Latest news with #ConnectFor
India.com
a day ago
- Business
- India.com
Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani's bahu Shloka Ambani calls her company ‘Shaadi.com for...', says it doesn't pay...
Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani's bahu Shloka Ambani calls her company ' for…', says it doesn't pay… We all remember the lavish wedding of Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani's son Anant with Radhika Merchant, which was held in 2024. But this was not the only grand wedding that took place in the Ambani family. In 2019, after becoming the Chairman of Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd, Akash Ambani married Shloka Mehta. Talking about Shloka, rather than helping her husband in the family business, she chose to work in the social sector. Shloka and Maniti Shah founded a non-profit organisation called ConnectFor. In a recent podcast, she revealed her journey as a founder and her struggles to make the NGO run. What is ConnectFor? The NGO works as a bridge that joins volunteers from across the world with different NGOs. According to the about us section of the NGO's website – 'non-profit organisation that seeks to contribute to the developmental sector by facilitating engagement of the volunteering community, building capacity, and creating value-added services for NGOs'. Shloka Mehta Ambani's Recent Podcast Appearance Shloka recently made an appearance on Masoom Minawala's YouTube channel. During the podcast, she talked about her NGO, Sharing the Vision. Mehta also revealed the challenges she faced while running ConnectFor. 'ConnectFor is basically a for volunteering. We started with a very simple idea, which was that there are lots of people who want to do good things but find it challenging to locate the means to do so. We, as a country, have so many NGOs, so we decided to become a bridge between the people who wanted to help and the ones who needed it,' she said in the podcast. Her co-founder added that the organisation has already made a sizable dent in the system with 1 lakh volunteers currently working with over 1000 NGOs. She shared that ConnectFor has, in fact, helped save non-profit organisations over Rs 21 crore since the start of their operations. Maniti Shah, co-founder of the NGO, who was also at the podcast, stated that ConnectFor has already marked its presence with 1 lakh volunteers currently working with over 1000 NGOs. Responding to a question regarding her vision for the future of the company, Shloka said, 'Honestly, it keeps changing very quickly. Initially, we wanted to be a one-stop solution for Mumbai, but then we ended up expanding all over the country. Over time we realised the scope of corporate engagement, and all of these things have fallen into our laps, and now we are working with Amazon and so many unbelievable companies.' Financial Struggles That Go Hand In Hand Shloka accepted the challenges of social work, citing low pay and the difficulty in motivating people without a strong intrinsic drive. While her organisation experiences yearly growth, she highlights the need for passionate people to overcome financial problems. She added the support provided by her family, specially her husband, in navigating these difficulties.
India.com
a day ago
- Business
- India.com
Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani's bahu Shloka Ambani reveals how she built her NGO using chaos and...
Shloka Ambani, daughter of diamond magnate Russell Mehta and wife of Akash Ambani, son of business tycoon Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani, has carved a distinct identity as a social entrepreneur. Educated at Princeton University and the London School of Economics, she chose to channel her efforts into philanthropy upon returning to India in 2014. Her early experiences with NGOs highlighted a disconnect between willing volunteers and organizations in need, inspiring her to co-found ConnectFor with childhood friend Maniti Shah. What did Shloka Ambani plan with Maniti Shah? ConnectFor, often described as a ' for volunteering,' aims to bridge this gap by connecting volunteers with non-profit organizations. The initiative began modestly, with Shloka and Maniti using a whiteboard to outline their plan: identify 15 volunteers, connect with 10 NGOs, and facilitate meaningful engagements. Their hands-on approach included visiting over 100 NGOs in 20 days, emphasizing their commitment to understanding the sector's needs firsthand. Used to work with During a conversation on Masoom Minawala Show, Shloka said, 'The smaller ones were really excited about our idea, and one of the first NGOs we signed, used to work with sexually exploited workers, and we were excited that they came on board. They needed 10 or 15 volunteers for everything. From working on their website to coming out and taking classes on weekends, they needed people with different skillsets. When we couldn't find a volunteer like I volunteer, I would go and teach them creative writing.' Over the years, ConnectFor has facilitated over 18,000 hours of volunteering, collaborated with more than 1,000 NGOs, and partnered with 120 corporates and 150 student groups across India. This has resulted in an estimated savings of Rs 21 crore for dedication extends beyond her professional endeavors. As a mother of two, she emphasizes the importance of leading by example. She often tells her children, 'Mama has to go to the office,' instilling in them the value of personal growth and responsibility. Her journey underscores the impact of purpose-driven work and the importance of bridging gaps in the social sector. Through ConnectFor, Shloka Ambani continues to inspire a culture of volunteering and community engagement in India.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Shloka Ambani on The Masoom Minawala Show: Building a purpose-first movement with ConnectFor
On a recent episode of The Masoom Minawala Show, Shloka Ambani and Maniti Shah shared their story behind ConnectFor - A volunteer-matching platform that is making a difference to India's social impact landscape. Shloka talks about several challenges, like funding along with juggling motherhood while staying true to their principle: Purpose over profit. They also brought a sharp, business-minded approach to impact. By tracking 'ROI in Hours', ConnectFor measures the exact number of volunteer hours contributed—making the invisible work of kindness feel tangible and valuable, without ever losing sight of its heart. In this enlightening chat, Shloka Ambani talks about how she always saw herself in this space and how her educational background of anthropology and law also contributed to this inspiring drive in her trajectory. What began as two twenty-somethings scribbling ideas on a whiteboard—after Shloka's eye-opening field visits and Maniti's post-consulting burnout, snowballed into ConnectFor. This platform has matched 1 lakh volunteers with 1,000+ NGOs and saved the sector ₹21 crore. Shloka's "Artshala" school transformation projects exemplify her approach: rather than just building infrastructure, she ensures proper maintenance and education components. Her anthropological background helps her see that sustainable change requires understanding local contexts and communities. Shloka Ambani describes how ConnectFor brings a professional, business-oriented approach to the nonprofit space. They mention tracking measurable metrics such as the 'ROI in hours' — quantifying the volunteer hours contributed to NGOs and translating the value of those hours (for instance, financial savings to the NGOs). Shloka emphasises how important it is to make the 'invisible' impact of volunteer work more tangible and reportable, ensuring accountability to themselves and their partners, while still retaining the mission-driven heart of the organisation. Shloka Ambani's approach of modeling professional ambition for her children while building flexible work systems demonstrates how social enterprises can create sustainable business models that accommodate diverse life circumstances. Overall, this conversation was a masterclass in how Shloka Ambani showcases value-driven leadership, and a reminder that when purpose leads, impact follows.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Shloka Ambani on The Masoom Minawala Show: Empowering structured and scalable volunteering opportunities with ConnectFor
Shloka Ambani holds prestigious degrees from Princeton and the London School of Economics (LSE), and could have pursued a lucrative career in the corporate world. However, she chose a different path. She co-founded ConnectFor with a clear vision: to demonstrate that nonprofit organisations can operate with the same level of professionalism and rigor as for-proft businesses. On 'The Masoom Minawala Show', Shloka Ambani and Maniti Shah discussed the origin and growth of ConnectFor , a volunteer-matching platform aimed at enhancing efficiency and access within India's social sector. Since its inception, ConnectFor has facilitated over 1 lakh volunteer matches with more than 1,000 NGOs, saving the sector an estimated ₹21 crore in value through contributed time and skills, they shared. The duo shared the lack of recognition and funding in the social sector, and that without funding, NGOs find it difficult to attract top talent, leading to a dent in fundraising efforts. While technology entrepreneurs often focus on automation and scaling, Shloka prioritises what she calls "community capital" - the relationships and trust that enable real social impact. She attributes her background in anthropology as influencing this approach and that in social work, human connections generate more value than algorithms. Consequently, ConnectFor evolved from basic volunteer matching to comprehensive community engagement because Shloka recognised that warmth and relationships are the foundation of sustainable change, not just efficiency metrics. Shloka's personal contribution is redefining ambitious motherhood. She openly shared her experiences with her children about self-development. The intent isn't work-life balance but intentional modelling. Shloka believes her most significant legacy is the influence she has on her children, demonstrating "all careers are okay" and meaningful work sometimes requires patience. Her leadership style demonstrates that women can pursue audacious goals while being present mothers, creating flexible systems that benefit entire organisations. Live Events Overall, the episode provided practical insights into how a social initiative can benefit from business thinking while remaining true to its mission. ConnectFor's growth reflects a broader shift toward accountability and impact measurement in the nonprofit space.
Economic Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
'Mama has to go to office': Shloka Ambani candidly shares what it's like being a mum with a mission
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel In a rare and heartfelt interview, Shloka Mehta Ambani , businesswoman, philanthropist, and daughter-in-law of Mukesh Ambani, opened up about motherhood, ambition, and what it truly means to build a meaningful on Masoom Minawala's podcast, the co-founder of ConnectFor, a unique platform connecting volunteers with non-profits, shared a refreshingly honest take on juggling work and parenting.'I take a lot of pride in telling my kids, just like you go to school, mama has to go to the office. We're all doing something to better ourselves,' she said, her voice filled with purpose. 'You're creating something that someone you're fully invested in is going to be influenced by. That, I think, is the best legacy to leave your children.'Shloka, who studied anthropology at Princeton and law at the London School of Economics, could have chosen a conventional path. Instead, she followed her heart into the social sector, not for profit, but for purpose. In 2014, after returning to Mumbai, she co-founded ConnectFor with her childhood friend, Maniti the platform, Shloka said, 'It's like a for volunteering. We wanted to be that bridge, connecting people who wanted to give their time to NGOs that needed help.'Ten years on, ConnectFor has clocked over 4.18 lakh hours of volunteering, collaborated with over 1,000 NGOs, and partnered with 120 corporates and 150 student groups across India. Their work has helped save over Rs 21 crore for these achievements, Shloka believes India's social sector still lacks recognition, and funding.'If you don't have money, you can't hire good people. Without talent, you can't make a lasting impact. It's a cycle that holds back real progress,' she also pointed to a disconnect between government policies and on-ground realities, using the example of unused school toilets, 'They built toilets, great. But no one was maintaining them. Girls didn't get hygiene education. So the problem came back.'It's this blend of thoughtful critique and unwavering hope that defines Shloka's Maniti, who left behind a career in biomedical science and consulting, echoed the sentiment.'We were tired of ticking boxes. We wanted to build something that mattered.'At ConnectFor, passion often counts more than paper qualifications. Many team members begin as interns and grow into key roles. Every hour of volunteering is tracked, audited, and optimised, a 'return on time' as Shloka puts it.'We run it like a startup, but one with soul.'Shloka married Akash Ambani, her childhood friend and now husband, in a grand wedding in 2019. They have two children, Prithvi, born in 2020, and Veda, born in 2023. Even as part of India's most powerful family, Shloka's worldview remains grounded in empathy, equality, and the belief that all careers are worthy.'It's okay to start slow. What matters is showing up every day and believing you're building something of value.'In an age where wealth and fame often make headlines, Shloka Mehta Ambani's voice stands out, not just for what it says, but for what it seeks to isn't just raising children. She's raising a generation that believes in doing from agencies
