New York, New York, United States
As CEO of a leading women's rights organization, Equality Now, Sharmila (Mona) Sinha is a globally recognized advocate for gender equality. She brings over 25 years of experience in strengthening mission-driven organizations and in the corporate sector to Equality Now. With her deep understanding of the women’s rights ecosystem, Mona has led and catalyzed over $1 billion to fund progressive projects, initiatives, and grassroots movements that elevate the economic agency of women and amplify women leaders. Mona serves on several non-profit boards with a focus on governance, strategy, and sustainability. She is the former Board Chair of Women Moving Millions, Executive Council member of the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum, Advisory Board member of Gucci CHIME and Advisory Board member of the Tamer Center for Social Enterprise at Columbia University. Formerly, Mona chaired the Equal Rights Amendment Coalition’s Fund for Women’s Equality and is a trustee emerita (Vice Chair) of her alma mater, Smith College. Mona is the Executive Producer of the award-winning Netflix documentary Disclosure, Oscar nominated documentary To Kill a Tiger, and Tony nominated play What the Constitution Means to Me. Mona has received many accolades and awards including Forbes 50 over 50 in 2023, the Horton Award for Excellence in Social Enterprise from Columbia University in 2023, and CARE USA’s 2021 Impact Award. Mona graduated with a BA in Economics (magna cum laude, phi beta kappa) from Smith College and an MBA in Finance and Marketing (dean’s list, beta gamma sigma) from Columbia University.
As Chief Executive Officer of Equality Now, I lead a global organization dedicated to advancing legal equality for women and girls. Our initiatives have successfully reformed over 135 discriminatory laws worldwide, enhancing legal protections. We are focused on driving the organization’s next phase of growth and impact, ensuring sustainable progress in human rights advocacy. as we collaborate with diverse stakeholders to expand the reach and effectiveness of our mission, impacting millions globally.
Serve as Vice Chair of the inaugural advisory council for the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum. Lead the Nominations Committee to identify and recommend candidates for council membership. Collaborate with diverse stakeholders to shape the vision and mission of the museum dedicated to American women's history.
Serve as a Board Member for the Tamer Institute and Venture Fund, focusing on social ventures and social justice. Mentor business school students, guiding their academic and entrepreneurial journeys. Actively raise funds to support programming that fosters social impact initiatives. Contribute to the development of innovative training programs for aspiring social entrepreneurs.
Founded the Asian Women's Leadership University project in collaboration with Smith College to empower women in Asia. Developed a comprehensive plan and successfully raised funds to establish a four-year university in Malaysia. Launched operations in 2024, providing world-class liberal arts education and mentorship to women.
Developed strategic priorities for a membership-based organization of over 450 women. Catalyzed over $1 billion in funding for projects supporting women and girls globally. Built the largest women's donor community advocating for gender rights worldwide.