About us
Team
Shalini Datta
Founder & Director
Bachelor of Chemical Engineering, Former Fellow TeachForIndia, Ex Project Manager, Cognizant: Shalini brings with her 20+ years of diverse work experience as a Technologist turned teacher turned Social Entrepreneur. Shalini’s passion to bring about change led her to quit her corporate career and join the Teach For India Fellowship in 2010. The fellowship, exposed her to the socio-economic problems faced by the women and children of the disadvantaged communities. Hearing the mother’s stories of struggle and endurance, and their dream and hope for a better life inspired her to start Aftertaste. Shalini’s diverse skill sets has helped her fulfil multiple roles at Aftertaste from being a field worker, to product designer to managing operations and business development. She now works with the next generation of Aftertaste grooming and guiding them to be future torchbearers.She dreams of a developed India where every person can live a life of dignity and strives towards it through her work at Aftertaste.
Sanober Shaikh
Associate - Business Development & Marketing
I am Sanober Shaikh, an Electrical Engineering diploma holder with a decade-long stint in the manufacturing sector. A year ago (2023), I embarked on a transformative journey with Aftertaste, where I've found a nurturing environment to cultivate my skills in marketing and business development.At Aftertaste, I handle various tasks, from crafting marketing campaigns to building strategic partnerships. Every day offers learning opportunities, fueled by the collaborative atmosphere and forward-thinking culture of my team. With a passion for excellence, I'm dedicated to driving sustainable growth for Aftertaste.
Kasturi Ray
Associate - Head of Operations
Kasturi holds a Bachelor's degree in Commerce, an ex-TFI fellow, a former investment executive at SHCIL and she has also worked as a Test Trainee at Cognizant. She brings with her diverse experiences and financial knowledge to Aftertaste as the Head Of Operations. She switched her career gears from the finance industry to the development sector when she joined TFI fellowship as a teacher for the children from at-risk communities in Kolkata. She has always believed in equity and felt a need to provide solutions to the social challenges faced by women and children which she witnessed around her. Hence, she consciously took the step to contribute her knowledge and work towards the upliftment of their livelihoods.
Heena Manihar
Associate - Operations
Heena Kasim Manihar earned her degree in the year 2021. Her professional journey began in 2016 when she took on the position of an assistant teacher. After that, she moved to the nonprofit sector with the All India Institute of Local Self Government up to 2019 and then Arpan NGO until February 2024. Right now, Heena is working as an Associate Operations at Aftertaste Foundation and is thus assisting in the achievement of the foundation’s objectives.
Yash Gupta
Associate - Technology and Social Media
Yash, with a bachelor’s degree in computer applications, has been integral to Aftertaste since 2021. He developed and maintains the organization's website and contributes to product photography, social media, and marketing design.
As the son of an Aftertaste artisan, Yash is deeply connected to the mission. He also teaches computer literacy to senior children, does freelance projects, and, is passionate about music and volunteers with church worship choirs, dedicating his time and talent to his community.
Rohit Jaiswal
Associate - Accounts | Part Time
Rohit and his family came across Aftertaste 6 and half years ago when going through a challenging phase. Rohit’s mother joined Aftertaste as an artisan and educated her children. A dynamic youngster, Rohit has endured several hardships from the age of 16, when he lost his father and took to driving a share auto. He stayed on the path of education at the behest of his mother who is an artisan at Aftertaste. He went onto complete his 12th grade and is currently pursuing Final year B.Com. Along with his B.Com, he handles part of operations, accounts and order processing at Aftertaste. His continued determination and ownership are his greatest asset. Rohit motivates and guides other youth to stay on the path of education
Board of Directors
Suddhadeep Chakraborty
Director
A pure technologist by mind and heart with a passion to use technology for good, Suddhadeep brings with him 18 years of technological expertise having worked across a spectrum of technologies, from backend development to solution architecture.
He worked with Cognizant, JPMC and CRISIL and currently runs his independent technology consulting firm.
As a part of his voluntary contribution he mentors the next generation of Aftertaste.
Mr. Abhik Bhattacherji
Director
Currently holding the position of Consultant Director Marketing and Communication at Teach for India, he has worked as Start-up consultant at Teach For Bangladesh and Teach for Slovakia.Abhik is an English literature major from St. Stephen’s College, New Delhi. He has 14 years of experiences across the Corporate and Development sector. Abhik connects the dots between content, business, philanthropy, and action. As a director he constantly fuels Aftertaste’s creative journey with new art ideas and helps devise the marketing and communication strategy for the organisation.Abhik is a firm believer of the transformative power of art and sees Aftertaste as a manifestation of that belief.
Arundhati Deshmukh
Director
Arundhati holds a Bachelor’s degree in Instrumentation engineering. She is a sales manager at Emersons handling project sales. An engineer by profession but a curious artist by nature. She loves to explore different art and craft forms and uses these endeavors to help people with fewer opportunities. She is a firm believer in bringing about change at the grassroots to see a meaningful difference. She brings her unique passion to Aftertaste and has played an instrumental role in our journey of skill development With her vast experience in the field of sales, Arundhati guides and advises the team to explore and connect to different points of sales.
Donors / Partners
Social Venture Partners India
Social Venture Partners India is a pan-India collaborative philanthropy organisation. SVP India’s vision is to provide individuals with a platform to engage with philanthropy in order to create fulfilled lifelong givers. SVP connects and engages philanthropists, helping them make the greatest impact with their contributions of money and time
Aftertaste is one of the investees of Social Ventures Partners, India. As part of the programme, Aftertaste has been receiving funding and advisory support from SVP. There are three lead partners assigned to Aftertaste who provide critical advisory support to the organisation on different aspects pertaining to growth, leadership development and capacity building.
Advisory Board
Ms. Zarine Commissariat
CSR Head- Shapoorji Pallonji Trustee Avanit Foundation
Zarine Commissariat is Head CSR of a diversified multinational corporate group. She has been closely associated with Aftertaste Foundation over the past six years, helping the Founder strategize and expand the organisation. She is also Trustee of Avanti Foundation which has in the past financially supported Aftertaste.
Zarine, engages in philanthropy through an association of like minded philanthropists called SVP. She mentors and guides NGOs and is closely engaged with one in the area of skilling mentally challenged youth.
Zarine is also a member of the Sustainability alumni of the Swedish Institute (a project initiated and managed by Sweden government).
She is a trained counsellor and works with cancer patients to enable them resume their normal life post illness
Mr. A.V Suresh
Ex-CEO Eureka Forbes Limited, Founder Trustee Avanti Foundation Patner, Social Venture Partner
AV Suresh is a Cartwright Gold Medalist in Bachelor of Mechanical engineering from University of Madras and an alumni of IIM Calcutta. He contributes his extensive experience and contacts to the social sector space and has been a champion for Aftertaste since its early years. Suresh has been instrumental in mentoring Aftertaste's Founder on systems, strategy and growth since its early years. Suresh has been an avid Rotarian, he was Club President of the Rotary Club of Deonar, Mumbai and he is actively engaged at the district level in areas of water conservation and support to differently abled. Suresh is also a partner at Social Venture Partners, a group of passionate philanthropists, where he mentors an organization engaged in working with mentally challenged towards inclusive learning and employability. He also engages with Spandan hospital for mother and differently abled children in Mumbai. He is also in the Human Activities Committee of International Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), USA, for approving applications from across the world. He is also Trustee in Tandarust Bharat Foundation focusing on providing safe drinking water.
Manasi Narasimhan
Manasi is the Head of Communications and Fundraising at CEGIS, and a member of the organisation’s leadership team. She assumes responsibility for all communications with donors and partners, while also spearheading the internal and external branding efforts for CEGIS.
Manasi holds a BA(Honours) degree in Economics from Lady Shri Ram College, University of Delhi and an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management(IIM). Her strength lies in building a consistent and strong brand narrative impacting organisation’s mission and goals. She is passionate about using her skills to generate social impact and continually leverages it to showcase and connect Aftertaste to sector leaders for sales and support.