Meera Shenoy is a pioneering force in the field of inclusive development and racial equality. As the Founder and CEO of Youth4Jobs, she is widely recognised for creating India’s largest organisation focused on skilling and employing youth with disabilities—many of whom belong to marginalised castes and communities. What truly sets Meera apart as a racial equality speaker is her deeply personal connection to the cause. Having grown up witnessing stark disparities in opportunity and access, her lived experiences have shaped a passionate and empathetic approach to advocacy. Meera speaks compellingly on topics such as inclusive hiring, equity in education and employment, intersectionality in development, and grassroots innovations for empowerment. Her insights bridge policy and practice, and she speaks not only from a place of expertise, but from heartfelt commitment.
Meera began her career in the development sector, working at the intersection of policy and grassroots implementation. She played a crucial role as Senior Advisor to the United Nations and the Government of India on youth and skills development. Before launching Youth4Jobs, she also founded EGMM (Employment Generation & Marketing Mission), which became a successful model for inclusive rural employment and was later adopted by the Government of India. These roles laid the groundwork for her understanding of systemic inequalities and the mechanisms required to dismantle them. Her early career was marked by bold initiatives that brought real-world change to communities often overlooked, which propelled her into national and international recognition.
Over the years, Meera has received numerous accolades for her work in inclusion and empowerment. In 2011, she received the NCPEDP-Shell Helen Keller Award, followed by the Fetzer Foundation USA Award in 2012. Her pioneering model earned the Bihar Innovation Forum II Award in 2014, and her 2015 TED Talk on Youth4Jobs reached a global audience. That same year, she was inducted into the Happiness Hall of Fame and received the Vocational Excellence and Access Livelihoods Awards. Meera has been honoured multiple times by international and national bodies, including the UN’s Zero Project Conference (2016 and 2017), and the prestigious National Award for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities in 2017. Her influence has only grown, earning her the 2019 MIT Innovation Inclusion Award for Asia.
As a speaker, Meera focuses on actionable strategies for fostering racial and social equity, particularly through inclusive education, employment, and policy reform. She shares powerful stories and frameworks that illuminate how race, caste, gender, and disability intersect to shape lived experiences. Whether speaking to corporate audiences, governments, or NGOs, her messages resonate deeply, offering both inspiration and practical solutions. Meera should be hired not just for her accolades, but for her authenticity, expertise, and unwavering commitment to creating a more equitable world. Her talks don’t just inform—they ignite action.
