Leadership

Our Leadership: A Synergy of Vision & Execution

Today the Smart Village Movement draws interest and participation of governments, global businesses, startups, and academics under the dynamic operational capabilities of Dr. Anil Shah, the Executive Chairman and Mr Vivek Shah Vice Chairman and CEO of SVM India.

Dr. Anil Shah MD, FACC, FSCAI

Executive Chairman, Smart Village Movement.
‘Builder of Berkeley’
Interventional Cardiologist | Medical & Social Entrepreneur | Philanthropist

Dr. Anil Shah takes a vision and makes it a reality through sound strategy development and execution. He is both an excellent surgeon and leader who is frequently called upon for his knowledge of medical sciences and social enterprises, and medical entrepreneurship. He leads mainly by example, always maintaining a broader vision and proactive energy, encouraging others to do the same. As a philanthropist, he has a special interest in the health and general well-being of people living in difficult conditions around the world, especially in India, where he invests in infrastructure, digital technologies, and the building of human capital in rural communities.

His quest to find innovative models for Smart Villages found a perfect synergy with UC Berkeley Haas School of Business at the Center of Growth Markets, where the Smart Village Movement was born. In his appointment as Executive Chairman of SVM, Dr. Shah leads the organization with the direction and coordination of all outreach and administrative functions. Under Dr. Shah’s leadership, SVM facilitates field operations and collaboration between the villages, universities, government, and corporations to grow the Smart Village Movement in India. Respected as a credible voice in decision-making, Dr. Shah excels at identifying strategic resource and finance partners and establishing governance boundaries as he transforms the cause of Smart Villages into a truly global movement. Dr. Shah pioneered a Prime SVM Pilot Project called Positive Public Healthcare Management (PPHM), to bring a first-of-kind Preventive Healthcare initiative aided by Digital AI for underserved rural populations in Meghalaya, India. In recognition of his philanthropy and tireless contributions to socio-economic development, in Oct 2021, he was awarded the esteemed title of Builder of Berkeley. The Builder of Berkeley title honors the vision, leadership, and commitment of the university’s leading benefactors since its founding in 1868.

Previously, Dr. Shah completed his medical education at the University of Bombay, India, and a cardiology fellowship at UCLA Wadsworth VA Medical Center. As a medical professional and Founder & CEO of Coastal Heart Medical Group, Dr. Shah is a renowned interventional cardiologist based in Southern California, certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular disease through the American Board of Internal Medicine. He owns and operates several renowned medical facilities in Southern California and supports cutting-edge medical research and innovations in his practice. Dr. Shah received the honor of Visionary of the Year in 2009 from Coastline College.

Connect with Dr. Anil Shah
Email: anilshahmd@gmail.com
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anilshahmd

Message from our Chairman Dr. Anil Shah

“The alleviation of rural poverty is one of the defining challenges of our time. Nearly seventy percent of India’s population and about half the world resides in villages. Mahatma Gandhi wisely demonstrated that the future of India lies in its villages and ensuring self-reliance and sustainable development opportunities in rural communities forms a sound basis for a just and equitable socio-economic order. As an overseas citizen of India, my own journey with the Smart Village Movement started with the humble undertaking to help and contribute to my own ancestral village in India’s western state of Gujarat. That intention, combined with a deep understanding of the real issues and hardships that villagers faced, invoked a profound passion and commitment to help transform all of India’s struggling rural communities into “Smart Villages” where the villagers’ lives and happiness have been dramatically improved.

Empowering underserved communities in rural India and beyond, by connecting them to open innovation platforms has been a guiding principle for myself, the SVM India team and my colleagues at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. One of the driving forces of Smart Village Movement’s alliance with UC Berkeley’s Center for Growth Markets is the shared responsibility to facilitate sustainable development by integrating indigenous practices with modern technology and business innovation.

Our trademark Open Innovation Platform seeks to connect villages and their challenges with a wealth of research, solutions and tangible resources offered by academia, governments, and corporations, all facilitated by SVM. This triple helix framework, acknowledged by my friend and esteemed colleague Professor Solomon Darwin continues to augment the movement’s goals in supporting sectors like agriculture, education, housing, healthcare, energy, and entrepreneurship, to name a few.

With the ongoing support of governing bodies, enterprise, and the individual determination and generosity of philanthropists, we continue to establish distinct channels to facilitate business value propositions in the rural world. I look forward to seeing SVM curate robust platforms to allow policymakers, industry leaders, and research institutions to think bigger and better for enduring paradigm shifts in the post-Covid world order.

Our team and partners have quickly adapted to the global changes we have incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I hope this vision will inspire you with an inside look into the pilot models developed in the fifty villages in Meghalaya, India, in the past year and your ongoing support as we scale this model to the other 650,000 villages in India and rural communities around the globe.”

Thank you
Dr. Anil Shah, MD, FACC, FSCAI
Executive Chairman
Smart Village Movement

Mr. Vivek Shah

MD, Heetu Chemicals | Vice-Chairman & CEO, Smart Village Movement India | Director, K-Pack Systems

Mr. Vivek Shah is a dynamic leader who combines vision with execution, driving positive change in business and social spheres. With a postgraduate degree from the esteemed Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA), he has a strong business administration and management foundation.

Currently serving as the Managing Director of Heetu Chemicals & Alkalies Ltd. and as Director for K-Pack systems in the water treatment sector, and associated as a key leader in several other companies. He was also the Ex-Director of the Vadodara Stock Exchange. Mr. Shah demonstrates a keen aptitude for strategic leadership. He guides all the companies toward sustainable growth and innovation and is dedicated to maintaining its commitment to environmental stewardship and community welfare. He also supports institutions like ICCW, an initiative of IIT Madras for developing cutting-edge technologies in India for water and wastewater treatment.

Mr. Shah’s professional contributions extend beyond his corporate roles in the social sector. As Vice-Chairman and CEO of Smart Village Movement India, Mr. Shah is at the forefront of driving India’s Smart Village Movement, a beacon of hope for rural development through technology and community empowerment. His leadership inspires collaboration between villages, universities, government, and corporations, propelling this movement forward. He also serves as a Trustee of VSPCA, actively supporting initiatives for animal welfare, demonstrating his dedication to creating a positive impact beyond his professional pursuits. He is a trustee in Gujarat Kevalni Trust, an organization that helps youth with drug rehabilitation, cares for mentally challenged persons, and provides livelihood for youth. Mr. Vivek Shah possesses many skills and a solid commitment to creating a beneficial influence. He emerges as a guiding light of leadership and creativity in both the corporate world and the socio-economic sector.

Connect with Mr. Vivek Shah

Email: vivek@smartvillagemovement.org | vivekvshah@gmail.com
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivekvshah/