Dhruvi Shah leads Axis Bank Foundation (ABF) as its Executive Trustee and CEO. She has been heading the Foundation since November 2020, and had earlier served as Head of Programs at ABF starting from 2016.
With over 24 years of experience spanning banking, microfinance, corporate citizenship, and rural development, Dhruvi drives ABF’s strategic initiatives for sustainable livelihoods among India’s vulnerable communities.
Before joining Axis Bank Foundation, she spent 18 years at ABN AMRO Bank N.V. (later rebranded as The Royal Bank of Scotland N.V.), where in 2008 she led the bank’s “Sustainable Development & Not-for-Profit Management” vertical and was instrumental in establishing the RBS Foundation India.
At Axis Bank Foundation, she is responsible for guiding programmes that aim to create sustainable income streams and diversify livelihoods for marginalized rural communities, partnering with NGOs, forging strategic communications, ensuring governance and impact evaluation.
Dhruvi is also the curator and author of The Book of Aspiration — a collection of inspirational stories of social leaders.
She is frequently engaged with youth and emerging social entrepreneurs, advising NGOs and participating in sector-level conversations around sustainable development, women’s empowerment, financial inclusion and natural resource management.
