S. Mona Sinha

Aligning her passion for social justice and women’s empowerment with her early experience working in the corporate sector, S. Mona Sinha serves as the Global Executive Director of Equality Now, a non-governmental organization that advocates for the rights and protections of women, girls and gender non-conforming people around the world. In this role, Sinha has led and catalyzed over $1 billion to fund progressive projects, initiatives, and grassroots movements that elevate the economic agency of women and amplify women leaders.

Sinha sits on several non-profit boards with a focus on governance, strategy, and sustainability. She is the Board Chair of Women Moving Millions and serves on the Executive Council of the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum, slated to be built on the Washington Mall within the decade. She is an Advisory Board member of Gucci CHIME and the Tamer Center for Social Enterprise at Columbia University.

Formerly, Sinha chaired the Equal Rights Amendment Coalition’s Fund for Women’s Equality and is a trustee emerita (Vice Chair) of her alma mater, Smith College. In 2022, she was awarded the Smith College Medal in recognition of her bold feminist leadership in stewarding a trans-inclusive admissions policy and her critical role in fundraising $486M for the school’s Women for the World campaign.

She has served in various leadership capacities on the Boards of Connected Women Leaders, Apne Aap International, Columbia Global Mental Health Program in partnership with WHO, Breakthrough USA, and the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for High Impact Philanthropy.

As the founder of the Insight Circle Fund, she has facilitated meaningful partnerships and resources to uplift women and center marginalized communities. She also co-founded the Asian Women’s Leadership University to bring the liberal arts education model to women across the region.

Sinha is the Executive Producer of the award-winning Netflix documentary "Disclosure," which explores the representation of trans people in entertainment. She is an Executive Producer of "What the Constitution Means to Me," which was nominated for Best Play at the 73rd Tony Awards and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2019. She also produced "Sell.Buy.Date" and "My Name is Andrea," which premiered in 2022 at SXSW and the Tribeca Film Festival, respectively.

She has received wide recognition for her work across sectors to advance equality and empower women leaders. In 2023, she was listed on Forbes' "50 Over 50" list for her impact as a leading force driving change for a better future. She’s the recipient of the 2023 Horton Award for Excellence in Social Enterprise from Columbia University and CARE USA’s 2021 Impact Award. She was presented the Last Girl Champion Award by Gloria Steinem and Apne Aap in 2017, and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, honoring the accomplishments and service of US citizens, in 2015. She has also received awards from Children’s Hope India, Modern High School in Kolkata, Smith College, and Breakthrough USA, and was named one of the “21 Leaders for the 21st Century” by Women’s eNews.

Sinha grew up in Kolkata, India, and developed an interest in humanitarian efforts while volunteering at Mother Teresa's orphanage in the city. She came to the U.S. to attend Smith College, where she graduated with a BA in Economics. She also earned an MBA in Finance and Marketing from Columbia University.