by Ellen Simons and Janine Naktegeboren
Women on Wings experts Ellen Simons and Janine Naaktgeboren together with Supriya Kapoor, Director-Social Enterprises, recently visited our social enterprise partner Grameena Vikas Kendram Society (GVK) which is composed of GVK, Yassasree, and the RaddisCotton brand. The purpose of the visit was to review the organization’s progress and explore recent developments. Ellen and Janine share their experience in visiting with GVK.
After doing a series of online strategy and alignment sessions to gather information and sharpening the assignment, we (Ellen and Janine) had the privilege of visiting our inspiring partner Grameena Vikas Kendram Society (GVK).
Located in Andhra Pradesh on India’s southeastern coast, GVK is pioneering sustainable, market-based approaches to sustainable community development, benefiting marginalized farming communities.
Field visits
We began with a field visit to meet women farmers and their families, who primarily cultivate cotton. It was powerful to witness firsthand the positive impact of GVK’s work, and to see how our collaboration contributes to meaningful change.
The women shared how their lives have transformed: they now have access to their own bank accounts, their children are able to attend school and a stronger voice in their communities, an important step toward long-term empowerment.
We also visited a GVK field office, engaged with the team and learned about their collaborative work culture. They spoke passionately about the sense of purpose they find in their roles and the mutual learning that drives their success.
Energized by these insights, we made the four-hour journey back to our accommodation near Visakhapatnam, the state capital to spend several days at GVK’s headquarters.
Strategic discussions at GVK headquarters
At the main office, we focused on strategic discussions around business development, organizational structure, and human resources, with a particular emphasis on regenerative talent management.
A heartfelt thank you to the founders, management, team and stakeholder farmers for their warm hospitality, rich knowledge exchange, and of course, the unforgettable food (including these watermelon-shaped sweets). It was another inspiring and enriching week in India, marked by valuable knowledge exchange.
Ellen Simons is the owner of Vlietstrom B.V and consults on organization transformation and interim management. Janine Naaktgeboren is a Manager of Compensation, Benefits & Control at the Port of Rotterdam. Women on Wings experts consult Indian social enterprises pro bono.
