Meet Sukruti Narayanan, a visionary STEM advocate, journalist, and educator who co-founded the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Foundation (RAIF) in 2012 to democratise access to emerging technologies in India. As President, she led national outreach initiatives that reached over 500,000 students across 23 cities, with a special focus on underprivileged communities. Her efforts in STEM education and gender inclusion earned her the Young Visionary Award by PRCI and a spot among India’s Top 10 Women Technologists by TechStory. Now based in Australia, she continues her mission through RAISE ME, a nonprofit empowering young minds through Robotics, AI, STEM, Entrepreneurship, and Media.
Suk serves as Global Head of Partnerships for Mission ShakthiSAT – an all-female-led lunar space mission involving 108 countries and 12,000 girls – and as Head of Social Media for the UN-endorsed World Space Week Organisation. She is also an active journalist with Desi Australia, Hustler Journalist, Space Kidz Times, and PreSense, and an advisor to the Digital Journalists Association of India (DiJAI). A proponent of constructive journalism, she presented a paper on science communication at the GloCal Butterfly Exhibition in Finland. Sukruti is also the author of Excuses to Empowerment and Mentor Code, and her work continues to bridge gaps in education, equity, and ethics across technology and media.
Here is an interview with her:
1. You began democratising access to robotics and AI education in India over a decade ago. What inspired you to take on such a visionary mission at a time when these fields were still in their infancy?
As an Electrical & Electronics Engineer, I was often the only girl in rooms full of boys, coding robots and integrating embedded systems while still in college. With IT giants hiring en masse, core engineering talent was overlooked, pushing me to take a different path.
I co-founded RAIF, a tech NGO that brought robotics and AI education to over 500,000 students across 23 Indian cities,making me earn the Young Visionary Award and recognition as one of India’s Top 10 Women Technologists in 2015 by Tech in Asia. Inspired by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam’s belief that “all children are equally curious, regardless of their background,” I launched RAISE ME in Australia to empower youth in Robotics, AI, Science, Entrepreneurship, and Media, and later founded Thrive X, helping teens explore future-ready careers.
2. Through RAIF, RAISE ME and Mission ShakthiSAT, you’ve empowered hundreds of thousands of young girls across the globe. You are also a certified NLP practitioner. What keeps you going?
Everyone is born with a purpose, but discovering it requires exposure, emotional growth, and grounding. If we can offer young people broad experiences early in life, we help them find their path faster and make a meaningful impact.
As Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam said, “No one is useless, people are only used less.”
Being raised by inspiring mentors, I feel a deep responsibility to guide the next generation – academically, spiritually, and in helping them realise their limitless potential.
3. You wear many hats, from leading global space missions to advocating for constructive journalism. How do you balance your passion for science education with your commitment to ethical storytelling in media?
Waking up to a flood of negativity on social media is more than exhausting, it chips away at confidence and hope. After over a decade in media, I’m committed to shifting the narrative: amplifying everyday voices, celebrating unsung contributions, and bringing dignity back to storytelling. Mainstream outlets often overlook the stories that truly matter. And in covering breakthroughs in AI, space tech, and STEM, I’ve seen firsthand, especially through Mission ShakthiSAT, how urgently science journalism needs a transformation.
This inspired me to launch Hustler Journalist, a platform for constructive, science-focused journalism that informs with accuracy, uplifts with purpose, and aligns with my PhD journey to reshape how we report the future.
4. The ShakthiSAT mission is historic, especially in terms of female participation in space science. What challenges did you face in building partnerships across 108 countries, and how did you overcome them?
The journey has been filled with challenges but each one has fuelled immense growth and purpose.
From identifying and onboarding country Ambassadors to enabling them to reach 108 girls in their nations, and leading global outreach audits while engaging journalists worldwide, this mission has tested and shaped every facet of my leadership.
As both the Australian Ambassador and a key player in Mission ShakthiSAT’s global operations, I’ve gained firsthand insight into micro and macro outreach, navigating cultural, digital, and operational complexities.
I’m deeply grateful to Dr. Srimathy Kesan, whose visionary leadership has empowered me and thousands more. Together, we are building a legacy.
Key milestones that continue to inspire and challenge me:
• 9,000+ students from 108 countries are now learning through the Mission ShakthiSAT LMS.
• In many regions, internet access remains a luxury, and relentless efforts by Dr. Kesan have brought connectivity to underserved girls—turning hope into access.
• I now serve as the Global Social Media Manager for the UN-endorsed World Space Week Organisation, driving space awareness across 90+ nations.
• My academic paper on science journalism and constructive media was selected for presentation at the GloCal Butterfly Conference in Finland, where I proposed new global frameworks for reporting on space, education, and public policy.
• Honoured to be appointed Australia Country Chair for Space Technology & Aviation with G100 | Mission Million—a global network for women leaders.
This mission has not only advanced my professional path but also deepened my commitment to global equity, access, and innovation in space education.
5. Your books, “Excuses to Empowerment” and “Mentor Code,” reflect your focus on transformation and leadership. What key messages do you hope young readers and future leaders take away from them?
I cant thank my mentor – Shri Srinivasan sir enough for making me author both the books. Both these books have been a great reflection of my journey and I have had tremendous joy in writing this as I relive all the incidents that feel so fresh. I have to mention how my mentor took the extra step of having my book “Mentor Code” launched by the Parliamentary Affairs Minister of India – Shri Kiren Rijuji.
I encourage the young readers to keep reading more and more. Nothing can impart wisdom more than a book. And each time you read the same book multiple times, you will have a very different understanding out of it.
“What you see in the social media is the people’s version of the book. So for you to understand what a book is trying to say, you need to experience it yourself. So keep reading and keep growing!”
You connect with Suk on Linkedin – https://www.linkedin.com/in/suknarayanan/
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