Three committed feminists, each with deep experience working across countries and sectors, came together with a shared conviction: that human relationships and connection are the heart of radical change. They had all witnessed how systems reproduce patterns of exclusion, mistrust and disempowerment and how real transformation begins when people are seen, heard and bonded together rather than managed in isolation.
One day, in what seemed like a spontaneous conversation, they talked to each other up and began to explore the different realities they’d encountered: survivors rebuilding trust, women stepping into new leadership, children and professionals navigating change. They asked: What if we brought these strands together? What if we designed a space where connection, relationships, and mindset change became the foundation of leadership and systems change?
Out of that conversation and shared vision, Thrive Change Lab was born. The lab took shape as an organisation built on the belief that small strategic shifts in mindset and connection can catalyse outsized ripple-effects in systems. Together, these founders created a platform to design participant-led curriculum, cultivate facilitation-rich spaces, build leadership across survivors, women, children and professionals—and shift the underlying relational fabric of systems.
At Thrive Change Lab we honor that founding spirit: the belief that leadership is relational, that trust rebuilds systems, that every person has agency, and that transformation starts when we see ourselves and our communities differently and act together
Gomathi Palani Kumar
Technical Expert and Founding Partner
Gomathi Palanikumar brings over 14 years of progressive leadership in designing, implementing and scaling programmes across slavery eradication, gender justice and child protection. Based in Chennai, she combines strategic vision, technical expertise and a deep commitment to social justice—enabling meaningful, sustainable transformation in vulnerable communities. Gomathip Palanikumar serves as the Technical Expert and founding partner for Thrive Change Lab. Her expertise lies in developing participant-led curriculum for transformative leadership—ensuring that learning is not delivered to participants, but co-designed with them. She is an expert facilitator and programme designer, adept at translating strategy into action across diverse contexts.
Gomathi holds an MA in Social Work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, and a BA in Sociology from Fatima College, Madurai. She combines strategic leadership, technical expertise and a deep commitment to social justice — enabling meaningful, sustainable change in vulnerable communities.
Beatrice Otto
Education Specialist and Founding Partner
Beatrice Otto is an Education Specialist and Founding partner of Thrive Change Lab, bringing over 15 years of experience in development and humanitarian work across East Africa, West Africa, and Asia. She holds a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Education, and a Bachelor of Arts with Education.
Beatrice’s career has been defined by her commitment to advancing quality, equitable and sustainable education systems, economic empowerment and livelihood programs to uplift grassroots communities, fostering local leadership, and driving transformative partnerships that bridge global and local development priorities.With a strong background in strategic grants management, partnership management, program design and implementation, and organizational development, Beatrice has worked extensively with bilateral agencies, international organizations, philanthropies, and foundations to design, implement, and strengthen impactful programs. Her expertise spans capacity strengthening, localization, and proposal development, with a consistent focus on building resilient institutions and empowering communities through education, livelihoods and inclusive development approaches.
Neeta Minz
Strategic Lead and Founding Partner
Neeta brings over two decades of experience in strategic grant management, transformative leadership, and capacity-building initiatives across South Asia. Her work centers on enabling marginalized communities to break cycles of oppression and navigate change with purpose, empathy, and resilience.
With a strong foundation in program design and implementation, Neeta has collaborated with diverse organizations and grassroots movements to nurture values-driven leadership, particularly among survivors of slavery and other vulnerable groups. She combines practical field experience with a reflective approach, integrating personal transformation and systems thinking—believing that sustainable change begins when individuals take ownership and communities act collectively.
At Thrive Change Lab, Neeta co-leads strategic direction and program development, drawing on her deep cross-cultural experience to design learning spaces that inspire long-term impact and renewal.
She holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration (Human Resources and Marketing) from Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar, India, and has completed foundational counseling courses from Asbury Theological Seminary (USA) and Waverley Abbey College (Surrey, UK).