Meet our Leaders…Anvesha Punjani
Meet our leaders….Anvesha Punjani
Good Return’s Program Impact and Effectiveness Manager
BIO
From microfinance and health to vocational skills, education and the arts, Anvesha’s career has been defined by one thing: commitment to the development sector.
With two decades of experience in India and across Asia Pacific, including the last four years at Good Return, Anvesha is most passionate about research and monitoring & evaluation.
Anvesha leads a team at Good Return focused on measuring the impact and effectiveness of our programs across the region. She is committed to look beyond the data, by bridging the gap between qualitative stories and quantitative evidence to design better projects.
Whether she is working across India or on global projects, Anvesha finds her inspiration in the people she meets. Every interaction is a new opportunity to learn, unlearn, grow, and create lasting change.
Q&A
We sat down with Anvesha to talk about her career journey to date.
Tell us about a career highlight or a proud moment from your career
During a visit to the rural highlands of Nepal, I met a mother of two who shared a remarkable lesson in financial discipline. She had decided to save five rupees every day by replacing her child’s daily pack of processed chips with a banana. Not only was she providing better nutrition for her child, but she was also saving 150 rupees a month—money she planned to use to buy her very first saree. It was a deeply moving moment. We often discuss the theory of financial literacy, but nothing is more inspiring than seeing that knowledge transformed into a sense of dignity and a tangible reward. It’s a "real-world" impact of our work, and a beautiful contrast between the small daily sacrifice and the significant personal reward made me feel very proud.
Another significant highlight was participating in our recent fundraiser in Australia. In a similar event in 2022 I focused on introducing our work in Nepal. However, returning in 2025, I had the opportunity to lead a candid discussion on Monitoring and Evaluation - sharing openly about what works and, just as importantly, what doesn’t. It was a proud moment to speak from the heart and feel truly heard by a room full of passionate supporters. Looking across the room and seeing my colleagues deeply engaged in meaningful conversations at every table, I felt an immense sense of pride in what we have achieved together as a team.
Do you have a person who has inspired you in your career?
Inspiration isn't reserved for a single person or a grand event; it is a daily occurrence for me if you know where to look.
In my personal life, my children inspire me with their natural resilience—their ability to face failure without fear is a lesson I am still learning myself. I find inspiration in the unconditional love of my parents and the incredible professional passion of colleagues who deliver excellence despite facing extreme challenges. Even our environment tells a story of recovery; I am struck by how nature reclaims the land and thrives against all odds. Travel broadens this perspective, grounding me in humility and gratitude.
Ultimately, inspiration is all around us. On difficult days, we simply need to look up and let it in.
Can you share a humourous moment from your career to date?
In late 2000 I was conducting a qualitative study on microfinance defaults in Northern India. Every day, I visited rural villages to interview women borrowers about why they struggled to repay loans. To get a better sense of the local dynamics, I also spoke with non-borrowers.
I eventually made several friends, including one woman who was particularly curious about my life in the city. Since she was always busy, I would follow her as she did her chores, chatting about everything from recipes, faith, income, savings etc. She even became my "insider" source, pointing out people in the village who had defaulted—insisting all the while that she wasn't a borrower herself.
Three months later, the truth came out. I was with her when the loan officer knocked on her door. We were both stunned, but for different reasons: she owed a significant amount and was in default. We just looked at each other and laughed hysterically. It was a mutual lesson in human nature. The "participant observer" inadvertently becomes part of the story! It’s also an example of how complex social dynamics can be in qualitative research.