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Director of Projects, POA Educational Foundation
Entrepreneur
Ashutosh is an entrepreneur with over 8 years of experience in working with leading executives, entrepreneurs, and thinkers on various initiatives across business, philanthropy, entertainment and the arts. He currently runs Desi Entertainment Network (DEN), a entertainment, media and events production services company as well as a boutique technology/communications services agency (DEN Agency, formerly Karma Canada). He has business interests in music and mobile applications. Prior to DEN, he worked with Accenture for several years in various roles including IT strategy and corporate sales. In past, he has served as executive advisor to the CEO of 'Karma Candy', one of North America's largest contract manufacturer of branded and premium chocolate and candy products. He has also worked in hospitality, special events promotions and enterprise technology businesses. He is a graduate of the University of Toronto (Software Engineering, Computer Science, 2006) as well as the Rotman School of Management ("Bridge to Business" program, 2006). He briefly attended University of Guelph for Computing and Information Science. He is the former student head of Canada’s premier undergraduate college, Trinity College at the University of Toronto.
Ashutosh currently serves as the Director of Projects for the POA Educational Foundation, which promotes education, nurtures entrepreneurship and strengthens civil governance. POA has established scholarships at Ryerson University, Trent University, George Brown College and York University. It's projects have spanned Unicef Canada, Trillum Hospital, Roy Thomson Hall, Canadian Youth Ballet Ensemble, Pathways Education Program, Toronto International Film Festival and Youth in Motion among others. Within POA, Ashutosh is the co-founder of Project Beyshick, a venture philanthropy initiative in collaboration with the Grand Chief of Nishnawbe Aski Nation. Project Beyshick incubates entrepreneurs within the Canadian aboriginal community. In past he has volunteered with the 'Frontier College' and 'Learning to Integrate New Culture' among others. He was a member of UNICEF Canada's India HIV/ AIDS Campaign and the Trinity College Family Campaign Cabinet, which generated funds of $3 million and $15 million respectively.
A person of Indian origin, Ashutosh remains active in the Canada-India and Canada-Nepal corridors. He is an advisor to the Canada India Foundation (CIF), which focuses on public policy advocacy for deeper engagement between Canada and India. In 2006/2007, Ashutosh was one of thirty youth selected from around the globe to participate in the 'Know India Program (KIP)' organized by the Government of India. He subsequently participated in the Government of Ontario's 'Business Mission to India'. In Summer 2010, Ashutosh worked with Dr. Shashi Tharoor — an acclaimed author, former UN under-secretary general, and former foreign affairs minister of India — as his advisor.
Ashutosh stays active in Canadian polity through volunteering for local, provincial and national political campaigns. He is recipient of the Accenture Hero Award (2009) and the Government of Ontario's Volunteer Service Award (2010).
Connect with Ashutosh (Ash):
LinkedIn: ca.linkedin.com/in/ashutoshjha1
Twitter: twitter.com/ajha1
Email:
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Quotes:
"Life is short. People are busy. It's not always about you."
"I am working when having fun, and having fun when working."
"I don't dwell in my past, I dream of my future."
"I care. I don't worry."
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