We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ayesha Charagulla. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ayesha below.

Ayesha, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

Being a mother of two, I was concerned about children growing up in environments that shield them from the realities of the world. I started noticing my friends kids, my kids friends and their peers. All of them are in similar bubble. Experiencing hardships and learning to navigate challenges can indeed foster resilience, empathy, and a deeper understanding of the world around them. I wanted to enjoy the journey of serving others with my children.
It was a peaceful morning in 2015 Feb, when I woke up to a strong calling that would change my life forever. At that moment, I knew what I needed to do. I made the decision to leave my lucrative IT career and dedicate myself to reducing the suffering of those around me.

After starting with nothing but an intense desire to make a difference by involving children in the community, I founded the “Empower and Excel” nonprofit organization. My organization inspires, mobilizes, and teaches youth volunteers between the ages of 5 and 18 to help those in need and give back to their communities. I started with only six youth volunteers but, to date, worked with over 2,700 youth who have contributed 115,000 hours of service, served 218,007 meals, donated 8,000 books, conducted 240 STEAM sessions for children in underserved communities, and learned countless valuable life lessons.

Ayesha, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

We keep youth in front line and support them to serve the communities in need. We reach out to the communities in need and support them in any way we can.

1.Work with elderly to bridge the gap between the generations
2. Community gardening: Opportunity to learn about plant biology, gardening techniques, and environmental stewardship through hands-on experience. Understanding of where food comes from and the importance of sustainable practices.
3. Conducting STEM in underserved communities: empower underserved communities to participate fully in the innovation economy and contribute to the advancement of science and technology.
4. Serving unhoused population: Serving the unhoused population is a critical aspect of community support and humanitarian efforts. Youth making hot meals, no sew blankets, scarfs and knitting caps also baking etc…
5. Making cheerful cards for the patients at hospitals
6. Tutoring
7. Book drive
8. Toy drive
9. Backpacks and school supplies to underserved
10.Making hygiene kits the underserved
11. Working with special needs

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I had spent over a decade working in various roles within the IT industry. I had navigated through different facets of technology and roles. Yet, there came a point where I felt a growing desire to make a more direct and tangible difference in people’s lives. The catalyst for my pivot came unexpectedly while exploring volunteer opportunities for growing children. During that research I see opportunities are either age restricted, gender based, religion based, focused on one area etc. but I wanted an organization with no barriers to serve others. As I became more involved, I realized that my skill and experience could be harnessed in service of a greater cause.
With a sense of purpose and determination, I made the decision to transition from my IT career to founding the nonprofit organization. It was a leap of faith, accompanied by a mixture of excitement and uncertainty. I knew that I would be stepping into unfamiliar territory, but I was driven by the belief that my skills could make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
In my new role, I found myself wearing many hats. From managing technology infrastructure to overseeing operations and multiple projects, I applied my IT background to streamline processes and enhance organizational efficiency. However, what truly fueled my passion was the opportunity to work closely with the community served by the youth at my nonprofit.
Engaging directly with the individuals and families benefiting from the organization’s programs opened my eyes to the profound impact of our work. I witnessed firsthand the transformative power of collective action and compassionate support.
The biggest challenge I faced is raising funds. I was not sure where and how to start. In the beginning projects were funded by husband to encourage me and keep me going. As each project is executed, with the transparence and honesty my work and mission started getting the visibility. With word of mouth we started getting donations. Each day brought new challenges and opportunities for growth, reinforcing my commitment to the organization’s mission and the people we served.
Looking back, making the transition from IT to the nonprofit sector was one of the most rewarding decisions of my career. While the technical challenges may have been different, the sense of fulfillment and purpose I found in serving others remained constant. It was a journey of personal and professional growth, guided by the belief that technology, when used thoughtfully and compassionately, can be a powerful force for positive change in the world.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Building reputation within a market is crucial for the success and sustainability of any nonprofit organization. I learned and figured out lot of things with each event and experience. Here are several steps that I took to my nonprofit build its reputation Consistent transparent communication with stake holders, including donors, volunteers, clients and community partners.
Demonstrated Impact: Clearly articulate the organizations mission, values and impact on the community. Provide tangible evidence of the positive outcomes and results achieved through the organizations programs and services.
Engage with the community: foster meaning relationships with the community served by the nonprofit.
Build trust and credibility: uphold high standards of integrity, accountability, and transparency in all aspects of the organization’s operations. Building trust and credibility is essential for gaining support and confidence from donors, volunteers, and stakeholders.
Focus on Quality and Excellence Strive for excellence in program delivery, service quality, and organizational management. Continuously evaluate and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the organization’s programs and operations.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://empowerexcel.org/
• Instagram: @empowerexcel
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Empowerandexcel
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/empower-and-excel
• Youtube: @empowerandexcel4589