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The fashion industry is infamous for its wasteful practices that contribute to accelerating climate change. However, designers like Runa Ray stand out for their ability to talk the talk and walk the walk, for revolutionising the production process and encouraging a more sustainable yet stylish approach to fashion. Hear her talk about her experiences working for some of the biggest labels in the world, showing as part of NY Fashion Week, and using innovative products like seaweed. Our host Elsa, talks to her about her sustainability-first philosophy, and about how the world of high fashion can become a more inclusive space. Runa Ray has been recognised for her work by UNICEF, and her work contributes to SDG 12 as it relates to sustainable consumption, and SDG 13, which advocates for greater awareness of climate change.

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Zainab Patel wears many hats, as Director (Inclusion and Diversity) at KPMG, she advocates passionately for equal access at workplaces in India. Her work strengthens UN SDG 5 which seeks greater gender equality. She is also a leading trans-rights activist, a football player, and a motivational speaker, who is mainstreaming conversations around transgender rights and helping others challenge their unconscious biases. Zainab speaks candidly about her life, her work, and shares how adversity has shaped her and made her a force to reckon with. Tune into to be inspired by her story of strength, hope, faith, and survival.

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With a strong belief that every child deserves an education, Binu Verma left her lucrative corporate career in 2008 and co-founded Bal Utsav along with her husband. Bal Utsav is a leading NGO for education in India running programs like Sampoorna Shaala and iShaala, to transform learning outcomes in government schools. Binu also drives humanitarian work, through programs like Dayitva, which offers disaster relief. Her work as a frontline warrior in these trying times has been recognized in a recent issue of Forbes India. We chat with Binu Verma on her inspirations, journey, strategies for fundraising and learn more about what can be done to improve the current education system in India.

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Meet the saviour of storks, Dr. Purnima Devi Barman! This conservation biologist from Assam has worked tirelessly to rescue the Greater Adjutant Stork species, whose lives are threatened by locals who consider them a bad omen. Dr. Barman has broken gender stereotypes, climbed 100 ft high bamboo platforms, and gone out on a limb, quite literally to save the storks. She is recognized globally as Stork Sister and lovingly called ‘Hargila Baido’, in her local community. She shares her story about the good work being done by the Hargilla Army of local all-women volunteers, who are now 10,000+ ladies strong. A recipient of many prominent awards for her unique mission, as the brains behind NGO Aaranyak, Purnima has been tirelessly working with communities and conducting research on the storks for the last 12 years. Tune into her incredible story of adventure, courage and abiding love for nature.

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It IS radioactive! On this episode of beliEVE, Dr. Mansie Iyer, a scientist, educator and non-proliferation specialist is in conversation with Elsa Marie, discussing her work as a Nuclear Smuggling Detection and Deterrence expert. Tune in to hear her story of how she went from getting a PhD in Physics to driving cross-continent forensic investigations in this high technology space. Having crafted an exciting career that demands scientific rigor and a rare technical expertise, Dr. Iyer and her team have recently been recognised for their outstanding contributions by US Govt. agencies like NNSA (National Nuclear Security Administration) for exemplary work in the field of national security.

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In this episode, our guest Dr. Anita Sengupta, a rocket scientist and aerospace engineer speaks about her incredible journey and what it means to be a woman working at the forefront of space exploration. Apart from being associated with NASA for over 15 years, Dr.Anita Sengupta is also the CEO and founder of Hydroplane Ltd. which works on building hydrogen fuel cell powered aircraft. She’s done it all, from being a biker, an engineer to being certified as a instrument rated pilot and teaching college. Through her work she inspires girls and underrepresented groups to pursue careers in science and technology. Catch our host Elsa talk to her about her fascinating life journey and just what it took to become a rocket scientist!

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In this episode of BeliEVE, hear Sweta Mangal talk about her mission to save lives, by providing over 3500 ambulances, operational across 60+ cities in India. As the driving force at Ziqitza, a first-of-its-kind organization providing emergency medical assistance to those in need, Sweta Mangal's initiative works closely with the government to improve access to affordable healthcare, during trying times. From a very young age, her mother had big dreams for her. From being sent to a boarding school at the age of 6 to studying in the US and working with big giants like TATA and Marico, Shweta Mangal has always paved her own way to success. She quit her comfortable corporate job to build an innovative company in the field of social entrepreneurship. With roots in a small village in Rajasthan, Shweta Mangal's story is an inspirational one. Hear what drove her to follow her dreams and took her all the way to the UN General Assembly in 2012, in conversation with host Elsa Marie D'Silva.

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Meet Dhanwanti Rajwade. She is a successful anesthesiologist who knows the importance of every second in the OT, a classically trained pianist and a homemaker with a relentless appetite for serving others. Hear her talk about how she was inspired to choose medicine thanks to an interview that aired on Oprah. Learn how she stays calm and finds time to raise a family while saving lives and enjoying music, thanks to the unstinting support of her family and her relentless zeal to make a difference. On this edition of BeliEVE with host Elsa Marie D'Silva.

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In this episode, listen to Wyonna D'Souza who has dedicated her life working towards the cause of the elderly. Wyonna through her organisation, 'PANA Wellbeing Foundation' believes in giving the elderly a second chance towards life. Her organisation looks after the health and social well-being of senior citizens. Wyonna talks about how unintentionally we neglect elders, which causes them mental trauma. She also states that apart from physical and mental abuse, neglect and abandonment are the bigger issues affecting the seniors in our society. Listen to Wyonna talk about her journey of how she finds solace in giving elders a new ray of hope.

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