The Ascend Foundation aims to increase recognition of pan-Asian leadership through initiatives like the 5-Point Action Agenda, the Ascend Impact Fund, and other research, education, volunteerism and advocacy efforts.
Indian-origin business leaders from diverse sectors were honoured for their resiliency and success during times of economic uncertainty by The Ascend Foundation during their A-List Award Gala at the Plaza Hotel in New York City on April 3, 2023.
The list of 30 honorees includes the chief health officer of Elevance Health Dr Shantanu Agrawal, executive leader in the workplace investing business for Fidelity Investments Sangeeta Moorjani, chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer of Deloitte, Kavitha Prabhakar, chief operating officer of Citi Anand Selvakesari, vice chair of EY Americas Consulting Raj Sharma and president and chief executive officer of Perkin Elmer Prahlad Singh.
Baltimore resident and Cambridge alumnus, Dr Agrawal is passionate about improving health outcomes and reducing disparities and serves on numerous boards and committees that deepen his commitment to advancing health, his profile reads.
India-born, Moorjani is known for approaching business strategy, fresh perspective and innovative thinking to meet the need of business. She received her bachelor of commerce degree in 1988 and her MBA in marketing in 1990, both from the University of Pune in India.
A woman in technology, and champion for social change, Prabhakar spearheaded the release of Deloitte’s DEI Transparency Report, first issued in 2020, and is credited for setting a new standard for racial, ethnic, and gender data transparency and accountability.
Having begun his career at Citi India in 1991, Selvakesari has over 30 years of experience in consumer banking, wealth management and commercial banking, across multiple markets globally.
In his role with EY Americas Consulting, Sharma leads 25,000 consultants across the Americas service line, according to the company. He holds a Master of Science degree in Computer Information Systems from the University of Miami and a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Computer Science from the Birla Institute of Technology, India.
Singh held various leadership roles in different companies. Northeastern University alumnus, Singh earned a doctoral degree in chemistry from the University of Missouri-Columbia. His research work has resulted in several issued patents and publications in peer-reviewed journals, according to his profile.
Founded in 2005, Ascend is the first and largest global network advancing API professionals in the workplace. Ascend’s 60+ chapters partner with global organizations to cultivate and empower API talent as they rise to their full potential.
