Padma Shri Aloysius Prakash Fernandez is a prominent Indian economist and social worker, widely recognized as a pioneer of microfinance and popularly known as the father of the Self-Help Group (SHG) movement in India. He served as Chairperson of NABARD Financial Services Limited (NABFINS), focusing on rural financial inclusion. His career includes roles with Caritas India, the World Bank, Canadian International Development Agency and MYRADA, an NGO dedicated to poverty eradication, where he serves as member secretary. He is the Founder Chairperson of Sanghamithra Rural Financial Services, which provides affordable credit to underserved rural communities.
Born in Karnataka, Mr. Fernandez holds degrees from University of Louvain and Oxford University. He has authored numerous publications, sharing insights on sustainable development and rural empowerment. In 2000, he was honored with the Padma Shri and the Caritas India Jubilee Award for his contributions to social development.
His lifelong dedication to social and economic inclusion has left a lasting impact on the lives of many, establishing him as a respected voice in the fields of microfinance and rural development in India. His work continues to inspire new generations of social entrepreneurs and development professionals across the country.

Narendra K Sharan (NK) is a seasoned management consultant and leadership advisor with close to four decades of corporate experience and expertise across various domains, including manufacturing, operations, marketing, sales, and human resources. His mission is to empower Indian entrepreneurs to achieve global recognition through effective business strategies and mindsets. His focus has been on integrating quality, excellence and sustainability principles to drive business growth and respect.
Beginning his career with Tata Group (over 3 decades), he has held several senior roles viz. Chief - Marketing and Sales (Long Product), Tata Steel; Chief - Business Excellence and TQM, Tata Steel; Sr. Vice President at Tata Sons Pvt. Ltd. (where he led the Tata Business Excellence Group).
His areas of expertise include Marketing & Strategic Excellence (Corporate governance, strategic alignment, customer centricity, decision-making, risk management and innovation), Operational Excellence (Process improvement, cost management, daily work management, balanced scorecard, TQM, lean methodologies and problem-solving), Cultural Transformation (People involvement, capability building and mindset change) and Sustainability (Equity, inclusion, CSR and affirmative action).
As a prolific author, he has written numerous blogs and published memoirs of Dr. J. J. Irani, as well as contributed to a book on education excellence. He has conducted over a hundred senior management workshops and assessments, serving as a corporate coach and visiting faculty at top business schools.
He holds an MBA (PGDBM) from XLRI and a Degree in Electrical Engineering from the National Institute of Technology.