Our Members

Samu Thomas John is an accomplished professional in rural development, specializing in financial inclusion and micro-entrepreneurship, with a proven track record of scaling a microfinance startup into a 900+ member team across nine states in India. With expertise in process improvement, impact-driven strategies, and leveraging finance to uplift marginalized communities, his career spans leadership roles in microfinance, consulting for social businesses, and optimizing global corporate operations. Notable achievements include directing Prachodhan Development Services to empower marginalized communities through education and capacity building, and spearheading Lahanti Lastmile Services to manage a 12.8-million-dollar microfinance portfolio across eight states and providing sustainability consulting for social businesses and migrant wellbeing programs. Samu holds an MA in Social Work in Rural Development from Tata Institute of Social Sciences and a BSc in Physics from Madras Christian College, India. With experience in roles at Amazon, Flipkart, and Tesco, his passion lies in creating sustainable solutions, simplifying processes, and driving impactful societal change.