EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS
Shri Ashis Rout
Email: ashisrout65@gmail.com
With nearly 35 years of technical experience in the banking industry, Mr. Rout has served leading private sector banks in India, including ING Vysya Bank and HDFC Bank. As a senior management professional, he specializes in IT Security, IS Audit, IT Governance, and GRC. He has led large-scale technology rollouts, strengthened IT policies, developed entity-wide disaster recovery and business continuity plans, and seamlessly integrated emerging technologies in banking. A solution-oriented leader and mentor, he consistently drives organizational growth, operational profitability, and high-performance team culture.
Shri Saroj Kumar Mishra
Email: sarojmishra@yahoo.com
With over three decades of experience in research, policy, and global partnerships, Dr. Mishra is a highly accomplished clean energy professional. He holds a Ph.D. from IIT Delhi, focusing on combustion of gaseous fuels including hydrogen. From 2002 to 2023, he served as Trade Commissioner (Clean Technologies) at the High Commission of Canada, spearheading market entry for over 100 Canadian companies across hydrogen, solar, biomass, energy storage, and carbon capture. Prior roles include senior positions at Winrock International India, CMS Energy Systems, and IIT Delhi, with international collaborations under USAID, UNDP, and the World Bank.
Shri Sharan Mishra
Email: sharanmishra@gmail.com
With over 19 years of experience working exclusively with start-ups, Mr. Mishra has been instrumental in scaling user engagement, content annotation, and feedback operations for high-scale consumer platforms. His strategic leadership has powered the success of leading app-based companies, including Dailyhunt (India’s No. 1 News app), Josh, and redBus. Specializing in building scalable operational frameworks, he excels at turning operational chaos into sustainable growth, driving engagement, retention, data quality, and platform trust—while empowering teams and users alike.
Shri Ansuman Senapati
Email: ansuman@designlope.com
As Founder of Designlope, Co-Founder & Creative Head of Qatacorps, and Co-Founder of Dehleej, Mr. Senapati helps startups transform ideas into scalable, automated, and financially sound ventures. His expertise spans business process optimization, financial system design, digital transformation, and bootstrap growth frameworks. During COVID-19, he supported over 100 businesses with cash flow management and digital strategies. He previously served at Google in Finance & Compliance (AML/Investment Banking) and as former Vice Chairman of the Indo-Pacific AML/KYC Forum. A passionate mentor, he specializes in helping entrepreneurs launch and scale without external funding, while also guiding students to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset.
Shri Sumanyu Panda
Email: sumanyu@sklass.ai
With over 35 years in enterprise technology and 14+ years in AI, analytics, and emerging technologies, Sumanyu Panda specializes in aligning innovation with measurable business and societal outcomes. As the Founder of SKLasS AI Consulting Services, he advises startups, SMEs, and institutions on practical, value-driven AI adoption. He is also an active mentor, supporting entrepreneurs and institutions in innovation, founder readiness, and future skills, with a strong focus on building inclusive, AI-enabled entrepreneurship ecosystems. He is particularly passionate about enabling first-generation entrepreneurs and emerging regions to leverage technology for sustainable growth. His approach combines strategic thinking with hands-on guidance to create scalable, future-ready ventures.
Shri Svn Rao
Email: svnrao21@gmail.com
A Commerce graduate from BJB College, Bhubaneswar, Mr. Rao spent 20 years as a Junior Employment Officer before being promoted to District Employment Officer, Dhenkanal in 2009. He later served as Nodal Officer at the Odisha Skill Development Authority (OSDA), where he oversaw skill development initiatives and job fairs across all 30 districts of Odisha. He represented the state at the India International Trade Fair in New Delhi on four occasions and received training on Industry 4.0 in Singapore. Widely respected for his humility and eloquence, Mr. Rao retired in April 2023 but continues to champion skill development at the grassroots level.
Shri Shantiswarup Mahapatra
Email: shantiswarup@softcadworld.com
With over 19 years of experience in engineering design, CAD training, and construction consultancy, Mr. Mahapatra has transformed skill development in Odisha. He has trained over 14,000 students and professionals and partnered with more than 25 engineering institutions, bridging the gap between academic learning and industry needs. As founder of Softcad World and other tech-driven platforms, he has built scalable ecosystems in CAD education, digital learning, and construction consultancy. His work includes national-level infrastructure projects with Larsen & Toubro and Tata Projects, reflecting a deep commitment to innovation, cost-efficient construction, and digital integration.
Smt. Ushasi Rath
Email: ushasirath1@gmail.com
Since 2018, Ms. Ratha has been dedicated to promoting Odisha’s traditional handicrafts while actively supporting small entrepreneurs and grassroots startups. Her brand works with local artisans specializing in Golden Grass weaving, Pattachitra, Palm Leaf art, Paper Mache, Dhokra, and hand-painted textiles. Beyond her own venture, she consistently provides a platform to emerging rural entrepreneurs, helping them showcase their products, access markets, and build sustainable livelihoods. Her mission is to uplift grassroots talent and ensure that small-scale artisans and local startups get the recognition and opportunities they deserve.