Athena Sharma

India

Economics for Development (MSc), 2014
St Antony's College, Oxford

Funding: Louis Dreyfus

Athena graduated with an MSc in Economics for Development from Oxford, achieving a distinction in her thesis.

She has fostered a passion for progressing the socio-economic empowerment of women. Prior to Oxford, Athena has partnered with NGOs in Cambodia, Nepal and India to work on issues relating to human trafficking and rights of migrant women. At Oxford, she led a Microfinance project in the Bamyan region of Afghanistan, to enable a group of women to set up a bee-keeping association.

After graduating, Athena joined Accenture’s M&A practice and continued to advance gender equality within the corporate sector. She leads the Gender Equality network for Accenture’s UKI Strategy division, working closely with leaders to inform policy making. She is a mentor for young women through the Oxford Women in Business Society. Athena was also a delegate in UN Women UK’s delegation for the 65th Commission on the Status of Women.

“My experience at Oxford and WHT has motivated me to continue to strive for gender equality. The M&A and Private Equity sector continues to be heavily male dominated and I strive to change that by creating a space for intersectional dialogue and learning on gender issues within my workplace as well as with my clients. Beyond my daily work, I work closely with a women’s health charity (Wellbeing of Women) as part of my Gender Equality Lead role within Accenture.”