Meet Rhea Manjrekar | Non-Profit Founding Member & Software Implementation Consultant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rhea Manjrekar and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rhea, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Children’s Hope India 3 was an idea that was born out of the desire to actually make a difference in my local community as a child. This 501c3 non-profit was started in 2014 when I was just 15 years old, as a branch off of Children’s Hope India, an organization that aimed to increase access to education and eliminate food insecurity for young children in India. Children’s Hope India 3’s goal was to not only help children in India, but to also help children in America, specifically Long Island New York where I grew up. Poverty exists in underserved countries, but there is also poverty and homelessness in our own backyard; we often just don’t see it. It was so important to me to focus on making a local impact, and also encourage the youth in my community to be the ones making the impact. With our motto of “Children helping children,” we are able to instill volunteering in teens at a young age, and also help the underserved children of our community, as they are our future. Now, my role has transformed into a mentoring position, and I love being able to organize events for Children’s Hope and oversee the amazing teenagers who are as passionate as I am about this charity.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I received my Bachelor’s Degree of Engineering in Computer Engineering from Stony Brook University’s Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Honors Program. I currently work in software for the New York City government. Being in a field that has been historically male-dominated, I knew that both in my lecture halls and in the workplace, I would be the minority. Instead of that fact being an obstacle, I used it to motivate me to not only pursue my passion with pride, but also to use my position to make more of a social impact in the field. I have had opportunities to travel to low-income areas of the United States, such as Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and spend weeks during the summer to teach middle school aged girls how to code. I have also been able to set up STEM workshops for children, teaching them skills such as circuit building, programming robots, using a microscope, and so much more. Watching them get excited about problem solving and technology, and understand how engineering can be fun, was the most fulfilling thing to see. In terms of my career, it is these accomplishments I am the most proud of

I have learned that although it’s easy to let adversity sway your confidence, it’s a much better use of energy to use that adversity to make an impact in your field. Breaking the stereotype of what an engineer, or a person working in the Tech field looks like, has been something I am very proud of and I hope to continue to help young women explore careers in STEM.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love LA and southern California so much! The Griffith Observatory is obviously a must-see while in LA, and the Santa Monica pier is also worth checking out. The beach is beautiful and the ferris wheel gives you a great view of the city! Palm Springs is one of my favorite places I have ever visited so I would definitely make a day trip there. The Broken Yolk is a delicious brunch spot in Palm Springs; the Churro French Toast and the omelets were all to die for. Lapperts is a very well known ice-cream spot, and their Date Shake is a quirky sweet treat that is surprisingly very good. Lastly, Palm Springs is known for its hot springs so I would definitely recommend checking out those natural wonders!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Children’s Hope India 3 has made me the young professional I am today, and has given me the drive to make a national impact for my cause. I want to dedicate my shoutout to everyone involved in this organization, and everyone who has attended any of our drives, walkathons, fundraisers, or has supported in any way!

Website: www.childrenshopeindia.org/ch3

Instagram: rheaaa_13

Linkedin: Rhea Manjrekar