Anupama Vaid, Shalinee Sharma, and Bijal Shah are among the 14 honorees for this year / Image Credits – LinkedIn

Three Indian American women have been named as recipients of the 2024 Power of Women Awards by Global Silicon Valley (GSV), a multi-stage venture capital firm. 

The award recognizes influential female leaders who are bringing about a world that provides equal access to the future through the promise of education.

Anupama Vaid, Shalinee Sharma, and Bijal Shah are among the 14 honorees for this year, that include “CEOs, presidents, and founders who are redefining “Pre-K to Gray” learning so that ALL people have equal access to the future.” 

Anupama Vaid is the president and founder at ParentSquare, an interactive, online system designed to help schools and parents to become informed, active participants in children’s learning. 

The idea of crafting the platform occurred to Vaid in 2010, during a sabbatical when her children were young, and she realized the need for better, more equitable communication between schools and families.

“I am deeply humbled to be selected for the Power of Women award by the GSV. Despite the challenges that women often face, I've been fortunate not to see the limits that others perceive. I credit this to the incredible support, mentorship, and belief from those around me. This recognition is a heartfelt thank you to all my colleagues, friends, and family,” Vaid wrote on LinkedIn. 

Shalinee Sharma is CEO and co-founder of Zearn, a nonprofit educational software organization. It launched Zearn Math in 2012 to help elementary students understand mathematical concepts through pictures, models, and real-life examples. 

Sharma, a Harvard Business School and Brown University alumni, also serves on the Braven Board of Directors. She is a Pahara-Aspen fellow and a co-chair of the Brown University Advisory Council for the college. She acknowledged her selection for the #POW Award in a LinkedIn post, writing, “Honored to be selected for a Power of Women Award, looking forward to attending the ASU+GSV Summit.”

She was also recognized by Rivet Education, a consulting services and products provider for educators, for “her bold ideas and unflinching commitment to instilling the belief that ‘all kids are math kids’” on the occasion of International Women’s Day 2024.

Bijal Shah is the interim CEO of Guild, a company offering curated education, learning programs, and career assistance to help working adults with upskilling and career mobility.

In her role, Shah oversees Guild’s work with the nation’s largest employers — including Walmart, Chipotle, Discover, Hilton, Target, The Walt Disney Company, and healthcare systems like Providence Health and UCHealth — to unlock opportunities for America’s workforce.

Prior to Guild, Shah held executive and leadership roles at Ibotta and in corporate strategy at Visa. She works with the board of directors of Girls Inc. and was named one of Denver Business Journals’ 40 under 40 recipients.

The honorees will receive their #POW Award at the ASU+GSV Summit 2024 scheduled from April 14-17 in San Diego. Registrations for the event are currently open. 

“This year’s Power of Women (#POW!) Award honors remarkable female leaders who don’t just react to change and challenge: they revolutionize. These women aren’t afraid to innovate and iterate, and their staggering impact ripples throughout the education and workforce skills ecosystem,” an official statement said.