What does it take to begin a lifelong journey of giving? For RK Shah (Founding Chairperson of RK Group and AIP Network Member), it started with watching his father — a compassionate man whose small, quiet acts left a deep and lasting imprint. In this video of Come Aboard, RK Shah reflects on 46 years of business, the joy of touching lives, and why he believes the spirit of giving belongs in every generation.

Swati Apte, Founding Director of The Arts Quotient, and Alok Kshirsagar, Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company, have spent their lives studying transformation — in organisations, in people, and in communities. Together, through the Kshirsagar Apte Foundation, they've seen what it truly means to change a life. In this episode of Come Aboard, they share the story that stayed with them — 20 women in Thane who went from ragpicking to owning and running their own auto rickshaws, through the support of one determined organiser and a foundation willing to invest in possibility. Their advice to those considering giving: think of it as an investment. Give early. Give generously. And go see the impact for yourself.

AIP Founder Mukul Agrawal has spent more than three decades as an investor in India's capital markets. He knows better than most that volatility waits for no one — and that the right moment is often the one right in front of you. In this episode of Come Aboard, the Founding Chairman of Param Capital traces his giving journey from small, quiet acts inspired by his father, to becoming part of two marquee institutions — Plaksha University in Mohali and Shri Ram Institute of Medical Sciences. He also shares something that has stayed with him: that giving your time to a cause is, in many ways, the most valuable contribution of all. A first-generation entrepreneur who built from nothing, Mukul's message is grounded and generous: start whenever you have something spare. That is the right time.

AIP Network Member, Ankit Nagori has built Curefoods that feed millions but it was a quieter moment — sitting with athletes during the pandemic, watching them lose their footing overnight that moved him to build something different. Simply Sport Foundation was born from that realisation: when sport stops, so does livelihood, identity, and dignity. And that someone needed to step in. In this video, Ankit reflects on why he started giving early, and why he believes you don't need to wait until you have "made it" to make a difference. Even a small sum, set aside with intention, can change a life.

Across India, leaders are choosing to give earlier, more intentionally, and with greater purpose than ever before. Their stories are different. Their starting points are different. But their invitation is the same. Come Aboard is a reflective video series by Accelerate Indian Philanthropy (AIP) that brings out the giving journeys of those who have committed to philanthropy over their lifetime. Across cities, occupations, ages, and stages of life, our core founder, founders and network members share what giving has meant to them and what their advice is for those looking to start. Philanthropy begins with intent. And often, with a single decision to contribute meaningfully to a cause larger than oneself. Through these stories, we hope to inspire more leaders to take that first step — to start small if needed, start thoughtfully, but most importantly, to #ComeAboardwithAIP and join a lifelong journey to give more, give sooner, and give better. This is your invitation.

Hosted by AIP’s Isha Saxena, this episode features Poorvi Shah, CEO of Katalyst India, and Meera Rajeevan, COO of Vidyadhan, exploring what it will take to translate educational gains into sustained STEM careers for women in India. Drawing on their experience supporting young women across educational and professional transitions, they reflect on why gains in STEM education have not translated into sustained workforce participation. The conversation also explores the structural and social barriers driving these drop-offs, and the role philanthropy can play in strengthening retention, re-entry, and leadership pathways for women in STEM.

On International Women’s Day, we bring together three next-generation women leaders to discuss the evolving future of giving in India. As the country stands at a moment of unprecedented wealth transition, philanthropic capital will play a crucial role in addressing complex social challenges. In this conversation, our panelists reflect on what it means to inherit not just wealth, but responsibility—and how women and next-gen leaders can act as a bridge between generations to unlock capital for meaningful social impact. Watch the full discussion by AIP to hear their perspectives on legacy, leadership, and the future of philanthropy in India.

In our first SMEs Speak episode, we speak with Shobhini Mukerji, Executive Director of J-PAL South Asia, to further unpack key themes from our Monitoring & Evaluation Primer. Drawing on her extensive work with governments, donors, and civil society, Shobhini discusses how philanthropists can balance objective impact with personal meaning, leverage M&E to enable scale, and build stronger organisational feedback loops.