Leslin K Seemon
| 125 views | 6 min read
Sowmya Moni’s career path is nothing short of inspiring.
With over 25 years of experience in the B2B marketing tech space, she made a pivotal shift in July to focus on what she calls her “second innings.”
Sowmya intends to dedicate significant time to the world of social impact investing, a cause that’s close to her heart.
Having followed Rang De for several years, she recently became more deeply involved, not just as a social investor but as someone who’s passionate about scaling initiatives that create tangible, and positive change.
Sowmya is also actively involved in two impactful ventures, including Inchara, a not-for-profit organisation focused on environmental sustainability, and Women in Big Data in India, a dynamic community dedicated to empowering and advancing women in the fields of data science, artificial intelligence, and data related technologies. Sowmya shares her journey, experiences, and insights as a Rang De Social Investor in a candid conversation.
Leslin: What first sparked your interest in social impact investing, particularly with Rang De?
Sowmya: I’ve been following Rang De for about three to four years now, ever since the pandemic started. When the pandemic hit, we saw a digital disruption in the way we work. Everything became virtual, and that opened up new possibilities. More women returned to the workforce because they could work remotely, and it also gave me the realisation that social impact could be achieved at scale through digital platforms.
Around that time, we started Inchara and Women in Big Data in India virtually, so I was keenly aware of the need for financial support and sustainable social models. That’s when I came across Rang De’s impact stories, especially on LinkedIn. I saw how the platform was enabling social investors like myself to contribute to farmers and rural communities, and I was really impressed. I wrote to Ram and Smita at Rang De, expressing my interest, not just as a social investor but to help contribute in any way I could.
Leslin: You mentioned the digital shift during the pandemic, but making the jump from charity or donations to social impact investing requires a mindset shift. How did that transition happen for you?
Sowmya: You’re right—there’s a difference between charity and social impact investing, and people often confuse the two. With charity, you give money, feel good about it for a day, and then move on. You rarely see the end result. But with social impact investing, there’s an ongoing connection. You’re not just giving money; you’re providing capital that people can use to create sustainable livelihoods. The biggest shift for me was realising that social impact investing allows you to track the growth of the people you’re supporting.
For example, I can see how the women I’ve invested in through Rang De are using the funds to grow their businesses or farms. It’s a journey you take with them, and that’s a huge difference from making a one-time donation where you don’t know what happens next.
Leslin: Can you walk us through your first investment with Rang De? Was there a particular cause or group you were targeting?
Sowmya: Yes, I was very intentional about my first investment. I’ve always been passionate about women’s empowerment, so when I started investing through Rang De, I specifically looked for women entrepreneurs and farmers. I am also focused on plant-based initiatives. I avoided anything related to meat production or poultry because I wanted to support sustainable, eco-friendly farming practices.
The third criterion was the repayment history, but that was secondary to the cause itself. I also targeted aspirational districts, where access to credit is usually very limited. For me, supporting women farmers in those districts was a way to ensure that my investments had a long-term, positive impact.
Leslin: After your recent field trip to Kai Thota farm in Bangalore, has your perspective on social investing evolved?
Sowmya: Definitely. The field trip was eye-opening in so many ways. I had become a Rang De investor for about three months, but the trip allowed me to see firsthand what goes into making things work on the ground. When you visit these rural areas, you see the socio-economic complexities, the partnerships involved, and the real challenges people face. It’s not just about whether they can repay the loan—it’s about understanding the bigger picture. I was able to interact with the farmers, see their challenges up close, and that gave me new insights.
One of the key takeaways for me was the importance of being connected to the community you’re investing in. I now plan to focus my investments on people and communities I can visit, where I can see the progress in person. It’s about building that personal connection, which makes the investment more meaningful.
Leslin: Social impact investing can have different meanings for different people. How would you define it based on your experiences?
Sowmya: I believe, social impact investing is about creating real, positive change—both social and economic by a community of like minded people. It’s about more than just giving money; it’s about helping people sustain themselves, grow their livelihoods, and make a lasting difference in their communities. What makes it special is that you’re part of a larger ecosystem of like-minded people who are all working towards the same goal—impact. So, in a nutshell, it’s real, positive change driven by a collective effort.
Leslin: Given your background and your current focus on impact, what would help you visualise the impact of your investments better?
Sowmya: For me, the next step is partnerships. I am the custodian of Inchara Trust, and represent a team of passionate individuals leading the Inchara Greenhands movement, supporting farmer income through agroforestry plantations, village fruit forests, women farmer awareness & livelihood training programs initiatives.
One way I see this scaling is by partnering with Rang De to bring those farmers onto the platform. If Inchara could become an impact partner for Rang De, it would not only help with financial investments but also provide the training and resources these farmers need.
That’s how I see impact scaling. It’s not just about investing in one or two farmers—it’s about scaling that to 300 - 400 farmers. The key for me is seeing the impact at a larger scale, which can only happen through collaboration.
Sowmya Moni’s journey illustrates how social impact investing is about more than just financial commitments—it’s about creating scalable, and sustainable change.
Her experiences reflect the power of connecting deeply with causes and communities to drive meaningful impact.
You too can become a Social Investor at rangde.in and create meaningful impact.
