IDEMIA India Foundation, the CSR arm of IDEMIA, aims to create a secure and trusted environment for sustainable socio-economic development. The foundation is committed to empowering India’s youth through comprehensive skill development initiatives and focuses specifically on equipping underprivileged young individuals with both technical and soft skills essential for thriving in today’s digital economy. Headed by Manisha Dubey, who also plays the role of VP – Marketing Communications & Brand, the foundation has launched many flagship programs to underscore its mission to promote equitable development and sustainable livelihood opportunities. Owing to Ms. Dubey’s extensive experience across diverse roles, her unwavering commitment to foster inclusive growth, and her belief that ‘inclusion means no one gets left behind’, the foundation is rapidly proving its worth.
SheAtWork is honoured to engage in a richly nuanced and meaningful discussion with Manisha Dubey.
Ques: As the Head of IDEMIA India Foundation, what inspired you to take the lead in shaping its vision and strategy?
Ans: As the Head of IDEMIA India Foundation, I feel both, privileged and deeply responsible to lead and shape the vision and strategy of the Foundation. What inspired me most was the opportunity to drive meaningful change on the ground, aligned with IDEMIA’s global CSR goals.
At IDEMIA India Foundation, our efforts are centered around creating a more inclusive, sustainable and compassionate society. Our strategy is built on three key pillars: empowering underprivileged communities, especially women, through focused skill development; taking decisive action to address climate change; and fostering community well-being through impactful care initiatives.
It’s been incredibly fulfilling to see how these efforts not only reflect our values but also make a tangible difference in people’s lives.
Ques: What were some leadership or operational challenges you encountered while driving large-scale CSR programs, and how did you overcome them?
Ans: Driving large-scale CSR programs, especially from scratch, came with its own set of leadership and operational challenges. One of the most significant was ensuring that our initiatives were not only well-designed but also impactful and scalable. Since we were building from the ground up, we deliberately took a partnership-based approach.
Our first skilling batch was launched in collaboration with the Tech Mahindra Foundation, an organization that has been creating deep social impact for decades. We are truly grateful for the insights and learnings they shared with us; it helped us shape programs that are both relevant and outcome-driven. That early collaboration laid a strong foundation and played a key role in the success and credibility of our skilling efforts.
Another challenge was aligning internal and external stakeholders around a shared purpose. It required building trust, maintaining open communication, and fostering a culture of accountability. We approached this with empathy, transparency, and a clear focus on IDEMIA’s broader CSR goals.
Ultimately, every challenge became a learning opportunity. By staying grounded in community needs and guided by experienced partners, we were able to build programs that are both meaningful and sustainable.
Ques: How do you align IDEMIA’s corporate values with the Foundation’s social impact goals, particularly in the areas of education and employment generation?
Ans: At IDEMIA India Foundation, aligning our social impact goals with IDEMIA’s corporate values is not just a responsibility, it’s our starting point. IDEMIA believes in making the world safer and more inclusive through innovation, and our CSR work extends this belief to the grassroots level.
In areas like education and employment generation, we focus on creating equitable access to opportunities, especially for those who are often left behind, like underprivileged youth and women. This directly reflects IDEMIA’s commitment to inclusion, responsibility, and innovation.
Our skilling programs are designed not just to impart technical training but to build confidence, financial independence, and long-term employability. By partnering with experienced implementation agencies, we ensure high-quality training and strong placement outcomes. In fact, our very first batch achieved over 90 + % placement, with 50% of the trainees being women, something we are deeply proud of.
Through every initiative, we aim to translate IDEMIA’s global values into local impact, building a future that is skilled, empowered, and inclusive
Ques: How has your personal journey and professional experience influenced the way you steer the IDEMIA Foundation’s initiatives and approach to social impact?
Ans: My personal journey and professional experiences have deeply shaped the way I lead the IDEMIA India Foundation. As a woman and a mother of two daughters, I am especially passionate about creating equal opportunities for girls. When that impact reaches girls from underprivileged backgrounds, it becomes even more meaningful because it doesn’t just change individual lives, it transforms families and future generations.
Having worked across diverse roles and sectors, I’ve come to believe that real, lasting change happens when we lead with empathy, listen actively, and build together. That’s why our initiatives are designed with the community, not just for them! We focus on inclusion, dignity, and long-term empowerment, particularly for women and youth.
Professionally, my experience in both strategy and execution has taught me the importance of balancing big-picture vision with operational pragmatism. That balance is key to ensuring that our programs are not only impactful but also scalable and sustainable.
Leading the Foundation isn’t just a professional role it’s a personal mission to help build a more equitable and compassionate society, one initiative at a time.
Ques: Looking ahead, what are your priorities for expanding the Foundation’s reach and deepening its impact in the communities you serve?
Ans: Looking ahead, our top priority at the IDEMIA India Foundation is to deepen our impact through skill development, which we believe is one of the most powerful tools for building inclusive, empowered communities. Skilling is not just a focus area; it is at the core of our commitment to create long-term, meaningful change.
We are not only invested in skilling underprivileged youth, especially young women, but also in ensuring that youth with special abilities are equally included. For us, inclusion means no one gets left behind. Empowering differently abled individuals with the right skills opens up avenues for dignity, employment and independence, and this is something we are deeply committed to.
We are also looking to expand our skilling efforts in alignment with India’s rapidly growing manufacturing sector. As demand for skilled talent increases, we see a real opportunity to prepare young people to be part of this national growth story. By equipping them with industry-relevant, future-ready skills, we can contribute meaningfully to both, social impact and economic progress.
As always, our approach will remain partnership-led and community-focused, guided by IDEMIA’s global CSR vision.
Avtar Madan
Poonam Sinha
Ruby Sinha
