The Team
Sayeda Ayesha
Sayeda Ayesha is the CEO of SWARI Arts. Coming from an artisan family in Ramanagara, she has grown up around the people, skills and traditions that are part of the SWARI family. With a keen interest in media and storytelling, she brings that familiarity with craft into the way SWARI Arts presents its work and connects with the marketplace.
Her perspective brings a younger voice to the craft space, with an eye on how artisan work can be seen, understood and discovered by a new generation without losing where it comes from.
Reach her at ayesha@swari.org
Sreepriya Menon
Sreepriya Menon is the Head of People Management at SWARI Foundation. She holds an M.Phil in Psychiatric Social Work from NIMHANS, an M.A in Social Work from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, and a B.A in Psychology from Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi.
At the Foundation, she works with people across the organisation and its communities — from onboarding and working with artisans to supporting the team and handling the many people-related aspects of its work. Her academic background in mental health and social welfare shapes the way she approaches people and makes her a go-to person for the human side of SWARI’s work.
Reach her at menon@swari.org
Sufi Parvez 'Lal'
Parvez Lal has grown up around the craft of Channapatna, learning the trade from the people and places that have kept it alive. He’s been working with wood for years and has a knack for turning a simple piece of it into something that actually makes you stop and look.
At SWARI, he brings that hands-on knowledge to the workshop — making, experimenting and figuring out what wood can do next.
Geetha Venugopal
Geeta Venugopal is the National Strategic Advisor at SWARI Foundation. Her experience with the Department of Commerce, Government of India, has given her a close view of how government, institutions, commerce and communities interact, and the systems that shape livelihoods and opportunities.
At the Foundation, she brings this perspective to its work with artisans, helping us look at the larger picture while staying grounded in the community. She is also closely associated with artisan training and management, bringing experience, patience and a thoughtful eye to the work we do.
Reach her at venugeetha62@gmail.com
Rakshitha Prakash
Rakshitha Prakash works on B2B and corporate outreach at SWARI Arts, connecting with corporates and institutions, understanding what they are looking for and finding the right fit within the work and products of the artisans.
She is also the CEO of Khao Khilao Kitchens, SWARI Foundation’s kitchen-based social enterprise, where she is hands-on with the food, the kitchen and the products being developed. Her love for Andhra-style cooking finds its way into the kitchen too, adding a little of her own flavour to what Khao Khilao creates.
Reach her at rakshitha@swari.org
Vinay R
Vinay R heads IT Operations at SWARI. He loves reading, is a book club enthusiast, and is a marathoner. When he’s not keeping things running behind the scenes, he’s usually immersed in a good book or training for his next run.
Reach him at vinay@swari.org
Ajit Babu
Ajit Babu leads partnerships at SWARI Foundation, working across its programmes in artisan livelihoods, community development and social initiatives. His work brings together organisations, institutions and people who can contribute to what SWARI is building. His background includes disaster response, disability rights and grassroots community work, with a continuing interest in green energy and climate-related work.
At SWARI, he works closely with the Foundation's programmes and the people around them — from understanding what a community needs to finding the people, resources or connections that can help move the work forward.
Reach him at ajit@swari.org