Parmesh Sahani
About
Parmesh Shahani, the Vice President at Godrej Industries Ltd., is known for his groundbreaking work in fostering LGBTQ inclusion in corporate India and his role as the founder of the esteemed Godrej India Culture Lab in Mumbai. Armed with a bachelor's degree in finance from Bombay University, Parmesh obtained post-baccalaureate diplomas in film and television from the Xavier Institute of Communication. He has also been a TED Senior Fellow (2018), Yale World Fellow (2014), a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader (2014), and a Utrecht University-Impakt Fellow (2012).
However, it was during his tenure at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he earned a master's degree in media studies, that Parmesh found the freedom to embrace his identity as an openly gay man, catalyzing his passion for advocating LGBTQ rights.
Parmesh is actively engaged in the corporate sphere, serving as a member of the FICCI task force on diversity and inclusion and lending his expertise to guide leading companies on their inclusion journeys.
His influential presence extends to prestigious platforms worldwide, where he delivers captivating talks on various facets of creative and corporate India. From INK Women to the World Economic Forum, Parmesh's insights resonate across diverse audiences, enriching discussions on topics ranging from LGBTQ inclusion to the evolving landscape of Indian workplaces.
Additionally, Parmesh's leadership as the curator of the Godrej Leadership Forum and his instrumental role in spearheading the strategic reboot of the group's diversity and inclusion agenda further establish his reputation as a catalyst for progressive change.
Awards and Recognition
Awards and Recognition
Parmesh’s academic pursuits culminated in seminal works that shed light on the complexities of contemporary Indian society. His first book, ‘Gay Bombay: Globalization, Love and (Be)Longing in Contemporary India’, originally published in 2008 and re-released in 2020, delves into the intricacies of queer existence in the Indian landscape. This was followed by his second book, ‘Queeristan: LGBTQ Inclusion at the Indian Workplace’, published in 2020, which serves as a manifesto for inclusivity within corporate environments.
Why Parmesh Sahani?
Parmesh is a sought-after keynote speaker in the corporate realm, known for his expertise in LGBTQ inclusion. Some of his speaking engagements include for corporations such as Hindustan Unilever, Standard Chartered Bank, and Oracle. As an advocate for social justice and inclusivity, Parmesh Shahani continues to challenge norms and inspire transformation.
