Ratna is the Chief Executive Officer at Reach to Teach, a social impact organisation working towards improving teaching and learning outcomes in Government Schools. She is deeply passionate about making learning a joyful experience for students by fostering teacher-agency. Ratna believes in learning out of curiosity and competing with oneself to achieve one’s own potential. She seeks to work from within the existing education system to create an environment that enthuses key stakeholders in a child’s life. She believes learning happens when it is supported by an enabling environment. 

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Ratna holds a Masters in English Literature and writes columns on diverse subjects like development, governance and defence. She is a former civil servant from the 1987 batch of the Indian Audit and Accounts Service. She gave up a highly coveted career in the Civil Services to join the development sector. Prior to joining Reach to Teach, she has held leadership roles at Oxfam India, VSO, MFIN, UNEP and UNDP. She also serves as an Independent Woman Director on Boards of several companies. She believes that the development sector gives one the flexibility and agility to bring long term systemic and transformational change to human lives.  

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Ratna believes in building a culture of mutual trust and dignity and creating safe and open spaces for people to find their own passion, learn, innovate and excel. You can have fascinating conversations about food, people and cultures with her. Deeply compassionate and empathetic, she is easy to talk to and is always ready to listen to people. On calls you will certainly find Nugget and Poppy, Ratna’s Golden Retriever and Lhasa Apso, an active part of the conversation.