Shreya Krishnan never imagined her career would follow a straight line. She began as a journalist, hoping to document climate change, later moved into marketing and events, and eventually found herself leading efforts to make the technology sector more inclusive.
Today, as the Managing Director of AnitaB.org India, she works to create pathways for women in STEM while building collaborations across corporates, governments, foundations, and communities. Her career reflects a belief that meaningful change is often shaped by diverse experiences rather than linear career paths.
Growing Up in a Home of Many Influences
Growing up in what she describes as “old Bangalore,” Shreya was surrounded by a family whose varied interests shaped her worldview from an early age.
Her grandfather continued working into his seventies, first in oil and natural gas and later in real estate. At home, she was raised by her mother, aunt, and grandmother, each introducing her to different worlds of learning. English became her first language, while Malayalam came later.
Her grandfather shared proverbs, her grandmother narrated mythology and folk tales, her mother introduced her to Jataka Tales and Panchatantra, and her aunt encouraged her to read Enid Blyton and English classics. Music at home was equally diverse. While her aunt enjoyed Mohammed Rafi and Mukesh, her mother listened to Jim Reeves, AC/DC, Abba, and Tony Braxton, and her grandmother preferred Ilaiyaraaja.
Her mother worked as a government employee, while her father spent many years in the Middle East as a businessman. She also recalls choosing to become a vegetarian at a very young age.
A Career That Took an Unexpected Path
Shreya’s first degree combined Environmental Sciences, Journalism, and Media Studies. Her initial ambition was to become an environmental journalist documenting climate change.
She began her career at The Hindu before exploring opportunities that aligned more closely with her evolving professional interests. That journey led her into marketing and events, where she spent three years before pursuing a Master’s in Mass Communication. She graduated as a university gold medalist.
Reflecting on her journey, she explained that her work in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) naturally became part of her responsibilities because of her long-standing interest in impact and gender-related work. That progression eventually led her to AnitaB.org.
While speaking to The Logical Indian, she said, “This naturally progressed to my current role at AnitaB.org, as I believe deeply in community and collective consciousness.”
Building Inclusion in Technology
Shreya describes AnitaB.org as a US-based nonprofit, while its India operations function as a for-profit social impact enterprise.
The organization’s central mission is advancing inclusion in technology. According to Shreya, the belief is simple: technology should be built by the people it is designed for.
Its work focuses on creating pathways for women in STEM through apprenticeships, internships, and leadership programs. AnitaB.org India also organizes Grace Hopper Celebration, which she describes as Asia’s largest gathering of women and allies in technology, bringing together more than 350 speakers and over 15,000+ attendees.
Beyond programs, the organization works closely with individuals, CSR initiatives, foundations, corporates, and governments to strengthen the broader technology ecosystem.
Why Social Impact Matters
For Shreya, one of the biggest challenges has been changing perceptions about the social sector.
In conversation with The Logical Indian, she said, “Social impact work is the backbone of society,” but noted that it is often viewed as a “nice to have” instead of a “must have” because it is not traditionally seen as profitable.
She believes lasting change often begins with small actions.
Describing her philosophy, she said the “magic” lies in “micro ideas of change,” such as ensuring a child has warm socks so they can attend school.
On a personal level, she recalled that being a young woman leader sometimes created perceptional hurdles early in her career. She says those challenges are now well behind her.
Writing About Leadership and Inclusive Language
Alongside her professional work, Shreya has also contributed to books exploring leadership and communication.
Her first co-authored book, Words Matter, is a compilation of 40 words intended to encourage less biased and more neutral language.
More recently, she co-authored Audacious Her, along with Namita. The book examines women’s leadership transformation through a neuroscientific and psychosomatic approach; an area she believes remains largely unexplored.
Encouraging the Next Generation
Looking ahead, Shreya believes the social sector offers opportunities that extend beyond traditional nonprofit organizations.
She encourages young people to recognize that for-profit social impact enterprises have opened new possibilities for creating change.
Her advice is simple: “If you feel called, change the world on your own terms.”
For young women, her message is equally direct.
“The sky is the limit. Don’t let other people’s ideas of you limit your growth. You can have your cake and eat it too. You don’t necessarily need to be perfectly consistent, but you must be persistent.”
Looking Ahead
Shreya says AnitaB.org India is now preparing to launch its nonprofit chapter while expanding its work with governments.
The organization has signed its first government-funded project with the Karnataka government and is in discussions with Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, and Meghalaya.
At the same time, it is preparing to host Grace Hopper Celebration India, Asia’s largest gathering of individuals in technology.
For Shreya Krishnan, the journey from journalism to marketing and social impact has been anything but conventional. Yet throughout every stage, one idea has remained constant: building stronger communities by creating more inclusive opportunities.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Shreya Krishnan’s journey highlights how careers in social impact do not always follow a predetermined path. Moving from environmental journalism to marketing and eventually leading AnitaB.org India, her story reflects how diverse experiences can converge around a common purpose. It also draws attention to an important conversation about inclusion in technology.
As innovation increasingly shapes everyday life, ensuring that women have equal opportunities to learn, lead, and build technology is not just about representation but about creating solutions that reflect the needs of society. Equally significant is her reminder that meaningful change often begins with small, practical actions, proving that purpose can be pursued through both nonprofit and for-profit social impact enterprises.
How can we create more pathways for women and underrepresented communities to lead the future of technology?
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