This POSC 395 professional development event is on Wednesday, September 18 at 1:00 p.m. PT in our office in SOS B15. POSC 395 students must attend at least two professional development events throughout the semester. CPF Scholars at Tier 2 or Tier 3 are also welcome to attend.

Join us for a coffee talk with Chitra Rajeshwari, Executive Director of the Avasant Foundation and Principal at Avasant, who brings over 25 years of expertise in Management and Business Development. She is dedicated to empowering young women and men through education, employment, and entrepreneurship in the digital economy. Her impressive career spans collaborations with state and local governments, international organizations like the World Bank and USAID, and Fortune 500 companies.

Under Chitra's visionary leadership, the Avasant Foundation has garnered recognition for its Youth Empowerment initiatives, including accolades from the Clinton Global Initiative for projects in Jamaica and Haiti in 2015 and 2016. Her leadership has earned numerous awards, such as The Stevie Award in 2018, The Red Ladder Award for Women in Business in 2020, and the Recognition as an Unstoppable Woman in 2022. Chitra's involvement with the UN Global Compact (UNGC) has enhanced the Foundation's commitment to corporate sustainability and social responsibility, with its impacts measured against the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Her initiatives focus on education, gender equality, decent work and economic growth, making a significant impact on communities worldwide.

Chitra's efforts have set a benchmark for impact sourcing, improving lives in underprivileged communities. The Foundation has received multiple Global Impact Sourcing Awards from IAOP, including the Continuous Excellence Award in 2023, and was named IAOP Member of the Year in 2019.

As a leader at the Center for Social Impact at IAOP, Chitra has positioned the Avasant Foundation as a key influencer in youth employment over the past eight years. Her dedication to promoting female leadership and youth empowerment continues to inspire many in the industry.

Students interested in attending should contact unruhins@usc.edu for more information and the signup link.