Vedika Bhandarkar Chief Operating Officer

Vedika is responsible for the operating efficiency and effectiveness of Water.org, and for the attainment of strategic objectives and annual organizational goals. She works closely with the CEO, the executive team, and the President of WaterEquity to support the mission and vision of Water.org. She previously served as Water.org’s Chief Global Impact Officer and the Managing Director, India.

Vedika has more than 25 years of experience building teams and businesses with Indian and international financial institutions. Prior to joining Water.org in January 2016, she served as Vice Chairman and Managing Director at Credit Suisse Securities (India) Private Limited from 2010-2015. Previously, she served as the Managing Director & Head of Investment Banking at J.P. Morgan.

Vedika serves as an Independent Director on the boards of several companies. She also serves as a board member of the Jai Vakeel Foundation, an institution focused on children and adults with intellectual disabilities. In 2022, she was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Vedica Women's Alliance in recognition of her outstanding achievements and exemplary leadership.

Read more from Vedika on empowering women with access to safe water and sanitation through financial inclusion.

Watch as Vedika describes how financial inclusion for women and families in need of water can change their lives. Through the story of Chumki who used a small, affordable loan to give her family water, Vedika explains how time spent collecting water can now be used to increase household income—taking families like Chumki's from poverty to possibility.