Soumitra Pandey

I am the co-founder of a boutique firm, India Impact Sherpas, which works with social change entrepreneurs to accelerate and amplify their impact. Our philosophy is inspired by the sherpas:

1. We respect that the entrepreneur decides their goal (peak).
2. We commit ourselves to the entire journey, not just a project.
3. Our role shifts throughout the journey—we act as guides, observers, or supporters as needed, but always as cheerleaders.
4. The dream, effort, and passion belong to the entrepreneur; the glory is theirs, and we remain in the background.

My personal journey started in Mumbai, where my parents’ support enabled me to excel academically. I graduated in 1993, just as India underwent economic liberalization, and for the next 20 years, I thrived professionally. During this time, I worked at Accenture and EY, holding leadership positions as a practice head and regional lead. I helped clients with business transformation and strategy across multiple sectors.

While working in the Power and Mining industries, I traveled to the Indian hinterland, South Africa, and Zambia, where I witnessed gut-wrenching poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation. These experiences led me to transition from the corporate world to the social impact space.

In 2015, I became the first employee of The Bridgespan Group in India, helping to establish its presence. After seven years, I moved on in 2022 to co-found India Impact Sherpas.

I am a Chartered Accountant and hold an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad.

Additional Reading: Systems Change Report – The Convergence Foundation