Board of Directors
Mini Ranganathan
Chair, Board of Directors
Mini Ranganathan is an Information Technology Project Manager with over 20 years of experience spanning higher education, process workflow optimization, and project management. Currently serving as an IT Project Manager with Wake County Government, Mini leads cross-functional teams to deliver impactful IT projects that align with organizational goals and drive operational excellence.
Mini’s professional journey includes designing innovative multi-tenant software solutions, managing diverse educational programs, and negotiating vendor contracts. She is known for her collaborative problem-solving skills and ability to foster trust, respect, and effective communication with a wide range of stakeholders.
Raised in Kerala, India, Mini’s passion for Indian classical dance and music runs deep. She actively curates cultural programs, emcees professional and artistic events, and finds joy in creative writing and meaningful conversations.
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Since 2024, Mini has served on the Board of Directors of Leela Foundation, where she now leads as Chair. In this role, she brings a deep appreciation for cultural heritage, and an unwavering commitment to advancing the Foundation’s mission, to promote and support cultural initiatives and enrichment programs that educate, enthrall, and enliven the community.
Mini is deeply committed to community service, youth enrichment, and the arts. She has held several leadership roles, including President of the We Are Wake Toastmasters Club, President of the Triad Hindu Temple Board of Directors, and currently serves on the Executive Committee of the South Indian Fine Arts Academy.
Sampada Agarwal
Board of Director
Sampada Kodagali Agarwal has been serving on the Leela Foundation Board since June 2023. She lives in Morrisville, NC, and is an IT professional with more than 20 years of working experience in the Investment Banking domain.
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Sampada is also a passionate visual artist, who has spent more than 18 years exploring traditional folk and tribal art styles from India. She is also a Certified Zentangle Teacher. Much of her work is influenced by these two diverse styles of art. Her work has been accepted in a number of exhibitions/shows and she is part of various community outreach and philanthropic causes. Her latest foray has been in the area of painting large scale murals.
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She brings this passion for the visual arts to Leela Foundation, finding ways and means to celebrate the similarities as well as differences in an effort to bridge the gap between people from diverse cultural and geographical backgrounds. She created the Leela Art Club and offered online art lessons (especially during Covid times) that were received quite positively. She successfully conducted a community art exhibition under the banner of Leela Foundation in 2023. Now it has become an annual event for the Foundation, conducted in September each year. These two initiatives have certainly satisfied one of the missions of Leela Foundation - to link the community and the arts through performance, education, and outreach.
Along with visual arts, Sampada loves to sing, especially Gujarati garbas and old Bollywood songs. She also loves to learn/experiment with new recipes/cuisines, cook with/for friends, watch thought-provoking movies, hike, play badminton and board games, and is an avid yoga practitioner.
More information about her art endeavors available here - https://linktr.ee/ansimit.
Mehul Desai
Board of Director
Mehul was born in Mumbai, India, where he grew up surrounded by a vibrant tapestry of artistic traditions. From an early age, he felt a deep affinity for all forms of art — visual, dance, and music — each offering a unique language to express emotion, culture, and imagination. Over time, this passion has only evolved and broadened. Today, living in Durham, North Carolina, Mehul cherishes the opportunity to experience and celebrate art from around the world. While he embraces global influences, Indian folk art and classical dance and music continue to hold a special place in his heart.
Mehul and his family are enthusiastic supporters of the thriving arts community across the Triangle area. They believe that art is not only a celebration of human creativity but also a powerful tool for building empathy, bridging cultures, and nurturing a sense of belonging. Art, in all its forms, enhances critical thinking, inspires innovation, and provides individuals — especially young children — with meaningful ways to explore their identities and express their inner worlds. For Mehul, supporting the arts is a commitment to fostering a healthier, more vibrant, and more compassionate society.
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Professionally, Mehul holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science and is the proud owner of a thriving preschool in Durham. He is deeply committed to the belief that a strong foundation in early childhood education is essential for lifelong success. At his preschool, he brings his love for the arts into daily practice, creating an environment where children are encouraged to engage in creative exploration, artistic expression, and cultural appreciation. By exposing children to the arts at an early age, he helps cultivate important skills such as emotional intelligence, resilience, collaboration, and imagination.
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Mehul is honored to serve as a board member of the Leela Foundation, where he continues to advocate for the transformative power of the arts and supports initiatives that make artistic experiences accessible to all.​
Shirish Devasthali
Board of Director
Shirish has been serving on the Board since early 2024. He lives in Fayetteville NC where he worked as a Medical Oncologist/ Hematologist from 1990 to 2019, Since retirement, he has kept himself occupied with the arts. He loves to sing Marathi and Hindi songs. He is a student of music, learning to play the tabla and piano as well as Hindustani vocals. He does pottery and stained glass- hobbies he has picked up over the last several years. He enjoys gardening and cooking and challenges himself to try making new dishes.
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Shirish values his Indian heritage and supports programs introducing the culture to America. It is his wish to promote the artistic programs brought by the Leela Foundation to the Triangle region.
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Shirish is blessed with three grown children and four grandchildren.
Sid Thakur
Board of Director
Sid Thakur is a Cary, NC-based computer scientist and passionate paper-cutting artist. He obtained his doctorate in computer science, with focus on data visualization and cognitive science, from Indiana University, Bloomington. His artistic journey began after discovering a paper-cutting article about an artist from Jaipur, India. This sparked a curiosity that evolved into a lifelong hobby and a significant creative outlet. Sid’s website, www.SidsPapercuts.com, showcases his original, unique handmade paper artworks crafted using precision tools like craft knives and scissors.
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Primarily self-taught, Sid has honed his paper-cutting techniques through keen observation, a steady hand, and constant experimentation. His artwork prominently features symmetry, reinforced through repetition, and explores abstract and geometric patterns. Themes in his work reflect a deep engagement with nature, science-fiction, climate change, and the rich mythologies of India, his country of origin.Sid has exhibited his work in various art galleries and museums and actively participates in workshops at schools, local events, and regional libraries.
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As a Board of Director at Leela Foundation, Sid is driven to enrich the lives of North Carolinans with exposure to accomplished artists and opportunities to learn from Master Artists who practice traditional Indian visual and performing arts. Sid also leads the Community of Indian American Visual Artists (CIVA), a collective of local artists in North Carolina's Triangle area. Through his art and leadership, Sid continues to inspire and influence both the local and broader artistic community.
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Links: www.sidspapercuts.com | www.instagram.com/sidspapercuts | www.facebook.com/sidspapercuts
Usha Bajpai
Board of Director
Creative Director & Producer (4DE),
Co-founder of Reynaa and Founder of Natak School of Acting
“Passion is to love and appreciate something beyond reasonable doubt, so much that it becomes a part of who you are“
Professionally, Usha holds the position of Director of Cybersecurity at a Fortune 100 company. This year, she was received the Presidents Volunteer Award, in addition last year, she was nominated as the only
Indian amongst 100 Women selected for the "Women of Impact" by American Heart Association in the US.
In her free time, she actively pursues her passion for visual and performing arts. Usha's talent and expertise have led her to not only direct theatrical plays but also to be invited to direct an Award-winning script "What We Grew Up With" by the NC State University Theater Department. She has portrayed a diverse range of characters in numerous plays, including Genie, Gabbar, Mehmood, Raja Janak, Raja Dashrath, Manthara, Shabri, and even a Spanish Professor. Her notable achievements include directing a number of plays and concerts like "Samraat", “Chhatrapati”, “Devdas”, “Mahatma”, “Gogan Chowdhury’s Studio”, “Don”, “Lakmikant Pyarelal - LP” and writing and directing an acclaimed all-women production titled "Naari," which resonated deeply with the lives of many women.
Usha, along with Aadi Singh, co-founded 4 Dimensions Entertainment in 2018 with a mission to showcase, nurture, and convey artistic expression. Most of the above plays have been under the 4 DE Banner. Additionally, Usha is a co-founder of "Reynaa," a prestigious haute couture clothing line that has showcased at the New York Fashion Week (NYFW).
As the Board Member of the Leela Foundation, Usha is dedicated to furthering the foundation's mission to involve the community through cultural initiatives and arts enrichment programs.
During her leisure time, she indulges in her passion for painting and enjoys traveling with her family to explore different places and cultures. Usha currently resides in Cary with her husband, daughter, and their two beloved dogs.
Anantharaman Velayudham
Board of Director
Anantharaman Velayudham has been serving on the Board of the Leela Foundation since 2024. With over 25 years of experience in Information Technology, specializing in Data Management and Analytics, he currently holds the position of Principal Architect at SAS Institute. His expertise in data analytics and strategic planning brings a valuable skill set to the Leela Foundation, including a deep understanding of data-driven decision-making and technological solutions.
Ananth is also deeply passionate about Indian art forms. At Leela Foundation, he has played a pivotal role in facilitating several on-stage performances organized by the foundation. As a parent of a Bharatanatyam dancer who is a student of the Leela School of Dance, Ananth offers a unique perspective that enriches the foundation's understanding of the community it serves.
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Dedicated to advancing the appreciation and promotion of Indian classical art forms within the Triangle community, Ananth is committed to leveraging his skills and passion to support the Leela Foundation’s mission of preserving and showcasing these rich cultural traditions.
Additionally, Ananth has a keen interest in digital media editing, with Photoshop and video editing being among his hobbies.
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Ajay Dholakia
Board of Director
Ajay has been serving on the Board of the Leela Foundation since 2025.
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Dr. Ajay Dholakia is a technologist, a musician and a yoga teacher, and is based in Cary, North Carolina. He has over 30 years of experience in various IT systems and solutions areas including Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics. He has been at Lenovo in Morrisville, NC for over 10 years. Prior to that, he worked at IBM in RTP, NC for 19 years, including 9 years at IBM Research Lab in Zurich, Switzerland. He holds PhD and MS degrees in Electrical & Computer Engineering from NC State University in Raleigh, NC and MBA degree from Henley Business School in England.
Ajay comes from a family of Indian Hindustani Classical musicians and has been learning, playing and teaching tabla in the area for many years. Over the years, he has accompanied many local and visiting classical vocalists and instrumentalists, as well as ghazal and sugam sangeet singers. He also performs regularly with Kathak dancers. He has been part of area bands playing fusion and hip hop music, most recently with The Wiley Fosters in Durham, NC. He continues his tabla learning journey under Pt. Anubrata Chatterjee, son and disciple of legendary Pt. Anindo Chatterjee.
Ajay Dholakia is a certified and registered yoga teacher, teaching various levels from beginner basics to gentle-flow to slow-flow to full-on vinyasa flows. He enjoys working with people looking to start their practice and incorporates elements of pranayama, pose transitions and meditation in helping individuals build and grow their own practice. He offers classes both on-line and in person for individuals as well as small groups.
As a board member of Leela Foundation, Ajay is actively promoting Indian classical artforms in the Research Triangle area in North Carolina. He enjoys bringing these together with various western and world arts genres in music and dance. Alongside his local performances, he has done lecture-demonstrations at area universities and schools. He strongly believes that connecting the artforms dots across regional and cultural realms builds a stronger society for all.
You can reach out to him at
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Board of Advisors
Kruti Desai
Board of Advisor
Kruti Desai has been serving on the Leela Foundation as a Board of Advisor since Jan 2024. Along with being a Preschool Owner, she is also a self-taught artist and a photographer. Her passion is all types of art forms, and she has been immersed in it all her life. Her work has been a part of local art galleries and photography shows and have won prizes. She believes there should be no boundaries when it comes to art, and likes to think outside the box. She also believes that art is everywhere around us, we just need to look at things from a different perspective and that’s what she tries to capture in her photos. She strongly supports woman empowerment and her art reflects that.
Raised in India, she moved to the U.S. to further her education. A graduate of San Jose State University, she holds her Masters in Molecular biology & Microbiology. Kruti considers Durham her home, where she lives with her husband, son, and parents.
As a Board of Advisor at Leela Foundation, Kruti hopes to bring to the NC audience, collaborations between the rich Indian heritage with other visual and preforming arts forms around the world.
Ananya Yarramreddy(Anu)
Board of Advisor
Anu is a seasoned cybersecurity professional, currently contributing her expertise to one of the top 100 Fortune companies. With a passion for safeguarding digital environments and a keen eye for emerging technologies, Anu has built a distinguished career in the ever-evolving field of cybersecurity. Her work involves tackling complex security challenges, ensuring the protection of sensitive data, and leading initiatives to stay ahead of the global cyber threats that impact businesses today.
Beyond her technical expertise, Anu is an avid writer and a lover of spoken word poetry. Writing serves as both an outlet and a source of inspiration, where she channels her creativity and reflections on the world around her. Deeply captivated by the art of spoken word, Anu enjoys both listening to and performing poetry, finding solace and connection in the rhythm of words and their power to evoke emotions.
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Currently, Anu is working on a book, a project close to her heart, which will soon be published. This upcoming work is a reflection of her unique voice, combining her personal experiences with her passion for storytelling.
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When she isn’t immersed in cybersecurity or writing, Anu enjoys exploring new perspectives and ideas through literature, conversations, and creative expression. Her journey is an ongoing one—one of continuous learning, growth, and the pursuit of both professional and personal fulfillment.