Ashweetha Shetty is a Mid-Career Master in Public Administration candidate and Edward S. Mason Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School. She is the co-founder of The Penn Collective, a non-partisan initiative which aims to build essential political skills and foster a community of female leaders who can run for office at all levels of government. Ashweetha and Poorani lead The Penn Collective with a strategic approach that advocates for diverse efforts, combining capacity building, behavioral change and consistent support throughout women’s political journeys to increase representation of women in politics.
Ashweetha is also the founder of Bodhi Tree Foundation, an organization to support first-generation college students in rural India by helping them explore their potential through education, life skills, and opportunities. Before starting the Bodhi Tree Foundation, Ashweetha worked as a Community Engagement Coordinator with SughaVazhvu Healthcare, which provides last-mile primary healthcare in rural India. Most recently, She was a consultant for the World Bank. Ashweetha holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Manonmaniam Sundaranar University. She has received the Working Women Achievers’ Award and the Chief Minister State Youth Award from the Tamil Nadu Government for her work with the Bodhi Tree Foundation.
Ashweetha’s journey from growing up in a poor orthodox community in a South Indian village to becoming a first-generation graduate highlights the transformative power of education. As a TED speaker, a Young India Fellow, an Acumen India Fellow, and a G.P. Birla Fellow, she continues to advocate for gender equality across all spheres.
As a Cheng Fellow, Ashweethi will focus on expanding The Penn Collective’s impact creating a more inclusive political landscape in Tamil Nadu and beyond.