer Science) and a MBA. She has taught computer science and interdisciplinary subjects of management at graduate and postgraduate level with a demonstrated leadership in handling placements successfully through strong College - Industry connect. Capable of creating a vibrant, compassionate and effective team and aligning it to the organizational goal. Equipped with International certification in counseling, she has experience in counseling and mentoring students within the institute and across India. Her optimistic outlook and excellent relationship building skills makes her a people’s person. Attributes that are valuable in mentoring and career guidance.
Meera Sreekumar, Mentor
Meera is a Corporate and Commercial Lawyer with around seven years of experience in private equity, mergers and commercial contracts. She is also one of the founding members of a sports, media and entertainment law firm, Off The Bench. She writes on her mental health and wellness blog, The wholesome living, where she shares her lived experiences of her mental health journey with an aim to spread mental health awareness. Meera has recently launched and helms a Chennai chapter of Bipolarindia’s peer support community. She uses her lived experience and professional background to mentor persons with mental health, especially in the context of careers.
Ramya Pullitla, Researcher
Ramya is a Research Associate at a leading organisation in the mental health policy space. She is a MS in Global Mental Health from Kings College London, a BE from BITS Pilani and has a background as a yoga therapist and teacher passionate about making quality mental health care available to everyone. She has experience working in the community mental health field. She spends her time on music, art, books and reading about the brain.
Abhishek Pansari, Mentor and Coach
Abhishek is a Venture Capitalist, Life Coach and Author. A Chartered Accountant, he has several years of work experience at firms such as Ernst & Young, KPMG and BNP Paribas. Passionate about bringing about a positive change in his Mentees’ lives, he has armed himself with Certifications such as NLP, Foundations of Positive Psychology, Emotional Intelligence Practitioner, Psychological First Aid and Cognitive Behaviour Life Coach.