With Gratitude: Moving Forward, from Strength to Strength
By Dilip Pattubala
At the age of 23, I began contemplating a journey that would eventually transform my life. Ten years ago, I took the plunge without any understanding of menstruation, entrepreneurship, or the social sector.
Back then, it started with three things:
a) A problem staring me in the face and the shame that surrounded it.
b) The inspiration to reduce shame both within and around us.
c) A community of people who came together to bring Sukhibhava to life.
Since then, we’ve reached nearly half a million women and girls*, taken over the leadership of a global menstrual health hub, launched a helpline during the pandemic reaching over 200,000 people, launched an AI chatbot, built a purpose-driven team, organized a national conclave, influenced policy development, worked with men and boys, and achieved so much more.
Reflecting on this journey, I am humbled and grateful for the growth and learnings of our organization and its impact on the communities we serve. We’ve cultivated fierce leaders who lead with vulnerability and integrity, despite numerous challenges.
This journey has been transformative not just for the organization but for me personally. From being a timid, underconfident individual struggling to fit into a masculine world, Uninhibited has helped me find myself and allowed me to embrace my queerness with pride. The last ten years have shaped me as much as they have shaped Uninhibited.
As we celebrate Uninhibited’s 10th anniversary, it’s clear that it’s time to build on our past decade and honor the people who’ve dedicated themselves to this cause. Leadership evolves with time and needs, and it’s not about one individual. To nurture exceptional talent and new leaders, we must trust each other and leap into the future together.
I am delighted to welcome Bhuvana and Zenobia as the first Co-CEOs of Uninhibited India. These two leaders are committed to creating long-term impact in the lives of young girls and women. They have been instrumental in shaping our values, culture, strategy, and impact at Uninhibited.
Their unique strengths and our expanding influence have led us to develop a co-leadership model. Over time, they will evolve into managing two distinct roles, with one focusing on grassroots leadership in India and the other on ecosystem-building with MH Hub.
With this, we are intentional about Uninhibited becoming a women-led, women-centered nonprofit, where leaders and team members bring their lived experiences directly into their work. I am very excited for the next ten years of Uninhibited 2.0. While Bhuvana and Zenobia will lead as Co-CEOs starting this week, I will support the transition until the end of the year and continue to champion our work as a Founder/Board member.
I am profoundly grateful to everyone who has made this journey possible. To my friends, advisors, funders, partners, colleagues, community members, the girls and boys we serve, and even the strangers who believed in me — thank you for your unwavering trust and support. Lots of love.
