Neha Barjatya

Growing up in Delhi, my life was rooted in tradition, where gender roles were clearly defined. But with the right support and exposure, I found the opportunity to break the mold and forge my own path.

My time studying Economics at Lady Shri Ram College, an all-girls institution, surrounded by ambitious women, was a huge source of confidence and empowerment. That energy pushed me towards a diverse career journey—from advertising and media to more recently 14 years at Google where I worked across a spectrum of B2B and consumer products, and now to a VC firm. The common thread? A driving desire to have a positive impact on people’s lives.

A true turning point was leading the Internet Saathi program, a digital literacy initiative that eventually impacted 30 million+ women across 300,000 villages in India. During the program I visited hundreds of villages whereI met women who, despite facing challenging lives, focused relentlessly on what could be better. These women became my constant source of inspiration, proving that a positive outlook is the greatest tool for change.

My career has been built not just on my own passion, but on the unwavering support of the people I’ve met along the way—they helped unlock possibilities and gave me courage when it was running thin.

I am deeply conscious of my privilege in having these opportunities. As I continue with my journey, I hope to support others who have the passion and potential to do great things but get held back by barriers, whether self-made or circumstantial.