Sumitra has found her purpose and passion in unleashing the inner powers of all towards creating a better world – young and old alike as individuals, in their families and institutions! She enjoys activating and innovating for new ideas, pathways and solutions with over 10 start-up innovations globally over the span of 25 years in the private and public sector. 
 
Since 2006, she has pivoted towards unlocking innovations in the world of social change. She is the co-founder and Board Director of Playeum, –  an organisation focused on raising the voices of children through play in Singapore. Through her love of working with children, she contributes to various efforts globally focused on learning, technology and mental health to create a better future for children by acting through new innovations now. She is the Board Member of Singapore Art Museum, Avanti Fellows (US 501c non-profit company) and Advisory Board member of Pratham Books, Bring Change Foundation and contributor of the 2030 OECD Learning Framework. Most recently, she served in the Investment Committee of the Sofina Covid Solidarity Fund for education and health.  

Currently, Sumitra is the founder and partner of Karuna Advisory Impact (KAI) that works to unlock more resources and philanthropic capital to support systems-changing social causes in Asia; particularly in the field of children and young people. Prior to founding KAI, she was the Global Stewardship Lead at Ashoka, which is the top 5 non-profit organisation globally with 4000 Ashoka fellows (social innovators), and over 100 Ashoka Young Changemakers. 
 
Formally, she is trained as a Chemical Engineer (MEng, Cambridge) and MBA (INSEAD). She is a Developmental Coach from the school of Integral Coaching (CfD) from University of Cape Town, Graduate School of Business. She is a frequent speaker on podcasts and author on the latest social patterns in the field of learning, innovation, young people and elderly.