Our Team

Ms. Sheetal Bapat

Sheetal Bapat is the co-founder of Kintsugi Village and the Shyamchi Aai Foundation (SAF). With a belief that informed education choices should be a right for all, she established SAF in 2013.Her work has impacted over a crore students and thousands of teachers and parents across India.

A parent first, Sheetal holds a Master’s in Branding and Communication and has a fulfilling career spanning over 25 years. She has been a teacher, brand consultant,  not-for-profit leader, social entrepreneur and a Parent and teacher educator . Her conviction that the whole school environment and parental engagement are critical to educational success drives her groundbreaking work in the sector.

Sheetal also enjoys a deep, cherished relationship with her two daughters who are now independent young adults and is inspired to support the ecosystem around many more children, ensuring every child has an equal opportunity to thrive.

Ketki Shah

Ketki Shah is a former elementary school facilitator and a co-founder of Kintsugi Village. 

Having taught at various prestigious schools in Pune and worked with several educators, lead her to understand the importance of hand holding which is the need of the hour to not only uplift students IQ but also EQ. 

She urges the at KV, they will always endeavour to treat our children as young adults who will be given full agency to navigate their own choices and experience ownership.

Dr. Shirisha Sathe

A highly respected counselor, trainer, and qualified psychotherapist focused on mental and social well-being. She has a cumulative experience of more than 25 years working in areas like parenting, teenage issues, mental illness, stress management , marital discord, domestic violence, addiction,gender rights and workplace relationships.She is also very popular for her marathi podcasts on “Amuk – Tamuk” podcast channel.



She is a medical doctor by training and has practiced medicine for 10 years before completing her  Master’s in Clinical Psychology. She has worked with a spectrum that includes corporates, academics, and NGOs, besides running her own private practice. This rare  combination provides her with an ability to bring insights from psychology, neuroscience, community and c culture for effective intervention at both the institutional and personal level.

She has also worked as President R&D at Shyamchi Aai Foundation , VP Texas School of Mental Health,  Associate professor of psychology at FLAME University,  SNDT College, Fergusson College, and Sancheti Physiotherapy College.

She is driven to connect theoretical frameworks with on-ground realities to bridge knowledge gaps and build better insights in grey areas that hold much potential for societal improvement and the well-being of humanity.

Isha Bapat

Isha Bapat is a dynamic 23-year-old entrepreneur with a passion for growth and innovation. An avid reader and empathetic listener, she graduated with a degree in Psychology, balancing her academic pursuits with professional roles from the age of 18. Her journey has included work at a non-profit, spearheading sales and marketing at a co-working space, and exploring e-commerce by developing a platform focused on sustainable products. Currently, she leads a legal-tech startup, blending her diverse experiences to drive impactful solutions.

At Kintsugi Village, Isha oversees communication, operations, and strategic partnerships, contributing to the center’s vision.