Meet the team!
Meet the people behind Milaan Foundation, working together to help young people around the world reach their potential.
Board Members
Amy Fahey
“Everyone can play a role in improving gender equality issues that exist globally. Don’t look the other way. Be part of the change”.
Amy Fahey spent 29 years in banking at JPMorgan Chase, holding myriad leadership positions in Risk Management, Banking, Finance, Operations, and Technology. While in those positions, Fahey was also a member of the Regional Executive Committee and the Foundation. Since leaving JPMorgan, Fahey has worked as a consultant for several non-profit organisations, including Opportunity International. She is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Milaan Foundation and IC Catholic Prep and is on the Dean’s Advisory Council for Northern Illinois University.
Ameet Mehta
"Over the past eight years, I have had the opportunity to work on the ground to understand and appreciate the challenges and the massive opportunity that empowering adolescent girls can have on the global ecosystem. I truly believe in the organisation’s vision and mission, and Milaan’s team's ability to execute".
Ameet Mehta is the CEO at Armentum, a product innovation studio that builds digital experiences, generating revenue for clients such as Viacom and The Scripps Institute. Before starting Armentum, Ameet co-founded Azadi with Dhirendra, an impact venture with a mission to make menstruation a non-issue in rural India. Through his work at Azadi and board role at Milaan Foundation, Ameet has developed a deep sense of the development sector in India and lends that experience to grow the organisation.
Bela Grover
"Every woman and girl deserves to feel safe being seen and heard. The Milaan Foundation enables girls to assert their voices and seize educational opportunities, transforming their futures and igniting progress around the world. When we ensure these basic rights for girls, we open the door for them to become empowered women – a fact that research undisputedly shows creates a brighter future for us all. I am delighted to join the Milaan Foundation’s Board of Advisors and contribute to advancing gender equality."Neelam is a distinguished executive with extensive experience in Board positions and C-suite roles, spanning sales, marketing, sustainability, and operations. Renowned for delivering exceptional results, she is frequently called upon to transform functions and scale teams, with a strong focus on social impact.Currently, in addition to the Milaan Foundation, she serves on the board of AFCEA DC, supporting the U.S. Government with their technology strategy. She has served on the DPI Advisory Council for the Government of Canada and chaired the AI group at the U.S. Consumer Technology Association (CTA), advocating for responsible technology use.In her corporate career, Neelam has held key roles as Chief Customer Officer and Chief Marketing Officer at BlackBerry, an IoT and AI cybersecurity SaaS company, where she led multiple functions, achieving exceptional results and enhancing community engagement. During her over twenty-year career, she also worked at the Arcadia Group, a leading fashion retail conglomerate, in sales operations and product development.Her contributions have earned her numerous industry awards, including being named a Global Top 10 Influential Leader that Shaped Sustainability in 2024, California’s top CXO leader in 2023 and winning the FedScoop Best Bosses in U.S. Federal IT award in 2022.
Shweta Gandhi
"I have had the fortune to spend endless nights with incredibly strong girls dealing with societal issues ranging from childhood marriage to rape to a lack of basic life opportunities. The work that Milaan is doing truly invigorates the often dormant powers that reside in each of these young girls to drive change and stand up for their rights.”
Shweta Gandhi is the Associate Director of Personalized Learning and Innovation for a national US-based Charter School Network managing over 20 schools and 10,000 kids across the country. She is the founder of Karmany, a platform aimed at driving human capital and collaboration in the social enterprise sector and a board member of Milaan Foundation since its inception. With an educational background in Finance & Accounting and one folded startup under her belt, she also has over 7 years of corporate experience managing teams of 100+ at a US-based Fortune 10 Company, AT&T. In 2008, she also co-founded an educational NGO, Vidya Grants, based out of New Delhi, India, supporting assessment-based scholarships for children at the high school level, hoping to drive vital change in the educational ecosystem.
OUR STAFF
Dhirendra Pratap Singh
Co-founder & CEO
Under his leadership, Milaan launched a program to support education in India and Uganda for youth from marginalized communities, especially young girls, and amplifying their voices as agents of change.He has been recognized with the Karamveer Puruskar (2009) and the Youth Ambassador for Peace Award (2007). He is a Gratitude Network Fellow (2020) and a graduate of the Artira Leadership Accelerator at IIM Bangalore.Previously, he co-founded Azadi, an impact venture addressing health and well-being, and spearheaded strategy and operations for organizations like Vidya Grants India, United Way Delhi, and ASER. With a Master’s in Development Studies and a Mathematics (Hons) degree (Delhi University), he brings a strong analytical and strategic vision to the development sector. He also serves as a board member of Community – The Youth Collective.
Kendra Nicolai
Director of Programs & Operations
Kendra Nicolai (she/her) brings over a decade of experience working in the nonprofit sector, specifically within youth development and gender issues. Beginning her career as a social worker, Kendra has learned and believes that empathy, trust, and curiosity are the anchors to positive relationships within a nonprofit, which provides an environment for systemic change. She believes that girls and young women globally deserve every chance to choose their own destiny and has dedicated her career to ensure this is possible. Kendra loves reading and is also an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys spending time with her daughter, partner, and pets.
Monica O'Reilly
Development Officer
With a background in Public Policy & Administration and International Development, Monica brings experience from across the public sector, including work with governments, non-profits, and academic institutions. Driven by a deep passion for advancing education and leadership opportunities for girls and youth around the world, she has dedicated her career to the development sector—where she can help amplify grassroots impact and champion lasting change. At Milaan Foundation, Monica’s favorite part of the work is the opportunity to collaborate with passionate, purpose-driven people and contribute to meaningful change in the communities Milaan serves.
Based in Chicago, Monica enjoys exploring the city, traveling, reading, and spending time with family, friends, and her two cats, Bellatrix and Widow.
Advisory Board
Brianne Bustos
Brianne Bustos is a seasoned IT executive with over two decades of experience driving enterprise technology transformations, cybersecurity initiatives, and strategic IT planning. She has a strong track record of leading high-impact projects within private equity-backed firms, professional services, and infrastructure-heavy industries, aligning technology investments with business growth. Passionate about innovation, cybersecurity governance, and AI-driven solutions, Brianne excels in building resilient digital ecosystems that enhance operational efficiency and scalability.
Beyond her professional expertise, Brianne is an advocate for outdoor adventure and community-building. She founded an Outdoor Adventure Group for women, fostering empowerment, connection, and exploration in nature through activities like skiing, mountain biking, and backcountry excursions.
Dr. Charu Ramanathan
Dr. Charu Ramanathan is a serial entrepreneur passionate about using technology to advance health equity and access. She is the co-founder and CEO of Vitalxchange, a digital parenting platform promoting health equity from infancy, and co-founder and Chairman of Lokyata Inc., supporting fair lending and financial inclusion globally. Previously, she founded CardioInsight, a noninvasive cardiac imaging company born from her PhD research at Case Western Reserve University, which was acquired by Medtronic in 2015. She also advises CareLog, an AI startup focused on accessible heart failure diagnosis.An active angel investor in socially impactful ventures, Dr. Ramanathan holds over 25 patents and has been honored with awards including Crain’s 40 under 40, TiE Immigrant Entrepreneur, American Red Cross Hero, and Smart Business 50. Her visionary leadership continues to shape the future of healthcare and technology.
Gina Hertel
Gina is a global business, marketing, and communications leader with 25+ years of experience spanning AI, digital and integrated marketing, content and influencer strategy, product marketing, business development, public relations, executive communications, and strategic partnerships. She has guided iconic brands like Microsoft and MSN, and global 4As agencies such as Tribal Worldwide.Passionate about digital and data-driven experiences that drive revenue and delight customers, Gina has managed budgets over $8M, led cross-functional teams of 100+, and fostered CXO collaborations across agency, media, analyst, client, partner, and influencer ecosystems. She thrives on building bridges between communities and has been described as both a bridge builder and an intrapreneur. With a proven record of connecting brand to demand, she is energized by the possibilities of generative and agentic AI, ESG, DEI, and creating social good.
Jami Vass
With over 20 years of dedicated leadership in nonprofit fundraising and management, Jami has forged a distinguished career that has been marked by transformative initiatives that transcend conventional boundaries. Jami thrives on creating novel partnerships that not only secure vital resources but also catalyze sustainable impact. Her strategic acumen has enabled organizations to expand their reach and effectiveness, leveraging collaborative opportunities to address pressing global challenges. Beyond her professional achievements, Jami is recognized for her unwavering commitment to ethical stewardship and inclusive leadership. She champions diversity within teams, fostering environments where innovation flourishes and perspectives converge for greater collective impact.
Neelam Sandhu
"Every woman and girl deserves to feel safe being seen and heard. The Milaan Foundation enables girls to assert their voices and seize educational opportunities, transforming their futures and igniting progress around the world. When we ensure these basic rights for girls, we open the door for them to become empowered women – a fact that research undisputedly shows creates a brighter future for us all. I am delighted to join the Milaan Foundation’s Board of Advisors and contribute to advancing gender equality."Neelam is a distinguished executive with extensive experience in Board positions and C-suite roles, spanning sales, marketing, sustainability, and operations. Renowned for delivering exceptional results, she is frequently called upon to transform functions and scale teams, with a strong focus on social impact.Currently, in addition to the Milaan Foundation, she serves on the board of AFCEA DC, supporting the U.S. Government with their technology strategy. She has served on the DPI Advisory Council for the Government of Canada and chaired the AI group at the U.S. Consumer Technology Association (CTA), advocating for responsible technology use.In her corporate career, Neelam has held key roles as Chief Customer Officer and Chief Marketing Officer at BlackBerry, an IoT and AI cybersecurity SaaS company, where she led multiple functions, achieving exceptional results and enhancing community engagement. During her over twenty-year career, she also worked at the Arcadia Group, a leading fashion retail conglomerate, in sales operations and product development.Her contributions have earned her numerous industry awards, including being named a Global Top 10 Influential Leader that Shaped Sustainability in 2024, California’s top CXO leader in 2023 and winning the FedScoop Best Bosses in U.S. Federal IT award in 2022.
Shazia Chaudry
Shazia is a strategic and innovative Global HR Executive with a proven track record for translating business requirements and vision into HR initiatives that improve performance, profitability, growth, and employee engagement. Shazia has over 20 years of global HR, immigration, and global-mobility experience working at world-renowned academic, legal, and financial institutions with over 40,000 employees worldwide.As a global modern day woman, she holds simple and practical modern day values. She believes in purpose, passion and in our collective ability as humans to achieve the impossible — together.