Divya – Access to safe drinking water is a fundamental human right, yet millions in India—especially in rural and underserved areas—still consume polluted and contaminated water daily. The consequences are severe, impacting vulnerable communities, particularly children and those at the bottom of the socio-economic pyramid. Addressing this crisis requires dedicated leadership, strategic vision, and an unwavering commitment to social change.
Divya, an accomplished leader in the social enterprise space, embodies this mission. Armed with an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management – Kozhikode, she further honed her skills through the prestigious Stanford Seed Transformation Programme at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. After spending a decade in the corporate world, Divya sought a career with greater purpose—one that would allow her to apply her business acumen to create meaningful social impact. This led her to Naandi Community Water Services (NCWS), where she now serves as CEO.
Naandi Community Water Services Pvt. Ltd. (NCWS) is one of India’s largest community-based drinking water solution providers. Established in 2010 by the Naandi Foundation in collaboration with DANONE Communities, NCWS operates as a pioneering social enterprise dedicated to delivering sustainable access to clean drinking water.
As CEO, Divya is at the helm of NCWS’s mission: “Saving lives by providing sustainable access to clean drinking water to underserved communities.” Her leadership involves setting the organization’s vision, driving strategic initiatives, scaling impact, and fostering a robust leadership team to carry forward this critical mission. She also plays a crucial role in fundraising and managing key external partnerships to ensure the organization’s growth and sustainability.
Since taking over as CEO, Divya and her team have made remarkable progress in expanding NCWS’s reach and impact. Under her leadership, NCWS has strengthened its iPure brand in rural India, focusing on quality, community engagement, and sustainability. She has driven a 42% increase in social impact, extending safe drinking water access to over 880,000 people across more than 220 underserved communities. Additionally, NCWS has ensured that 30,000 government school children have daily access to clean drinking water, even during the challenges of lockdowns. Her tenure also saw the launch of iQuench, India’s first social packaged drinking water brand, furthering the cause of safe water accessibility.
Leading a social enterprise comes with unique challenges, and Divya has tackled several with resilience and strategic thinking. She successfully navigated regulatory changes that significantly impacted the organization’s financial stability while ensuring that NCWS continued its mission without disruption. Securing funding in a market where social enterprises are still an evolving concept proved difficult, yet she persisted in attracting investors and partnerships. The COVID-19 pandemic presented another major hurdle, particularly for a decentralized organization like NCWS, but under her leadership, the company not only adapted but also increased revenue and profitability.
Beyond driving impact, Divya is deeply passionate about fostering a resilient, agile, and learning-oriented organization. She ensures that every employee feels valued, recognizing their contributions while nurturing personal and professional growth. This dedication to workplace culture has earned NCWS recognition as a B Corp and a Great Place to Work.
Divya’s journey with NCWS is a testament to the power of business-driven social change. Before stepping into this role, she held leadership positions at Deloitte, Kaalmanns Plastics, and the Naandi Foundation. Today, her work at NCWS continues to transform lives, ensuring that safe drinking water is not a privilege but a right for all.