Partner Profile: Shilpa Kedar

(Profiled 7/15/10)

Shilpa Kedar began her connection with CSVP as an intern in 2003 while attending the Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations at Case. She graduated in 2005 and became a partner shortly thereafter, along with her husband Desikan Gandarvakottai. Shilpa’s career has centered her many talents on economic development in Northeast Ohio, first as the Director of Attraction and Expansion at TeamNEO, and in her current role as Director of Economic Development at the Cleveland Foundation.

Shilpa’s earlier career includes diverse experiences working in businesses and nonprofits in India, Romania, and the United States. In addition to her Master of Nonprofit Organizations from the Mandel Center, she has earned an MBA from the Som-Lalit Insititute of Management Studies in Ahmedabad, India. She has been honored with multiple awards for her work in the U.S., including Mandel Center Student of the Year and Crain’s Cleveland Forty under 40 Class of 2007.

Shilpa served on CSVP's Investment Team in 2006, and chaired the team in 2007. When she isn’t working, leading CSVP’s Partner Engagement Team, or spreading the word about CSVP in the community, Shilpa practices classical Indian dance at the Shobha Narayan Dance School. You may have seen her exquisite performance at the 2009 CSVP holiday party!

Shilpa and Desikan, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in Management at Kent State University, live in Lakewood.