Ronnie’s first foray was Cable TV in India and for the first two years he found no takers. The only advise was to treat it as a failed start up. But, with him staying on, today he is credited for pioneering Cable TV in India. Ronnie also built one of India’s largest toothbrush operations at a time where there was no ecosystem for PE Funding or bank debt to start ups. He went on to build the media conglomerate – UTV, where post many pivots, four almost near- bankruptcies and 15 years of focussed work, it scaled to a size spanning every aspect of Content and Platform, and was listed on AIM/London Stock Exchange, before being to Walt Disney at an enterprise value of 1.4 billion USD in 2013. Zarina Screwvala works full time as the Swades Foundation’s Managing Trustee & Director. Zarina was a co-founder of the media company UTV, where among other ventures, she created and launched several TV channels including Hungama, Bindass and UTV Movies.

Ronnie and Zarina, are the Co-Founders of the not-for-profit Swades Foundation, committed to empowering one million lives in rural India every 5-7 years through a 360-degree model spanning Water, Sanitation, Health, Education and Livelihood.The foundation has 270+ full time staff serving 2500+ hamlets impacting over half a million people.

Zarina is a member of the UN Women Business Sector Advisory Council (BSAC). She has a deep interest in philosophy and is a member of New Acropolis. Ronnie owns 3 sports teams under the brand U Mumba in Kabaddi, Volleyball and Football.