From Weaving Hope to Leading Change: Empowering Indigenous Women with Aparna Saxena, CEO of AHANA
Aparna Saxena — CEO of AHANA
Episode Summary
This episode of “The Executives” features social entrepreneur Aparna Saxena, a B-Corp advocate and plant-based investor. The discussion focuses on her journey and work with the social enterprise TORAJAMELO. You’ll learn why “impact entrepreneurship” is the future of business, how women-led artisans in Indonesia are powering a slow fashion revolution, and about Aparna’s global leadership journey from DHL to TORAJAMELO.
She also discusses the value of trust and collaboration in growing a purpose-led company, the challenges of balancing financial sustainability with social impact, and what plant-based businesses are (Vriksha Impact). Finally, she offers advice on how everyday people can live more sustainably.
Episode Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:28 Who is Aparna Saxena?
04:05 What's one Indonesian food you could eat every day?
8:52 From engineering to impact leadership
18:00 What inspired your focus on sustainability?
24:03 How do you empower women-led artisan communities?
29:26 Challenges of building TORAJAMELO
34:58 A success story from Ahana or TORAJAMELO
39:27 Balancing financial sustainability and social impact
46:28 What are plant-based businesses? (Vriksha Impact)
50:39 How can everyday people live more sustainably?
01:02:08 What's next for Ahana and TORAJAMELO?
About the Guest
Aparna Saxena
CEO of AHANA
Aparna Saxena is a social entrepreneur, B-Corp advocate, and plant-based investor dedicated to creating positive change in business and society. She leads TORAJAMELO, a purpose-driven company that empowers women-led artisan communities in Indonesia and promotes sustainable, slow fashion. With a background in engineering and leadership roles at global companies like DHL, Aparna brings a unique blend of business expertise and social impact vision. Through her work with Ahana and Vriksha Impact, she champions ethical entrepreneurship, environmental responsibility, and community-driven growth.
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