Sarika Gupta Bhattacharyya

About Sarika Gupta Bhattacharyya

I build institutions and ecosystems at the intersection of technology, philanthropy, education, and gender equity, working across sectors to turn long-term vision into lasting impact.Over the last 25 years, I’ve navigated roles across investment banking, social entrepreneurship, and institution-building, guided by a simple belief: real change happens when strategy, capital, and community align with courage.I am part of the founding leadership at Plaksha University, where I have helped shape the Office of Advancement with a focus on financial sustainability, long-term partnerships, and building a strong philanthropic community for one of India’s most ambitious technology universities. Along the way, I’ve supported initiatives that reimagine what a modern university can be and helped mobilise over ₹1,500 crore in collective philanthropy.Some of the work I’m most proud of includes contributing to the launch of the School of AI and the Institute for Inventing the Future, shaping centres of excellence across areas such as clean energy and health, and co-founding the DS Brar Centre for Girls and Women in STEM (GWiST).Before Plaksha, I built BeyonDiversity, which grew into a global movement focused on inclusive leadership and systems change. Today, I advise initiatives that bring together academia, industry, founders, and funders to build future-ready institutions and leadership pipelines, particularly in emerging technologies and the change it can unlock.I’m also the author of Bridge the Gap (to be published in 2026), a book that explores how structural barriers shape aspiration, access, and opportunity, and what it truly takes to close those gaps at scale.

Experience

1. Founding Convenor

   Ds Brar Center For Gwist

   Jan 2024 — Present

   I conceptualised and now lead the DS Brar Centre for Girls & Women in STEM to address the deeper, often invisible gaps that limit women’s participation and leadership in science and technology. The centre is built as a long-term platform, bringing together education, research, mentorship, entrepreneurship, and industry engagement to create pathways that are sustained, not symbolic.My role spans shaping the centre’s vision, partnerships, and governance, while anchoring initiatives that support women at different stages of their journey in STEM. This work reflects my broader belief that real progress comes not from isolated programs, but from building institutions that change who gets access, voice, and opportunity over time.

Education

• St. Xavier's College

  BSc, Economics

• Management Development Institute, Gurgaon

  MBA, MBA

Skills

• Executive Coaching
• Management
• Business Development
• Entrepreneurship
• Financial Services
• Leadership
• Executive Search
• Strategy
• Team Management
• Investment Banking
• Strategic Planning
• Start-Ups
• Leadership Development
• Talent Management
• Business Analysis
• Mentoring
• Coaching