Meet Sharanya Menon, a student of law turned public policy professional. And that’s not the only transition she made! Sharanya’s first encounter with Athena Infonomics was as an intern with the Data and Digital Governance team in 2023. In 2024, she joined us as a full-time team member in the same team.
Here’s a bit more about her interesting journey in the social impact space.
Her path to policy work was far from linear. After studying law and briefly working as an intellectual property lawyer, she realized her true interests lay elsewhere. The turning point came during a fellowship with State Bank of India's Youth for India program, where she was "dropped in the middle of nowhere in Odisha."
This experience opened her eyes to the development sector and set her on a new course. She had found her calling.
Following the fellowship, Sharanya dedicated two years to building up a nonprofit as its sole employee, an experience she describes as "one of the most joyful, most difficult, most fascinating experiences in my life." This work inspired her to pursue a broader perspective on social impact through policy studies.
Sharanya discovered Athena through a professor in her master's program. She was drawn to the company's unique approach to consulting work. "It has its very own informal, very considerate style of working," she notes. While the lack of rigid hierarchy impressed her, what drew her to the company was the “high standards of ethical considerations in undertaking project work.”
She highlights the thoughtful leadership of her colleagues, especially Shruti,: "She is very conscious of whether we are being right, whether we are being ethical, whether we are giving due consideration to all of the diverse possibilities that exist in the sphere of responsible use of data and technology."
At Athena, Sharanya is currently immersed in a project exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence and agriculture. This work allows her to combine her foundational knowledge of agriculture, gained during her time with the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, with cutting-edge technology applications.
It has been fascinating to look at the far-reaching implications of AI in agriculture, particularly for marginalized communities and women. "I can actually see how it might impact, say, a group of indigenous people in the midst of a village in Odisha," she explains, highlighting the potential for AI to transform labour-intensive agricultural tasks.
Sharanya's interests extend beyond her current project. She's particularly passionate about urban governance and is eager to explore projects related to governance and theories of change in the future.
As she continues to navigate the rapidly evolving world of data and digital governance, Sharanya remains excited about the learning opportunities ahead. "I'm just stepping forward, putting my foot in the waters and working my way across," she says. "I'm on the learning curve right now."
We’re definitely excited to follow her journey too!
