About
I was raised by a South Indian physician and a Canadian international development practitioner. Born in Canada, I spent part of my youth in India, Costa Rica and Egypt. I later trained at Waterloo (BEs), University College London (MSc) and Cambridge (PhD) and worked as a researcher and consultant in Toronto, Mumbai, and Trivandrum. I have lived in slums, huts and high rises, built high performance teams, and collaborated on a diverse array of projects with street hawkers, business executives and Boards of Directors.
I am driven by a deep personal commitment to high-impact work.
I am driven by a deep personal commitment to high-impact work.
Experience
Senior Director, Ideas & Insights, Institute for Canadian Citizenship (2022 – Present)
Recruited to launch and lead the ICC’s Strategy Hub, an internal centre of excellence that produces thought leadership, sector analysis and analytics, and product insights for the Canoo app. Built a high-performance team to deliver cutting edge research and designed, executed and supervised all research and insights-related activities.
Sample thought leadership
Director of Research & Partnerships, FRIENDS of Canadian Broadcasting (2018 – 2022)
Recruited to lead public policy research and thought leadership, revenue optimization, partnerships, and grassroots campaigns.
Sample thought leadership:
Director of Research & Engagement, Mushroom Cloud (2016 – 2022)
Consulting firm providing strategy, operations and technology services. Clients include government agencies, foundations and social purpose companies and organizations. Thought leadership reports, benchmarking research, strategy and goal setting, surveys, KPIs and measurement systems.
Principal, George Carothers Consulting (2015 – 2020)
Consulting company providing advice to business executives. Applied research, strategy, outreach.
Scholar, Cambridge University, United Kingdom (2010 – 2015)
Explored the intersection of neoliberal strategies, radical politics, trade unionism, and the growth of the global technology sector in South India. Qualitative and quantitative methods, ethnography, interviews with elites, policy and discourse analysis.
Research Affiliate, Centre for Development Studies, India (2012 – 2013)
Examined state strategies aimed at attracting investment through the development of technology campuses and special economic zones (SEZs). Network building with business executives, state politicians, bureaucrats and union leaders.
Planner & Urbanist in Residence, URBZ, India (2009 – 2010)
Research and community development projects located in Dharavi slum, Mumbai.
Recruited to launch and lead the ICC’s Strategy Hub, an internal centre of excellence that produces thought leadership, sector analysis and analytics, and product insights for the Canoo app. Built a high-performance team to deliver cutting edge research and designed, executed and supervised all research and insights-related activities.
Sample thought leadership
- The Leaky Bucket, a groundbreaking report about onward migration. Designed, commissioned and supervised. Global media coverage, 700 million+ impressions.
- Canada's first public-facing dashboard tracking monthly immigration stats, harnessing operational data supplied by Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada
- Launched, The Newcomer Perspective, Canada's largest syndicated survey product of verified newcomers to Canada through a partnership with Ipsos.
Director of Research & Partnerships, FRIENDS of Canadian Broadcasting (2018 – 2022)
Recruited to lead public policy research and thought leadership, revenue optimization, partnerships, and grassroots campaigns.
Sample thought leadership:
- Broadcasting a reflection: Cultural distinctiveness on screen, FRIENDS of Canadian Broadcasting, 2021. Author.
- Platform for harm: Internet intermediary liability in Canadian law, FRIENDS of Canadian Broadcasting, 2020. Co-Author.
Director of Research & Engagement, Mushroom Cloud (2016 – 2022)
Consulting firm providing strategy, operations and technology services. Clients include government agencies, foundations and social purpose companies and organizations. Thought leadership reports, benchmarking research, strategy and goal setting, surveys, KPIs and measurement systems.
Principal, George Carothers Consulting (2015 – 2020)
Consulting company providing advice to business executives. Applied research, strategy, outreach.
Scholar, Cambridge University, United Kingdom (2010 – 2015)
Explored the intersection of neoliberal strategies, radical politics, trade unionism, and the growth of the global technology sector in South India. Qualitative and quantitative methods, ethnography, interviews with elites, policy and discourse analysis.
Research Affiliate, Centre for Development Studies, India (2012 – 2013)
Examined state strategies aimed at attracting investment through the development of technology campuses and special economic zones (SEZs). Network building with business executives, state politicians, bureaucrats and union leaders.
Planner & Urbanist in Residence, URBZ, India (2009 – 2010)
Research and community development projects located in Dharavi slum, Mumbai.
Skills
Management
Team leadership; c-suites; Boards of Directors; business strategy; operations optimization; goal setting; mentorship and professional development
Research
Qualitative methods, quantitative methods, surveys
Technology
Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite; Survey Monkey, Qualtrics, SQL, SPSS
General
Presentations; writing; public speaking; Objectives and Key Results (OKR) Master Certification
Team leadership; c-suites; Boards of Directors; business strategy; operations optimization; goal setting; mentorship and professional development
Research
Qualitative methods, quantitative methods, surveys
Technology
Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite; Survey Monkey, Qualtrics, SQL, SPSS
General
Presentations; writing; public speaking; Objectives and Key Results (OKR) Master Certification
Education
PhD Geography, Cambridge University (2015)
MSc International Planning, University College London (2009)
BEs (hons) Urban Planning, University of Waterloo (2007)
MSc International Planning, University College London (2009)
BEs (hons) Urban Planning, University of Waterloo (2007)
Volunteering / Community Projects
Newcomer Skills Accelerator, Volunteer Mentor
Culture of Small, Board Director (2019 – 2020)
Girls Can Fly - Young Women in Aviation, Volunteer
Culture of Small, Board Director (2019 – 2020)
Girls Can Fly - Young Women in Aviation, Volunteer
Awards (selection)
Cambridge Commonwealth Trust Scholar (2010 – 2013)
Mary Euphrasia Mosley, Sir Bartle Frere & Worts Award, Cambridge University (2011)
William Vaughn Lewis Award, Department of Geography, Cambridge University (2011)
First Prize, Research Images as Art, University College London (2009)
Mary Euphrasia Mosley, Sir Bartle Frere & Worts Award, Cambridge University (2011)
William Vaughn Lewis Award, Department of Geography, Cambridge University (2011)
First Prize, Research Images as Art, University College London (2009)
