Hema Balakrishnan is a dedicated social entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience empowering handcrafted artisan communities through sustainable livelihoods. In 2003, she founded Color D Earth, partnering with 12 artisan groups across India to bring terracotta jewelry to global markets. After a Covid-related pause, she pursued a Master’s in Marketing from Toulouse Business School, France, and expanded her insights on sustainable travel. An alumna of Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Women program, Hema also participated in the U.S. State Department’s IVLP on Women Entrepreneurship. Currently, as Lead-Social Innovation at T-Works, she supports innovators in prototyping sustainable solutions with social impact.
