Rita Kakati-Shah Bio

Rita Kakati-Shah is a distinguished figure in the world of gender, diversity, inclusion, and career strategy. As an accomplished speaker, author, and trusted advisor to Fortune 500 corporations, she has left an indelible mark on the global business landscape.

Rita is the visionary Founder and CEO of Uma, an international platform dedicated to partnering with organizations to attract, retain, and nurture women and minorities in the workforce. Uma's mission revolves around empowering confidence, inspiring success, and cultivating leadership and resilience among its members.

Rita's professional journey took root at Goldman Sachs in London, where she was recognized with the prestigious Excellence in Citizenship and Diversity Award. Her educational background boasts a B.Sc. and M.Sci. in Mathematics and Management from King's College London, where she is now an active alumni mentor.

A recipient of multiple Stevie Awards for Women in Business and various international accolades, Rita is celebrated for her relentless commitment to advancing gender equality, diversity, and inclusion worldwide. She serves as a judge for the Middle East Awards and contributes her expertise to a wide range of global organizations and boards, including the JCC of Manhattan, ACP Women Veterans’ Founding Circle, New York City Bar Association, and many more.

As a dedicated coach and mentor, Rita empowers business leaders, veterans, domestic violence survivors, women in technology/STEM, schoolgirls, and students. She has assumed advisory roles, ambassadorships, and expertise-sharing positions on numerous boards, spanning diverse sectors and regions.

Rita is a sought-after speaker and guest lecturer at prestigious academic institutions, multinational corporations, and global policy forums. Her influence has reached UNESCO in Paris, the European Parliament in Brussels, and venues across Assam, Delhi, London, Madrid, Meghalaya, New York, San Francisco, Sochi, Toronto, and Zambia.

In addition to her prolific career, Rita is a recognized expert who has graced international television and news shows and has been featured in prominent podcasts and publications, including the Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, Thrive Global, Dell Technology, CBS News, Fox News, Yahoo Finance, and iHeartRadio. Rita is also the esteemed host of the popular South Asian television show, "The Uma Show," on Mana TV International. She is a best-selling author, contributing to books on women in business, diversity, and inclusion.

Experience

• Founder & CEO, Uma (Since Sep 2016) - New York City, USA
• Advisory Council Member, King's Business School (Since Sep 2021) - City of London, England, United Kingdom
• Advisory Council Member, Ankh Impact Ventures (Since Aug 2021) - Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• Trustee, Equality Starts at Home (Since Feb 2022) - London, England, United Kingdom
• Board Member, St. George's Society of New York (Since Jan 2021) - New York, New York, United States
• Board Advisor, Turning Rock Partners (Since Jun 2020) - New York City, USA
• Governor, Ormiston Park Academy (Since Jun 2019) - Aveley, United Kingdom
• Local Committee Member, Royal Liberty School (Since Nov 2022) - Gidea Park, England, United Kingdom
• Global Chairperson, WCombinator, Global Council for The Promotion of International Trade (Since Apr 2021) - Democracy Without Borders, India
• Founding Member, Democracy Without Borders (Since Aug 2020) - Delhi, India
• Global Vice President, WEE, Confederation of Indian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (Since Dec 2020)
• Chairperson, Women’s Forum, Global Assamese Entrepreneurship Forum (Apr 2021 - Sep 2022)
• President, Executive Board, Ps 87 (Sep 2020 - Sep 2022) - Manhattan, New York, United States
• Secretary General, United Nations Parliamentary Assembly Model (Apr 2020 - Jan 2022) - India
• Director, Business Development, MedAvante-ProPhase (Mar 2011 - Dec 2012) - Hamilton, New Jersey, United States
• Managing Director, KCL (Nov 2009 - Mar 2011) - London, England, United Kingdom
• Financial Specialist, ED, Pan-Euro ST, Swaps, Syndicated Loans, Projects, Goldman Sachs (Jun 2000 - Nov 2009) - City of London, England, United Kingdom

Education

• B.Sc., M.Sci., Mathematics and Management, King's College London (1998 - 2001)

Licenses & Certifications

• Alumni Mentor, King's College London Alumni (Issued Mar 2023)
• King’s Alumni Volunteer, King's College London (Issued Sep 2022)
• King’s International Alumni Representative, King's College London (Issued Sep 2022)

Skills

• Diversity and Inclusion
• Women's Leadership
• Strategic Planning
• Pharmaceutical Industry
• Clinical Trials
• Clinical Development
• Neuroscience
• Drug Development
• Business Development
• Drug Discovery
• Biopharmaceuticals
• Good Clinical Practice (GCP)
• Lifesciences
• CTMS
• Clinical Trial Management
• CRO
• Employee Training
• CNS disorders
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Diversity & Inclusion
• Women Owned Business

Recommendations

• Rick Ward, Sr. Vice President at CluePoints

Publications

• "I had 15 years of professional experience, but no one cared when I became a mom" (Fast Company, Apr 3, 2019)
• "I Didn't Let the Motherhood Penalty Stop Me, and Neither Should You" (Working Mother, Apr 9, 2018)
• "Are we adequately evaluating and monitoring rater performance in clinical trials with dementia?" (Alzheimer's & Dementia, The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, Jul 1, 2009)
• "Reliability and validity of the Caregiver-Perceived Burden Questionnaire (CPBQ) in Alzheimer's disease" (Alzheimer's & Dementia, aanddjournal.net, May 22, 2009)

Honors & Awards

• Mahatma Gandhi Samman (Issued by UK Parliament, House of Commons, Sep 2022)
• Helen Hudson Award (Issued by King’s College London, Jun 2022)
• Doctor of Humanities (Honoris Causa) (Issued by Commonwealth University, Mar 2022)
• President’s Lifetime Achievement Award (Issued by The office of the President of the United States and the AmeriCorps, Jan 2022)
• International Achievers Award (Issued by Indian Achievers Forum, Feb 2021)
• International Women Achiever Award (Issued by International Women Awards, Feb 2021)
• International Icon Award (Issued by Uttar Pradesh World Records, Dec 2020)
• Best New Service of the Year – Business Services (Issued by Stevie Awards for Women in Business, Nov 2019)
• Female Entrepreneur of the Year – Business Services (Issued by Stevie Awards for Women in Business, Nov 2019)
• Women-Run Workplace of the Year (Issued by Stevie Awards for Women in Business, Nov 2019)
• International Alumnus of the Year Award (Issued by King's College London, Jun 2019)
• Excellence in Citizenship and Diversity Award (Issued by Goldman Sachs International, Jun 2004)

Organizations

• Global Council for the Promotion of International Trade (Global Chairperson, WCombinator)
• Ormiston Park Academy (Governor, Board of Trustees)
• Various other affiliations and contributions to organizations promoting diversity, inclusion, and international trade.