Kusum Pandey

CSR & ESG Partnerships Lead | Certified Independent Director | Transforming Corporate Social Responsibility into Scalable Development Impact (Education, Livelihoods, Health) | Ex-Teach For India

Hyderabad, Telangana, India

About

I bridge the gap between enterprise corporate strategy and sustainable grassroots development. As a Certified Independent Director and social impact leader with over 8 years of cross-functional experience, I specialize in matching corporate ESG (Environmental, Social, & Governance) objectives with high-impact public development goals across education, digital literacy, health, and livelihoods. Throughout my career, I have focused on driving execution excellence, ensuring strict legal compliance (Schedule VII / Section 135), and scaling multi-stakeholder ecosystems. 🚀 Key Career Milestones: • Secured $101K+ in corporate and institutional grants within 56 days of joining the Akshaya Patra Foundation. • Directed the end-to-end lifecycle, NGO vetting, and risk management of 16 multi-sectoral community development projects at Signode India. • Cultivated strategic philanthropic partnerships with 40+ premier global corporations, including Microsoft, Deloitte, Amazon, Wells Fargo, and HSBC. • Mobilized large-scale human capital networks, managing 5,000+ active corporate participants across 147 impact tracks. My background as a Teach For India Fellow gives me deep insight into community dynamics, while my corporate governance certifications ensure I speak the language of boardrooms, executive leadership, and risk mitigation. I lean heavily on data-driven reporting and visual impact storytelling to demonstrate clear returns on social investments. 💡 Core Expertise: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Strategy | Institutional Grant Acquisition | ESG Alignment & Sustainability | Program Management Lifecycle | Due Diligence & NGO Compliance | Board-Level Governance | Multi-Stakeholder Alliances Let's connect to discuss how we can scale impactful corporate citizenship, or reach out directly at [email protected].

Experience

  • Lead CSR at Signode India Limited
    Aug 2024 - Present · 1 yr 11 mos

    🔹 ​Portfolio Management: Oversee the complete lifecycle, regulatory vetting, and compliance tracking for 16 multi-sectoral community development projects spanning healthcare, digital education, sanitation, and sustainable infrastructure. 🔹​Socio-Economic Impact: Drive target-driven execution delivering measurable value to 2,900+ students, 4,100+ community members, and 21,000+ public infrastructure beneficiaries. 🔹​Compliance & Governance: Supervise 100% adherence to legal mandates under Section 135 and Schedule VII, authoring executive quarterly impact decks and corporate portfolios for board-level review.

  • CSR- Corporate Engagement at The Akshaya Patra Foundation
    May 2023 - Jul 2024 · 1 yr 3 mos

    🔹​Resource Acquisition: Secured $101,945 USD in corporate and institutional grants within the first 56 days by matching enterprise philanthropic goals with critical public development metrics. 🔹​​Strategic Alliances: Cultivated and retained a high-profile network of 40+ premier tech and financial enterprise donors, including Microsoft, Deloitte, Amazon, Wells Fargo, HSBC, Oracle, and Salesforce. 🔹​​Network Scaling: Managed regional volunteer mobilization networks, seamlessly coordinating 5,000+ corporate participants across 147 distinct impact execution tracks.

  • Teach for India fellow at Teach For India
    Jun 2021 - Apr 2023 · 1 yr 11 mos

    Facilitated comprehensive learning experiences for 45 students, achieving significant growth in reading levels and comprehension. Designed and implemented differentiated lesson plans to cater to diverse learning needs.

  • Sales Manager at WhiteHat Jr
    Sep 2020 - Jun 2021 · 10 mos

    Identified customer needs and tailored solutions, driving sales growth and enhancing brand awareness. Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop and implement effective marketing strategies.

  • Project Co-Ordinator at Pilar Outreach Foundation
    Aug 2016 - May 2019 · 2 yrs 10 mos

    Managed multiple projects from inception to completion, ensuring on-time delivery and stakeholder satisfaction. Implemented efficient project management methodologies resulting in streamlined processes and increased productivity.