DonateFounder and president
Research leader. Humanitarian. Storyteller.
Across more than 25 years, Tanya has connected human insight with action—from advertising and global humanitarian communications to AI research at Microsoft and two decades leading Baal Dan Charities.
A life shaped by curiosity and service
Tanya’s career has moved through distinct chapters, but the underlying practice has stayed consistent: understand people in context, make complex needs visible and help teams respond with clarity.
She earned a B.A. in Mass Communication with First Class Honors from Curtin University in Australia, then built experience across journalism, marketing, public relations, brand strategy, global field research and human-centered technology. Today, her professional and humanitarian work inform one another.
Career progression
Her path spans commercial creativity, nonprofit communications, enterprise research and direct humanitarian leadership.
1999–2012
The Richards Group
Tanya led brand management, account planning and integrated campaigns for consumer and technology clients. She also founded the agency’s cause-marketing practice, connecting commercial brands with long-term social-impact partnerships.
2012–2017
Shakti Consulting
As an independent strategist, she advised organizations including UNHCR, Save the Children and World Vision, conducted global fieldwork and translated complex humanitarian programs into research, brand strategy and documentary stories.
2017–present
Microsoft
Tanya moved from worldwide market research into product planning and UX research. Her recent work examines Copilot adoption, intelligent agents, enterprise workflows, multimodal experiences and the future of work.
2005–present
Baal Dan Charities
Alongside her professional career, Tanya built an entirely volunteer-run public charity that connects donors with trusted organizations providing food, education, care and safer environments for vulnerable children.
Research and AI strategy
At Microsoft, Tanya’s work has included global market research, customer advisory panels, early Copilot product research and studies of AI adoption, agents, enterprise roles and multimodal work. She translates qualitative and quantitative evidence into product direction and executive narratives.
Her humanitarian experience adds a distinctive lens: technology should reduce burden, widen access and help people feel seen, supported and capable.
Read Tanya’s Microsoft Design essayHumanitarian leadership
Tanya has worked in orphanages, refugee camps and food-insecure communities, using research and storytelling to document needs and strengthen support.
Watch on YouTube Tanya leads fundraising, partner relationships, field reporting and donor communications while keeping Baal Dan entirely volunteer-run. The organization has supported orphanages, schools, nutrition programs and grassroots care across 14 countries.
Watch on YouTube Her assignments have included work in Ethiopia, Somalia, Senegal, Zambia and Malawi. Travel across more than 50 countries—and lived experience spanning Australia, India, Dubai and the United States—shape how she approaches culture, evidence and partnership.
“Tanya is a true media professional who strove to present the condition of Somalia's refugees and World Vision Ethiopia's work in the Buramino camp in a fair and accurate context. Her efforts were invaluable in communicating the refugees' hardship and the work being done to address it.”
Stories in motion
Selected films show how Tanya has used reporting and documentary storytelling to help audiences understand humanitarian needs and the people responding to them.
Baal Dan Charities
A look back at the people, partnerships and practical support that have shaped Baal Dan’s work for children.
World Vision Malawi
Tanya wrote, narrated and produced this story as an example of her field communications work for World Vision Malawi.
A defining chapter / Kolkata, 2005
Tanya took a sabbatical from advertising to volunteer with the Missionaries of Charity at Shishu Bhavan and Kalighat. The journey honored her grandfather, Ramesh Gupta, whose education after being orphaned changed the course of her family. Working alongside sisters and volunteers made service immediate and personal—and inspired the promise that became Baal Dan.
“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.”
Selected achievements
Honors from humanitarian, academic, research and technology communities reflect the range of Tanya’s work.
Marketing Research Education Foundation
Microsoft — research and worldwide education partnership
Curtin University’s highest non-academic honor
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Foundation
Professional references
Selected excerpts from recommendations published on Tanya’s LinkedIn profile.
“Tanya isn't just a dynamic and inspiring leader and speaker - she's a transformative storyteller. Her ability to weave captivating stories, coupled with her vast experience, makes her presentations engaging, unique and impactful.”
“Tanya left to further her plans to assist children in India and Africa who needed an advocate. She kept us apprised of the extraordinary progress she made and the thousands of children she was able to help.”
“Tanya is a hard-working, sincere and dedicated person who has a heart for the poor, hungry and needy children of the world. She has done and continues to do incredible work through Baal Dan.”
Selected profiles and writing
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