𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐘 𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐖

I am honored and grateful to be featured as an Honoree of @incmagazine 2025 #FemaleFounders500 for the work @buildingeducation does, building schools and developing rural villages in Nepal. Research has shown that if there were just one single solution to ending global poverty, it would be by educating our females. In addition, a KPMG study revealed that 75% of female executives across various industries feel imposter syndrome as we continue to achieve and rise in leadership. I hope that one day we will live in a world where there is equal access to education for females and we can boldly take our place at the table, knowing that our leadership will make a positive impact on society. #FemaleFounders500 #IncMagazine #WomenInLeadership

The handoff of Sagarmartha Secondary School in Makwanpur district is complete! 🎉🎉🎉 This will be the 6th school that @buildingeducation has supported to rebuild in Nepal. The dream of this school started 2 years ago from one dedicated voice, @prasujmainali @buildingeducation partnered with @ea_foundation_nepal and our teams @santoshpandey__ @kobitbaniya @jyotikhadka97 set out with planning and logistics. I am grateful to our supporters for making this a possibility @tonyvlam @brendasea @elisa_covington @diane_do_ @normanyeesf @sfrotary And it was wonderful to meet the Chief Minister of Bagmati Province who shared his helicopter with us for the inauguration. The Mayor of Manahari once studied here but could only reach Class 8. His dream was to expand this school to Class 10 — the nearest one is a four-hour walk away. It takes a global community of advocates to make this possible — building a foundation for generational change through education. Congratulations everyone! ❤️ #buildingeducation #educationforall #nepal #educationinnepal

I’ve traveled all across the world to developing countries and have worked in some of the most poverty-stricken areas where people are living on a dollar a day. What I’ve seen, is that no matter where you are from or what happened to you, education is the equalizer that changes your future regardless of your past.

What is life like in rural Nepal? #nepal #ruralnepal #buildingeducation

Nepal’s growth story isn’t only about skyscrapers. It’s about QR codes, smartphones, mobile wallets, ride-hailing, food delivery, and rural WiFi. Following Nepal’s transition into a federal democratic republic and the adoption of its 2015 Constitution, the Government of Nepal introduced the Digital Nepal Framework in 2019, a national roadmap to accelerate digital transformation across infrastructure, public services, fintech, digital literacy, and inclusion. When I first experienced Nepal after the 2015 earthquake, electricity cuts were still part of daily life. Today, even rural communities are connecting through WiFi, social media, and mobile-first services. Nepal is changing quietly, digitally, and from the ground up. #digitaltransformationinnepal #nepal

Why do people come to Nepal? For many, it begins with the Himalayas, trekking through some of the world’s most breathtaking landscapes, with Everest Base Camp standing as one of the most iconic journeys on earth. For others, Nepal is a place of spiritual discovery. It is home to ancient traditions, sacred monasteries, and some of the oldest living religious practices in the world. With over 1,000,000 visitors each year, Nepal continues to draw people from around the globe seeking adventure, meaning, and connection. #visitnepal #nepal #nepal8thwonder

When I was in my 20s, I dreamed of moving to New York. I realize now that I was not ready then. New York would have been unforgiving. Now, at this age, being in New York has been humbling, to say the least. Every room I enter seems to be filled with intelligent, accomplished, and highly ambitious individuals, grounded in discipline and non-negotiable confidence. And there is an ambition in these rooms that is both inspiring and humbling. At CBS, in one of our leadership classes, we identified our core values and were guided to make decisions based on them. In economics, we learned about marginal benefit and the sunk cost fallacy, concepts that now shape how I make decisions. When evaluating opportunities, I have learned to keep my BATNA in mind - my strongest walk-away point - and lately, that has become my most common choice. In global philanthropy, we learned to use the iceberg model to better understand the layered nature of systems change. And across all of it, I have become more aware of active inertia, how easy it is to stay busy and in motion, while those very activities may be resisting the change that growth requires. Education has not only changed how I work professionally, it has changed how I think and how I move through the world. But perhaps the most important classes for me have been in finance, where I learned to think more rigorously about value, risk, and long-term potential - and, in many ways, to better understand my own through that lens as well. The journey through business school has been nothing short of a roller coaster, filled with highs and lows, more rejection than I expected, and many moments of questioning my own capabilities. But it has also asked me to coach myself through those moments, to keep going, to trust my own capacity, and to remember all that I have already built, endured, and accomplished.

Nepal is often still described as a developing country, but the poverty story is far more nuanced. Extreme poverty under the World Bank’s older $2.15/day line fell from about 55% in 1995 to just 0.37% in 2022, meaning it was nearly eradicated. Under the updated $3.00/day line, Nepal’s rate was 2.4% in 2022. This progress did not happen by accident. It reflects long-term investments in education, infrastructure, connectivity, and economic development that expanded access, mobility, and opportunity. The result is not only lower poverty, but stronger communities, more resilient households, and a powerful example of what systems-level development can make possible.

My greatest lesson this month: strength requires discernment. Strength is often mistaken for hardness. But real strength is not loud, reactive, or constantly proving itself. It is the ability to remain clear, grounded, and courageous in moments of friction. It is knowing when to speak, when to be still, and where your energy is truly meant to go. Not every battle deserves a response. Not every misunderstanding deserves access to your peace. Some of the strongest people are not those who fight the hardest, but those who know themselves well enough to move with conviction and restraint.

Thank you to everyone who attended the Holi Festival Charity Gala in support of Building Education’s 7th school in Nepal, helping create access to education for over 245 students. What keeps an organization alive is not just its mission, but the people who continue to believe in it. Building Education is still here because of those who have given their time, energy, resources, and trust to help carry this work forward. In a world that can often feel transactional, your support is a reminder that generosity, community, and shared purpose still matter. Every Gala reminds me that this work is bigger than any one person. It is sustained by people who choose to show up, care, and invest in something beyond themselves. Thank you to everyone who continues to believe in this mission and remain committed to it. #holifestivalcharitygala #buildingeducation

How did Nepal become the federal democratic republic it is today? 🇳🇵 From Prithvi Narayan Shah’s unification of Nepal in 1768–1769, to the democratic opening of 1951, to the 1990 People’s Movement, the 1996–2006 Maoist insurgency, the abolition of the monarchy in 2008, and the 2015 Constitution, Nepal’s political journey has been shaped by centuries of change, struggle, and resilience. #historyofnepal #nepal

Photo dump of the last few months. Halfway through the EMBA-Global 2027 marathon sprint! And while my life’s focus is only centered around the urgent & important quadrant - I somehow wish it would never end. ❤️🎉💕⭐️ This past year in school has been beyond transformational. It has reshaped the way I think, how I move, and grounded me more deeply in my values and what matters to me in my life. It has changed my trajectory and expanded what I know is possible. The world is not just my oyster anymore. I now know exactly where I’m going, and how I’m going to get there. My dreams, my goals, and my path forward feel undeniable. I may not be the woman every man finds easy to be with - but I am the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. And that is worth more than anything I could have ever asked for.