NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Akansha Kasera is a Consultant at BFA Global and the Marketing & Communications Manager at Catalyst Fund. She brings years of experience in building growth and marketing strategies for startups, corporates, and non-profit organizations. Akansha also serves as a Co-Lead for ANDE Gender Inclusion Learning Lab. Previously, Akansha led strategy and marketing for the OPTIX project, designed by BFA Global and MetLife Foundation to help four microfinance institutions across the globe better serve their low-income customers. She is a storyteller and a data-driven marketer with technical expertise in managing organic and PPC campaigns, SEO, human-centered design, and social media management.

Prior to joining BFA Global, she worked as a Marketing and Communications Officer with Smile Foundation, a national level NGO in India with several livelihood programs and welfare initiatives. She also worked as a Senior Associate with Smile Foundation as part of their global resource mobilization team which is responsible for driving resources for NGO’s welfare initiatives. Before moving to the development sector, she worked with unicorn food-tech startup Zomato, as part of their product and external communication team. She helped the development of key product features by liaising with the design, content, and tech teams. She holds a BA in English Literature with a Minors in Psychology from Jesus and Mary College, Delhi University (India).