Demystifying Nonprofit Boards

Neythri membership represents a tremendous wealth of professional skills and talents. Many members are eager to contribute their expertise and time to make an impact in their communities. Serving on a non-profit board can be a wonderfully enriching opportunity for personal growth and learning but it is important to find the right organization and board that best matches one’s skills and interests.

In this webinar speakers will dive into how nonprofit boards are structured and the role of committees. Experts will discuss fiduciary responsibilities and share typical expectations and responsibilities of board members. And lastly, our panelists will talk about how to get on to a non-profit board. We’ll wrap up with a Q&A where you’ll have the opportunity to get answers to questions that may help you in your board journey.

This is an online event. Registered guests will receive the Zoom Link 48 hours before the event.

About the Speakers:

Shari Freedman

Shari Freedman is the Chief Financial Officer of Room to Read, an organization that believes World Change Starts with Educated Children.® Room to Read envisions a world in which all children can pursue a quality education that enables them to reach their full potential and contribute to their communities and the world.

Shari oversees Room to Read’s global finance, accounting, legal and internal audit teams and is responsible for Room to Read’s fiscal management, financial transparency and global compliance. Shari’s leadership has transformed Room to Read’s global finance, accounting, legal and internal audit systems, deploying best-in-class approaches that have streamlined processes, increased internal efficiencies and delivered rigorous reporting and compliance standards. Through her work, Shari has positioned the finance, accounting, legal and internal audit teams as strategic partners throughout Room to Read, improving organization-wide decision-making and risk mitigation.

Vidya Sundaram

Vidya Sundaram previously led research and insights at GreatSchools, championing a test and learn culture across the organization. Over her nearly 20-year career in family engagement she has managed development, research, and strategy for digital resources used by more than half of US families with school-aged children. Vidya also has an extensive background in software engineering and technology project management to engage diverse partners, and implement and study digital programs. She holds a degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University, a Masters in Public Policy from UCLA and her MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management. Vidya is mom to two kids and proud to be part of a lively multigenerational household.

Shankari Panchapakesan

Shankari Panchapakesan is a Product Leader at Adobe, digital experience and media giant that helps build stronger customer relationships and new revenue streams. Previously, Shankari has held senior roles where she drove the Product Management agenda including the design and development of leading-edge Enterprise, SaaS solutions. She has contributed to three patents and is excited about new technologies and innovative solutions that can significantly impact productivity and creativity.

Outside of work, Shankari is passionate about supporting women’s causes. She is committed to working with non-profits who aim to bridge the gap for disadvantaged or minority communities. At Neythri Shankari looks forward to bringing to bear her energy and drive to grow the platform to support South Asian professional women across the country and the globe. Through Neythri’s community, she hopes to pave the path to a future where the term “gender gap” is a thing of the past.

Sapna Satagopan

Sapna Satagopan is a Product Manager at CalMatters, where she works across teams to grow and engage users with their news products.

Sapna believes in democratizing access to the news and in building impactful news products. She most recently co-founded Xyza: News for Kids, a subscription news platform for young readers. Her professional career began in technology consulting, followed by roles in strategy, research, and consumer insights at digital and branding agencies. Originally from India, Sapna has an MBA from UC Davis along with degrees in Physics and Linguistics. She serves on the board of the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library.