Swayam Shikshan Prayog Appoints Naseem Shaikh as CEO to Lead Grassroots Women Empowerment Movement

Pune, September 26, 2025: Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP), an organisation dedicated to empowering grassroots women as leaders and entrepreneurs, has announced the appointment of Naseem Shaikh as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

The appointment followed a year-long selection process led by a committee comprising SSP board members and external social sector leaders, including Ms. Chetna Gala Sinha, Founder of Mann-Deshi Foundation, Ms. Annie George, Founder Director of BEDROC, and Ms. Ipsita Das of Tata Sustainability Group.

Recognised for over three decades of work with SSP in advancing women’s roles in health, nutrition, water security, sanitation, and climate resilience, Shaikh was unanimously chosen for the role. She has also been named among the fifty exceptional women leaders in the 2024–25 Women Leaders India Fellowship by Reliance Foundation and Vital Voices.

Prof. Vinod Chandra Menon, Board Member, SSP, said, “The Board is confident that Naseem Shaikh’s inclusive vision and grounded leadership will further strengthen Prema Gopalan’s & SSP’s legacy of empowering grassroots women to emerge as leaders of change. We believe her leadership will significantly enhance SSP’s impact across communities and society at large.”

Expressing her gratitude, Naseem Shaikh stated, “I am deeply honoured to take on this responsibility. SSP has always stood for transforming lives by empowering grassroots women. As I step into this role, I carry forward the vision of our late Founder, Prema Tai, who believed that ‘ordinary women can trigger extraordinary changes.’ It is both a privilege and a responsibility to advance this vision—impacting not only women but also their families, communities, and society.”

Chetna Gala Sinha added, “Naseem Shaikh’s selection as CEO of Swayam Shikshan Prayog marks a significant milestone for the organization. Her extensive experience in empowering grassroots women and fostering resilient communities positions her to lead SSP. Her leadership will inspire more women coming from absolute grassroot level to take on changemaker roles and enhance the organization’s impact across society. Prema always believed in grassroots leaders and this has been fulfilled.”

Under Shaikh’s leadership, SSP aims to scale its impact, strengthen women-led solutions to local challenges, and build resilient communities across India.