Leadership

Poornima Garg

Poornima Garg is the visionary Country Director of Room to Read India, an International non-profit working in the areas of early grade literacy and gender equality & girls’ education. As head of the organization, Poornima provides strategic leadership and oversight to Room to Read India’s operations, including country strategy development and represents the organization to the Governments, Donors, and other stakeholders. She leads a multidisciplinary team of over 500 staff across 11 states of India.    

Poornima joined Room to Read India in 2011 and has been contributing to the success of the organisation while steering different business roles with the organisation. In her last role as the Deputy Country Director, she revolutionized Room to Read India's approach to leadership evolution and future readiness in education domain. Her corporate background in children Literature for international market, business acumen, academic background in the social Impact strategy and business management gives her a unique perspective on the socioeconomic and education landscapes in which Room to Read India operates. Poornima has over two decades of leadership experience spanning non-profit and for-profit realms, especially in education and gender equality. She has worked with international publication houses like, QBS Learning (formally Q2A Media). Her experience and learnings from Literature to Literacy from international market helps the organisation to drive and transform the Literacy Mission in India. 

Poornima spearheaded strategic collaborations with communities, governments, and corporate partners that amplified Room to Read India's influence. Her efforts have led to strengthened systems across states, and garnered recognition for foundational literacy's significance. Her heart's cause, girls' education, and gender equality, finds her leading by example and breaking barriers that hinder girls’ educational aspirations, encouraging a world where every girl can learn, lead, decide and thrive. 

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Poornima is a compassionate mentor, life coach, and firm believer in individual potential for meaningful change.