Dr. Usha R. Balakrishnan, President, CEO and Board Chair of CARTHA, Iowa, USA, and President of Cartha Global Ventures LLC delivered a lecture titled “Launching Humanity-Centered Aspiration Exchanges: An Indian-American Woman’s Experience” at the Centre for Study of Indian Diaspora, University of Hyderabad (UoH) on 30th July 2013.
Usha Balakrishnan spoke about the success story of Non-Profit Organizations run by Indian Americans in the United States (US). She also highlighted the issues of second generation Indians in the US. Being a Non-Resident Indian, Usha shared her personal experiences of migration, adaptation and integration in the host society. She defines “Socialization of Aspirations” as her life purpose drawing on her twin mottos: “Pre-Pairing Minds to Create Chance!” and “Aspire before You Expire!”
After receiving a BCom from Bombay University and an MBA from the University of Iowa (UI), Usha worked at the UI for 15 years directing corporate partnerships and managing inventions and patent licensing functions. Her patent management efforts in the 1990s were instrumental in eventually producing the highest-earning portfolio in the history of the University of Iowa Research Foundation. Her passionate vision and ventures as an academic administrator were featured in the UI President’s 2002 Report under the title Establishing a network of partnerships for a community that ranges far beyond the borders of the campus: The work of a match maker: Collaborations build economic and social capital.
As President of CarthaGlobal Ventures LLC, Usha’s efforts are focused on the challenge of humanity-centered incubation of innovations, partnerships, and business concepts. Usha also provides advisory services to clients interested in designing non-traditional alliance models for business development and team-building strategies that promote thoughtfulness and diversity in leadership and governance.
Usha also volunteers as CEO and Board Chair of CARTHA, a 501c3 nonprofit she founded in 2006 (see CARTHA’s 2012-2017 Stategic Framework). CARTHA (“doer” in Sanskrit) cultivates Collaborative Doers. These Carthans form a network of scientists, physicians, writers, artists, entrepreneurs, comedians, filmmakers, and public citizens. CARTHA’s primary program spurs innovative thought, community outreach, and cross-sector partnerships around the theme of “Global Health through the Sound and Lens of Water.”
Visit http://www.cartha.org/index.php/team/team-biosketches/34-usha-balakrishnan