Transform Yourself, Transform the World

Hi, I'm Shalini,

I’m a child of immigrants from India. In the late 1960s, my parents moved to Nashville where I was born. My family continues to be a source of joy and support as we are now three generations in this country. I was raised in a small close-knit Indian community which instilled in me a community pride, which helped me navigate a city where we were the ‘other.’ My grandfather was the first person to inspire me to do good without expecting anything in return.

My passion for social justice was sparked after a fateful internship in 2000 at Raksha, a nonprofit dedicated to building a stronger South Asian community by empowering survivors of violence. I continued to work in the field of gender-based violence within the immigrant community at Tapestri as an advocate and co-executive director, and then Sakhi for South Asian Women as deputy director and executive director.

Through my extensive work, I learned the importance of creating spaces of support, healing, and joy - crucial for both staff and stakeholders. I believe that if we show up fully aligned with our values and are able to voice our needs, then we together can strengthen our families, organizations, and communities and create the just world we envision. These values inform my current work as a leadership and organizational development consultant.

My family and friends would describe me as kind, authentic, and a great listener. Those who’ve worked with me would say that I have integrity, positivity, and am solution oriented. Should we work together, you can expect the same level of care and lightness.