Overview
Name: Aditi Gupta
Company: Menstrupedia
Role: Co-Founder and Managing Director
Professional Background
Aditi Gupta is a renowned social entrepreneur and menstrual educator, co-founding Menstrupedia in November 2012 alongside her husband, Tuhin Paul. The initiative began as a thesis project at the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, aiming to improve awareness and education surrounding menstruation. Gupta has highlighted and addressed societal myths and taboos associated with menstruation through innovative content and education strategies, impacting communities globally.
Education
- National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad: Gupta holds a post-graduate degree in new media design, which plays a pivotal role in her approach to groundbreaking educational content related to puberty and menstruation.
Achievements
- Forbes India 30 Under 30 (2014): Recognized for her contribution to social entrepreneurship.
- Worldwide Impact: As of 2018, Menstrupedia's educational comics are available in fourteen languages and have been implemented across eighteen countries.
- Training and Outreach: Gupta has played an instrumental role in educating over 50,000 girls and training about 10,000 educators. The initiative has reached the lives of approximately 13 million girls worldwide.
Current Initiatives
- Menstrupedia Expansion: Gupta continues to expand Menstrupedia's reach, with recent reports indicating plans for further local publications in seven more countries.
- Collaboration and Campaigns: Menstrupedia collaborates with notable brands and public figures to promote menstrual education. The Touch the Pickle campaign, for instance, involved celebrities like Shraddha Kapoor and Kalki Koechlin, helping amplify the message against menstrual stigmas.
- Hiring and Growth: Recently, Gupta has been active in hiring roles such as digital marketing interns, illustrators, and script writers to bolster Menstrupedia’s educational outreach and content development.
Personal Background
Aditi Gupta was born in Garhwa, Jharkhand, India, and has been an advocate for menstrual education and hygiene stemming from personal experiences and challenges faced due to societal myths associated with menstruation. She stresses the importance of changing the narrative around menstruation and creating a more informed and accepting society.
Key Insights
Gupta's work at Menstrupedia is marked by her commitment to dispelling menstrual myths and providing comprehensive education through culturally sensitive media. Her efforts not only target young girls but also engage educators and parents, thereby fostering broader community change. Her entrepreneurial strides and innovative use of media position Menstrupedia as a leader in menstrual health education, driving social change and empowering women and girls globally.
