Shloka Ambani on The Masoom Minawala Show: Empowering structured and scalable volunteering opportunities with ConnectFor
On 'The Masoom Minawala Show', Shloka Ambani and Maniti Shah discussed the origin and growth of
ConnectFor
, a volunteer-matching platform aimed at enhancing efficiency and access within India's social sector. Since its inception, ConnectFor has facilitated over 1 lakh volunteer matches with more than 1,000 NGOs, saving the sector an estimated ₹21 crore in value through contributed time and skills, they shared.
The duo shared the lack of recognition and funding in the social sector, and that without funding, NGOs find it difficult to attract top talent, leading to a dent in fundraising efforts.
While technology entrepreneurs often focus on automation and scaling, Shloka prioritises what she calls "community capital" - the relationships and trust that enable real social impact. She attributes her background in anthropology as influencing this approach and that in social work, human connections generate more value than algorithms. Consequently, ConnectFor evolved from basic volunteer matching to comprehensive community engagement because Shloka recognised that warmth and relationships are the foundation of sustainable change, not just efficiency metrics.
Shloka's personal contribution is redefining ambitious motherhood. She openly shared her experiences with her children about self-development. The intent isn't work-life balance but intentional modelling. Shloka believes her most significant legacy is the influence she has on her children, demonstrating "all careers are okay" and meaningful work sometimes requires patience. Her leadership style demonstrates that women can pursue audacious goals while being present mothers, creating flexible systems that benefit entire organisations.
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Overall, the episode provided practical insights into how a social initiative can benefit from business thinking while remaining true to its mission. ConnectFor's growth reflects a broader shift toward accountability and impact measurement in the nonprofit space.
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