Shefaly M Yogendra: From startups to regulated spaces

“I came to the very first cohort of the programme (2002/3), having already experienced first-hand how regulation and policy can have a shaping influence on strategy. While I had worked a lot in the startup space, the programme gave me more conceptual heft to operate in regulated spaces beyond the information tech sector where much of my experience had been until then. I then worked with a broader cross-section of stakeholders – investors, regulators, supra-national bodies and elected officials. This has been valuable experience for serving on boards in listed and private/publicly funded sectors.

“After the MPhil I completed a Cambridge-MIT Institute fellowship in MIT’s Engineering Systems Division researching risk paradigms in regulating genetically engineered crops, and returned to complete a PhD in political decision-making under the supervision of Professor David Reiner, as his first doctoral supervisee.”

Biography

Shefaly Yogendra PhD is an internationally experienced strategist. She has worked closely with owner-led as well as professional manager-led organisations in their journey towards enhanced resilience with a focus on technology innovation, risk and foresight, and governance. Shefaly is an independent non-executive board director and experienced committee chair in regulated sectors including financial services, energy, higher education and legal services. She is a trusted boardroom and leadership adviser, and a popular speaker and podcast guest on themes such as AI, GRC, investment and future skills. Shefaly also teaches in India on the Vedica Scholars Programme for Women, and serves on their Global Advisory Council as well as the advisory council of the Vedica Case Study Centre. Her book for aspiring and serving board directors and business leaders, ‘Uncharted Spaces. Reset the Agenda. Reimagine the Boardroom.’, is out in April 2026.