Civic Engagement & Social Impact

From Degrees to Dignity: How We Are Empowering India’s Youth Through the SAGE Foundation

July 16, 2025

By Dr. Maya Shahani & Dr. Akhil Shahani
Chairperson and Managing Director, Shahani Group & SAGE Foundation

We have both spent our lives in the world of education—but from very different starting points.

Maya: Coming as a refugee from Pakistan to India during the Partition of our country, my journey of giving back to society began with my late father-in-law, Dada Kishinchand Thadomal Shahani, who was passionate about the transformational power of education. As Chairperson of the Shahani Group, I always believed that education must be rooted in compassion. Degrees are important, yes—but it is dignity, purpose, and the opportunity to serve society that truly define success.

Akhil: Growing up in this legacy, and as a Kellogg Graduate, I saw firsthand how India’s education system could empower—and how often it fails our youth. It was heartbreaking to meet so many graduates from underprivileged backgrounds who were ready to work but unprepared for the modern workplace. They had no mentors, no direction—and often, no hope. I did my PhD in Education Employability to hone my skills and get insights into why our students are not employable.

That’s why we created the SAGE Foundation in 2007.

A Mission Born of Frustration—and Hope

When we began, we knew we were taking on a system that had long ignored the real needs of young Indians. Our students were unemployable because they lacked the confidence, communication, and workplace skills to succeed.

We decided to do something radically different: focus not just on training, but on transformation.

At SAGE, we give youth not just skills—but belief in themselves.

What Makes SAGE Different?

Our model is simple but powerful. We identify low-income graduates who are struggling to find jobs, and we train them—intensively—in 45 to 90 days.

Apart from basic skills in finance, sales, and customer service, our focus is on training them in soft skills which include communication, problem solving, critical thinking, team work and risk taking abilities. We use an AI-powered learning platform that adapts to each student’s strengths and gaps. This helps us keep the program both high-tech and high-touch.

What sets us apart is the human connection. Many of our students are first-generation learners. They come from homes where girls are discouraged from working, or where sons are expected to earn with no professional training. We hold their hands, listen to their fears, and help them grow—personally and professionally.

Apart from making our youth employable, our goal is to promote the practice of meditation among young people. Encouraging them act in a mindful manner will enable them to develop the resilience and equanimity to become future leaders. To that end, we have signed an MOU with Skill India & Maharishi International University (under the leadership of Dr Tony Nader, MIT trained neuroscientist & vedic scholar).

Lives Transformed

To date, SAGE has trained over 15,000 youth. These young professionals have gone on to work in companies across banking, insurance, retail, and tech. Entry level salaries start from ₹2.4 to ₹5 lakh per year—and often, they are the first in their families to ever work in a white-collar job.

Backed by a Century of Legacy

SAGE is powered by the Shahani Group, which has a 100 year legacy in the field of education, currently running TSCFM and edtech platforms like ask.CAREERS We also sit on the HSNC Board which runs 24 iconic colleges in Mumbai including Thadomal Shahani Engineering College.

Our goal is clear: train 1 million youth by 2030, across India, Asia, and Africa. Being a Section 8 company, SAGE Foundation has the FCRA and 80 G clearance for raising funds from foreign and local donors to subsidise the training of these marginalised youth.

Join Us

If you believe in creating inclusive growth and giving youth a fighting chance, we invite you to partner with us. Let’s create not just employability—but equality.