The Standard Chartered Foundation has named Nalini Tarakeshwar as Global Head of the Foundation and Corporate Philanthropy. The appointment comes as the organisation seeks to address a widening global youth employability gap, which climbed to 12.4 per cent in 2025. Tarakeshwar, who joins from her previous role as Deputy CEO of the UBS Optimus Foundation, will oversee a global strategy focused on removing barriers to entrepreneurship and employment for disadvantaged young people.
With roughly 260 million young people currently not in education, employment, or training (NEET), the Foundation is scaling its efforts to provide skills and financing solutions. The initiative places a particular emphasis on supporting young women, who remain 24 per cent less likely than men to participate in the labour force due to systemic social barriers. To date, the Foundation has facilitated over 100,000 jobs, reaching more than 700,000 individuals across its international markets.
“Nalini’s experience will be a catalyst for further impact,” said Tanuj Kapilashrami, Chief Strategy and Talent Officer at Standard Chartered.
Nalini Tarakeshwar added: “We now have an opportunity to build on this success to achieve impact at scale, working with our networks… to unlock opportunities that will help young people shape their own futures.”
