Santanu Mishra

About Santanu Mishra

Santanu Mishra is a distinguished social entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker, best known as the Co-Founder and Executive Trustee of Smile Foundation, one of India’s most impactful development organisations. Founded in 2002 with a small group of friends, Smile Foundation has grown into a national movement that works across education, healthcare, nutrition, and livelihood, touching the lives of over 1.5 million children and their families every year across 26 states in India. Santanu’s leadership reflects a rare blend of corporate rigour, grassroots empathy, and long-term vision.

An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Santanu Mishra brings strategic depth to social change. Alongside his work at Smile Foundation, he serves as Director at Berkshire Value Management Ltd., seamlessly bridging the worlds of corporate governance and social impact. In 2024 and 2025, he continued to champion scalable and sustainable development models, focusing on partnerships between corporates, communities, and civil society to create measurable, lasting change.

Under his guidance, Smile Foundation pioneered innovative concepts such as Civic-Driven Change, Social Venture Philanthropy, Child Sensitisation, and Art for Social Cause, models now studied and replicated across the development sector. His contribution to storytelling for social change is equally significant. Santanu Mishra produced the internationally acclaimed film I Am Kalam, which brought the realities and aspirations of underprivileged children to the global stage. He also serves as the Chairman of the Smile International Film Festival for Children & Youth, using cinema as a tool for awareness, empathy, and inspiration.

Recognised for his impact, Santanu was honoured with the Sustainability Leader of the Year award at the Sustainability Summit & Awards. As a motivational speaker, he speaks with authenticity and optimism, inspiring audiences to see purpose beyond profit and contribution beyond comfort. Booking Santanu Mishra ensures a powerful, purpose-driven experience that motivates individuals and organisations to become active agents of positive change.