Nisha Dhawan

Nisha has always been a fierce champion for girls and is passionate about amplifying their voices, as well as advocating for financial inclusion, and gender equity. She is currently the President and CEO of EMpower – The Emerging Markets Foundation, which partners with local organizations and other change-markers to enable marginalized young people to transform their lives and communities.

Previously EMpower’s Vice President of Impact & Influence, Nisha has spent over a decade shaping the organization’s DNA. Since joining in 2012, she has served as Country Director for India; Director of the Adolescent Girls and Gender Initiatives; and Senior Program Officer for India and Regional Advisor for Asia. Across these roles, she collaborated closely with grantee partners, young people, and the global program team to reimagine EMpower’s programming—centering the voice, choice, leadership, and lived experiences of girls and youth. She was instrumental in designing initiatives such as the Adolescent Girls Learning Community and the Girls Advisory Council, both of which have become global exemplars of meaningful youth engagement.

Nisha’s career began in London at Deutsche Bank and Barclays, where she managed relationships with financial regulators and exchanges. Her journey from finance to feminist leadership reflects her deep conviction that sustainable change happens when we invest in girls, trust young leaders, and allow community wisdom to guide philanthropy and programming. A TEDx speaker, she has shared this passion widely, advocating for the need to meaningfully listen to, learn from, and elevate girls’ voices.

Nisha holds a PhD in Sociology from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, where her research focused on how non-traditional livelihoods advance gender equity. She also holds an MSc in Gender, Development and Globalization from the London School of Economics and a BA (Hons.) in International Politics and Women’s Studies from McGill University in Montreal.