Our Vision
"The best brains of the nation may be found on the last benches of the classroom." - APJ Kalam, Former President of India
Aikyam envisions a world where every individual has equal access to opportunities and can actively contribute to a vibrant, thriving society.
Our Beliefs
Embracing the Art of Kintsugi, we treat adversity as a powerful tool for growth and innovation, nurturing young leaders who can turn setbacks into steppingstones towards a thriving, inclusive future for all.
Our Mission
Aikyam empowers underserved youth to become catalysts for positive social change in their communities. We provide transformative, hands-on experiences that cultivate critical problem solving and leadership skills. Through our innovative programs, we guide students in making the shift from individual success to collective impact.
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Aikyam is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, based in California, USA.
Our Management
Padma Sanampudi
Founder & Board Member
Padma is a seasoned engineering leader who built several commercially successful networking products from concept, built global cross-functional teams from the ground up, and launched technical innovation programs. Padma holds a master's in electrical engineering from the University of Texas. She drove various enrichment education programs in STEM for girls and underserved students. Over the years, she has held numerous volunteer leadership positions promoting programs such as Challenge Based Learning through Destination Imagination competitions, Computational Thinking, and Girl Scouts. Additionally, she is mentoring several college students to succeed in their academic and career exploration.
David Gilson
Founder & Board Member
David Gilson is a software architect and has spent his career developing networking devices which are used in deployments of 5G networks. David has a BS in EE from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland and has gained diverse experiences living and working in Japan, Ireland, and USA throughout his career. David has taken up volunteer opportunities to exercise skills obtained along that diverse journey to pursue his desire to help underserved communities. Seeing the results of these efforts shine through projects varying from developing and teaching a unique curriculum of Computational Thinking classes to Intentionally Inclusive Learning projects which bring together young people from various backgrounds and communities spurs David to drive new opportunities of involvement to further these causes.
Padma Sanampudi
Founder, Chief Executive Officer & Board Member
Padma is a seasoned engineering leader who built several commercially successful networking products from concept, built global cross-functional teams from the ground up, and launched technical innovation programs. Padma holds a master's in electrical engineering from the University of Texas. She drove various enrichment education programs in STEM for girls and underserved students. Over the years, she has held numerous volunteer leadership positions promoting programs such as Challenge Based Learning through Destination Imagination competitions, Computational Thinking, and Girl Scouts. Additionally, she is mentoring several college students to succeed in their academic and career exploration.
David Gilson
Founder, Chief Operating Officer & Board Member
David Gilson is a software architect and has spent his career developing networking devices which are used in deployments of 5G networks. David has a BS in EE from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland and has gained diverse experiences living and working in Japan, Ireland, and USA throughout his career. David has taken up volunteer opportunities to exercise skills obtained along that diverse journey to pursue his desire to help underserved communities. Seeing the results of these efforts shine through projects varying from developing and teaching a unique curriculum of Computational Thinking classes to Intentionally Inclusive Learning projects which bring together young people from various backgrounds and communities spurs David to drive new opportunities of involvement to further these causes.
Chandy Nilakantan
Community Outreach & Board Member
Chandy Nilakantan is an advisor, entrepreneur and technology leader who brings more than 35 years of leadership experience. He has held senior leadership positions at Reali, Dell, FogLogic, HomeTuneup, Scalent Systems, Hannext, SkyStream Networks, and 3Com. Chandy holds a master's degree in Engineering Management from Santa Clara University and a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. Chandy believes strongly in the power of "giving back" and "paying it forward". Through his participation in volunteer and advisory opportunities, he endeavors to use his varied experiences to help others achieve their goals.