Maya Ajmera
Social Entrepreneur, President & CEO, Society for Science & Publisher, Science News
Driving Change: a Journey from Advocacy to Global Impact
By Amrita Oak
On a hot summer day in 1990, Maya stepped off the train in Bhubaneshwar, India, and was immediately struck by a scene that would change her life. Amidst the chaos of the bustling station, she saw a teacher passionately instructing about 50 children at a makeshift train platform school. This poignant “moment of obligation” made her heart swell with a mix of inspiration and urgency. She found herself asking, why aren’t there more of these schools? How can they be made sustainable?
The encounter ignited a fervent passion for philanthropy, leading her to pivot from a career in medicine to championing global, community-based education initiatives. Inspired by this experience, Maya founded the Global Fund for Children (GFC) and led the organization for 18 years. Until now, GFC has invested nearly $60 million in over 1000 innovative community-based organizations, reaching 11 million children.
Today, Maya is a staunch advocate for accessible STEM education as the President & CEO of the Society for Science and Executive Publisher of Science News. Among her achievements at the Society, Maya secured a longstanding partnership with Regeneron, a top biotechnology company, to invest in the Society’s flagship competitions and programs. Additionally, she developed comprehensive outreach and equity initiatives that ensure every child can pursue science or engineering regardless of their circumstances or background.
The constant thread in my life has been about discovery, inclusion, and a commitment to young people everywhere.
Maya spent a lot of time reading, realizing she didn’t see herself or much diversity represented in children’s books. Determined to change this, she decided to self-publish her first book when publishers turned it down: “and the first check from this endeavor went to a train platform school!”
In 1993, I may have been one of the first South Asian individuals in the US to found a nonprofit of such grand scale. As a pioneer, my goal has always been to inspire both my generation and those that follow to engage in meaningful social impact work.
Maya acknowledges the challenges faced by the Indian diaspora, especially for women seeking to raise capital. She speaks about the “double whammy” of being both a woman and a woman of color. Her advice to young diaspora members? “When you are young, take risks, try things that are uncomfortable. Follow your heart, head, and intuition.”
