Veena Jayadeva, MA, MBA

Veena Jayadeva is an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) leader with extensive experience in corporate philanthropy, employee engagement, inclusion and diversity, community outreach and program management. A former top-tier strategy consultant and nonprofit executive, she has spent 20 years in the social impact sector, with a focus on microfinance and financial inclusion. Veena is currently Head of Enterprise ESG and Chief of Staff to the Chief Information & Operations Officer at Guardian Life, supporting the company’s strategic priorities and leading the organization’s expanding ESG efforts. She was formerly Guardian’s Head of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), driving social community investments, leading employee engagement, and supporting environmental sustainability.

Prior to Guardian, Veena was a Vice President at Grameen America, a NYC-based microfinance institution that has invested over $2B in women-led micro- and small businesses across the country. Previously, Veena was a Consultant at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where she served clients in the financial services and healthcare sectors. She spent the early part of her career in international development, microfinance and CSR in the United States and India at organizations including the World Bank, United Nations and International Monetary Fund.

Veena holds a M.B.A. from MIT Sloan School of Management, where she was a Seley Scholar, the business school’s highest merit award for “outstanding leadership, professional promise, high level of academic achievement and contribution to MIT Sloan.” She holds a M.A. in International Economics and a B.A. in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University. Veena currently serves on the Board of Directors of Global Impact and is a member of the Corporate Leadership Council of CHC: Creating Healthier Communities. She is an active advisor and investor in mission-driven startups.