Advisors

Premal Shah, President, Kiva.org

One of the founding members of Kiva.org, which now loans microfinance to 50 countries, in total of 77 million dollars. Premal had a long standing interest in microfinance. In 1997, he was awarded a grant from Stanford University to research microfinance in Gujarat, India. More recently Premal co-founded the Silicon Valley Microfinance Network and spent 2 months in India working to refine / validate Kiva's model. In 2006, Premal was a featured speaker at the Clinton Global Initiative and Global Microcredit Summit. Premal graduated with a B.A. in Economics from Stanford University. Prior to Kiva, Premal was a Principal Product Manager at PayPal, an eBay company.

"I believe in the power of yoga to re-center ourselves and connect with the divinity within us and more importantly, within each other. When we give, it not only helps someone else but just as importantly, it helps us spiritually grow. YGB is one of my opportunities to spiritually grow."

Lucy Billingsley, Board of Directors, Grameen Foundation

Lucy Billingsley is known for her enthusiasm for microfinance as a business solution to poverty, and her energetic involvement in Chiapas, Mexico. In just four years, she raised more than four million dollars for the Latin America initiative, specifically to finance micro loans for her Chiapas Project. Lucy serves on Grameen Foundation's Board and Development Committee. Lucy has more than 25 years of experience in real estate with expertise in development and property management. She is also an avid yoga practitioner with teacher Randy Justis at BKS Iyengar yoga Studio of Dallas.

"As yoga represents the union of our internal and external lives, microfinance and Yoga Gives Back represents the union of those of us so fortunate in the US with others less fortunate across the world. We become united in our joint mission to make the lives of our families and our world be better. We are linked as neither of us can change the world without the other. We must be an integrated whole working as one."

Raj Jaswa, Board of Trustees, The Indus Enterprises (TiE) Global; CEO and President, Dyyno, Inc.

Raj was the President of TiE Silicon Valley from 2005 to 2008, the world largest nonprofit dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship. TiE was founded by successful Indian entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley in 1992, which now operates in 12 countries with 11, 000memers. Raj received a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. Raj and wife Kalpana have charitable interests through the Jaswa Charitable Foundation, whose primary beneficiaries include El Camino Hospital SAHC, India Community Center, the Blind Foundation for India, Chinmaya Mission, and Bidada Medical Camp. Raj studies Yoga diligently with Arkady Shirin and Sherry Han.

"We do Yoga to re-discover the limitless capabilities that nature had endowed our body and our mind. Somewhere along our journey through life, we lose our way. And our body and mind becomes the sad reflection of our confusions. Yoga gives us a step by step method, to use our own body and our own mind, to rediscover our true self and start enjoying the gifts of nature. Sharing the bounties of what Yoga gives us, unveils the truth that we are all manifestations of one universal spirit. When we help others, we help ourselves."

Julia Wilson, Vice President, University Advancement, UC Channel Islands; Former Executive Director, Grameen Foundation West Coast

Bringing 20 years of marketing and fund-raising experience to California State University Channel Islands, Julia heads up fundraising, alumni affairs, community and government relations, and communications & marketing. She is also spearheading University’s plan to launch Institute of Social Business with Dr Muhammad Yunus’ personal commitment, as well as starting "Introduction to Micro Finance" special courses at the campus. Previously, as head of the Grameen Foundation’s fund-raising team, she supervised development professionals in Seattle, Washington DC and New York and raised funds in the Western Region.

"I joined Grameen Foundation in 2007 because I believed strongly in the power of microfinance and its role in the empowerment of women. In May of that year, Kayoko and Joel approached me about establishing a relationship between the Foundation and Yoga. I was thrilled that such committed individuals would bring the Yoga community to support the movement. Yoga enthusiasts understand the importance of healing the spirit and nothing heals the spirit of impoverished families more than a woman’s ability to support her children. I have seen it first-hand and I am pleased to continue my work with Yoga Gives Back as an advisor."

Dr. Kenneth Atchity, CEO, Atchity Entertainment International, Inc. (AEI)

With more than forty years experience in the publishing world, and over fifteen years in entertainment, Dr. Atchity (Georgetown A.B., Yale Ph.D.) is a writer (author of 15 books), producer, professor, and literary manager, responsible for launching dozens of books, films, and brands. His life's passion has been finding great storytellers and turning them into bestselling authors and screenwriters. Now, as chairman and CEO of Atchity Entertainment International, Inc., Ken's Story Merchant companies, www.aeionline.com and www.thewriterslifeline.com, his companies provide full-service development, management, production, and brand launch for commercial and literary writers. Dr. Atchity is dedicated to using his experience to help give the stories discovered by Grameen and Kiva happy endings through supporting Yoga Gives Back's work raising awareness throughout the yoga community.

"I support Yoga Gives Back because it's a proactive symbol of a future where reciprocity begins at the physical and spiritual levels and reaches into all realms of human endeavor. YGB is a trailblazer and fills a need, to express tangible gratitude, that's felt in yoga studios around the world."