Vision
We want women's health to be understood by all so that women and thereby, society can lead healthier lives. We are driven by the quote by Michelle Obama, "Communities and countries and ultimately the world are only as strong as the health of their women."
For this, we need more information, transparency, and openness around conversations on women's health.
Mission
Our mission is to be a friend through a women's health journey by raising awareness and empowering them with solutions to be in control of their health.
The aim is to have women own their health by making educated decisions based on understanding the real science of their body and things around that affect them.
Miyara Team
Listen to the cofounders of Miyara on the
Narratives of Purpose podcast | Project Spark
Founders
MIYARA CO-FOUNDER
Dr. Sanjana Rao, Ph.D
Co-Founder
Sanjana is a biochemist, a mother, and an entrepreneur living in Zurich, Switzerland. She is eager to use her scientific knowledge and expertise to work on projects with social impact, particularly in education and health. As a feminist, she is keen on bringing her passion and enthusiasm to issues that directly impact women’s heath, which has led to the creation of Miyara Women, where women’s opinions and choices lead the way. She brings to the table her infectious enthusiasm, drive, digital and content management skills and networking capabilities.
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MIYARA CO-FOUNDER
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Dr. Gayatri Muthukrishnan, Ph.D
Co-Founder
Gayatri is a cell and molecular biologist turned science communicator based in Zurich, Switzerland. She is passionate about making health and science information accessible to all while giving them extra tools to translate the knowledge into active use for managing one’s health. To Miyara Women, she brings her science, her skills in managing projects, and being a mother of two, a sensitivity towards women’s health issues.
She is also a Bharatanatyam artiste. She combines both these interests and has co-founded 'Dance Your Science' where she explores science through movement.
Team
CHIEF PRODUCT OFFICER
Sandhya G Rao
Chief Product Officer
Sandhya G Rao is a technologist with over 15 years of experience in big-tech and startups. She has a Masters in Computer Science from Michigan State University and an MBA in product strategy and management from Cornell. Early in her career, she worked as a software engineer in Microsoft (Computer Security team) in Seattle before moving to Product Management, working at Interclick (Ad-Tech, acquired by Yahoo) in New York. Most recently, she herself was a founder in Silicon Valley building a smart assistant for parents to help in information discovery and planning. She has led global teams across engineering and product management. Currently she resides in Zurich.
CHIEF SCIENCE COMMUNICATION
Dr. Ayshwarya Ravichandran
Chief Science Communicator
After completing a Ph.D. in Microbial Pathogenesis from NUS, Singapore, Ayshwarya has established herself as a science communicator with more than 15 years of experience in this field. Through her vast experience, she ensures evidence and science-backed information are conveyed to women in understandable and comprehensible language and visualization. She is also a passionate women's health advocate engaging the Miyara community in different ways.
NUTRITION AND DIET
Soumya Peeru
Clinical Dietician,
Health coach
Soumya Peeru has been a practising Clinical Dietitian, Nutrition Educator for 15+ years. An avid Runner, and Women's Health Advocate, she aims to inspire and educate women about the profound impact of nutrition on their overall health by providing evidence-based guidance. With a strong foundation in clinical nutrition and a passion for running, she strives to address the unique nutritional and fitness needs of women, promoting holistic wellness. She advocates for body positivity, self-care, sustainability, and the importance of regular exercise in women's lives. More than 10,000 plus clients have benefitted from her consultation and coaching.
FITNESS AND LIFESTYLE
Purnima Aiyer
Fitness Trainer and Health Coach
Purnima Aiyar is an ACE certified Group Fitness Instructor, ACE Certified Personal Trainer, ACE Certified Functional Movement specialist, NASM certified women’s fitness specialist, Yoga teacher and a Zumba Instructor. She is the founder of 'Holistic Wellness with Purnima',(holisticwellnesswithpurnima.com) and has been specifically working with women for over a decade helping them make fitness and holistic wellness a lifestyle.
MENTAL HEALTH
Dr. Gargi Sandilya
Life Coach and Workshop Leader
With a Ph.D: in Psychology, Gargi is a Wellness Coach and Workshop Leader enabling people to unlock their potential and live their dreams. Trained in a number of modalities, she brings in a rich variety of tools and techniques to lead her clients towards self-empowerment. Gargi
is an internationally certified Life Coach and Workshop Leader for several programs - Heal Your Life workshops, The Significant Self and Transforming Through Stories Workshops. She is also a certified Gravity Yoga teacher, Creative Dance & Movement Therapy Facilitator, Associate Coach for Core Transformation and practitioner for
Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Gestalt Therapy. Gargi loves to explore her creativity and potential in new ways each day. She believes that every person she interacts with brings more beauty and wholeness into her life experience.
Medical Advisors
MEDICAL ADVISOR
Dr. Jayashree Gopal
Senior Consultant Endocrinologist and Diabetologist, Apollo Hospital
Director, DiabEndoIndia, Chennai
Dr. Jayashree is an American Board Certified Internist, Endocrinologist and Diabetologist.
She finished her MBBS in Madras Medical College, Chennai, India, then went ahead to do residency in Internal Medicine and Fellowship in Endocrinology and Diabetes at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
This was followed by 2 years of basic research at the world-renowned University of Cambridge at the laboratory of Prof Krishna VK Chaterjee, where Dr. Jayashree worked on some rare endocrine and hormonal problems. She then worked in Newcastle, Middleborough and Ashington, UK, as a Specialist Registrar in Internal Medicine, and Endocrinology and Diabetes.
Dr. Jayashree returned to India in 2002, and has worked in Apollo Hospitals, Chennai and various other clinics and hospitals till present. She conceptualized and setup the Apollo Diabetes Center in 2003 at Apollo Hospitals, Greams Road, Chennai.
MEDICAL ADVISOR
Dr. Sowmiya Ravi
Diabetes and Lifestyle Medicine Consultant
After completing MBBS in 2012, growing interest in the field of diabetology led Dr. Sowmiya to work in a renowed diabetes hospital for 1 year, following which she completed course and received a Diploma in Diabetes Management.
After completing the course, she was privileged to have had the opportunity to work in Apollo Hospitals as an associate consultant to two senior endocrinology and diabetology consultants for 3 years, and continues to work with one of them in private clinic.
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In 2023, Dr.Sowmiya qualified as a "Diplomate of International Board of Lifestyle Medicine" and thereafter practising as an international certified lifestyle medicine consultant.