Core Group

Jay Tahasildar

Jay is a software entrepreneur and a part-time real estate investor based out of Milton Keynes. He is a founder and Managing Director of Mercurius IT and Venus Resource Consultancy. He has over 20 years of successful track record in the field of large projects and information technology. Jay is well known for his networking and relationship management skills, both being key drivers of his leadership style. Jay thrives on multi-faceted challenges and enjoys growing organisations such as Mercurius & Venus. Prior to founding Mercurius, Jay has worked in various executive and managerial roles with multi-nationals such as Siemens, Tata Infotech (now TCS) & NovaSoft Information Technology. Jay holds a bachelor’s degree in Electronics Engineering.

Jay is also an outdoor enthusiast and a world traveller.

Ravindra Gadgil

Ravindra comes from a humble background with excellent academic qualifications. He is an Electrical Engineer with post graduation in Computer Management and Management Science. Ravi worked with L & T in India as a Marketing Professional for 14 years. Ravi moved to the UK in 1997 and has been engaged in launching and running several independent ventures including an investment club and two matrimony websites catering to targeted market segments such as US and Canada. Ravindra was encouraged to embrace an entrepreneurial spirit from childhood by his parents, and that spirit is also reflected in his enthusiastic participation in several social and charitable initiatives across the UK. Ravindra is a keen sportsman having played Hockey since childhood. He is also an avid badminton player and has been personally responsible in motivating more than 100 Maharashtrians to take up badminton for fitness and well being.

www.lagnakartavya.com — Serving prospective Brahmin Brides/Grooms across the globe
www.kolumbusmarriage.com — Serving prospective Brides/Grooms in the UK/Europe/North America/Canada and beyond 
www.levalagna.com — Website dedicated to serve Brides/Grooms from Levapatil Community across the globe

Rajan Shegunshi

Rajan is an established IT Architecture Consultant with over 2 decades of experience of working across a variety of industry domains and multi-national global enterprises.

He is a keen follower of current trends in the Startup Ecosystem and has been instrumental as a Tech Advisor and an Investor in a few ventures over the years.

He is an ardent believer in collaborative teamwork and collective intelligence. He has a strong belief in encouraging and nurturing different leadership styles in everyone that help achieve the goals; rather than stereotyping and limiting it to a few historic patterns. He loves connecting with the younger generation and believes in the energy, open mindset and the glorious possibilities they bring to the table.

On a personal front, Rajan is a die-hard artist and a trained vocalist/musician. He continues to perform across UK & Europe. He is a passionate follower of Cricket; and an enthusiast sportsman and coach. A keen interest in physics, neuroscience and philosophy keeps him occupied otherwise; to wonder about nature, universe and humanity.

Mayura Chandekar

Mayura Chandekar is an Entrepreneur, Founder, and Director of her architecture & Interior design practice MCAPS Global, based in the vibrant city of London. She has a Master’s in Urban Design degree from The Bartlett, UCL.

Before MCAPS, she worked for 8 years in London on multi-million large-scale projects in London and has been part of teams working and designing for prestigious & high profile clients.

Mayura started her practice MCAPS Global in January 2015, while on maternity. With unwavering determination, she nurtured both her baby and her business, crafting a remarkable story of love, resilience, and entrepreneurial success. The practice has since delivered several private residences as well as many commercial projects with great testimonials from her Clients. She believes in working closely with her clients to achieve high-quality spaces that exceed expectations on whatever budget.

With an unshakable belief in the ability of shared experiences to inspire and guide, Mayura is dedicated to making life more manageable for others through mentorship and empathy-driven initiatives. She has been associated with the OMPEG family since its launch day and being a core member allows her to work towards her interest in community development.

On the personal front, Mayura is a trained vocalist/ musician with Visharad Part II from Bhatkhande Sangit Vidyapith ( Music Institute). She has occasionally performed in the UK and continues to pursue music as per passion. She is also a nature addict and fitness enthusiast and usually combines the two by taking up hikes and walks.

Connect on LinkedIn – www.linkedin.com/in/mayura-chandekar-49b607a 

Website – https://www.mcapsglobal.com/ 

Raj Deokar

Raj Deokar is a serial entrepreneur, public speaker, business automation expert, and aspiring Bollywood singer and songwriter. With over a decade of experience in creating and growing a chain of hair and beauty salons in Milton Keynes, UK, Raj now helps other entrepreneurs and business owners enhance their businesses through automation and CRM implementation.

He joined the OMPEG core team with a particular goal in mind: to systemise its communication and automate processes. This was demonstrated for the first time by creating an easy booking system and QR code scanning for registration during their 8th anniversary event on June 15, 2024.

Connect on: LinkedIn

Sagar Dughrekar

Sagar is an accomplished Programme Manager with a robust background in the banking and finance sector, currently serving as Executive Director at UBS, a prominent Swiss bank. He specializes in managing large-scale regulatory change and transformation initiatives. Sagar holds dual degrees in MSc. (Hons) Physics and B.E. (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering from the Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS) Pilani. With over two decades of experience, he has held key positions at leading global financial institutions including Citigroup, Man Investments, and Barclays. As a certified project manager, Sagar effectively combines extensive industry knowledge with practical strategies to address stringent regulatory requirements and advance strategic business objectives.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Sagar is quite active in the UK-based Marathi community, significantly contributing to various social, cultural, and charitable initiatives. He led the “UK Maha Covid Relief Fund” project, which united 18 Marathi communities across the UK to deliver essential medical supplies to remote areas of Maharashtra during the 2021 Covid pandemic.

An avid reader, Sagar also serves as the UK coordinator for Granth Tumchya Dari, a literary initiative run by Kusumagraj Pratishthan Nashik. His dedication to excellence in both professional and community activities underscores his commitment to making a meaningful impact.

Connect on: LinkedIn

Aniruddha Harne

Aniruddha is an accomplished technology professional with extensive experience in the Telecom and IT sector with Tier 1 Telcos globally. As a technology lead, he is lead several global product launches across Europe/APAC/USA. He has successfully led multiple transformation projects focusing on organisational change management, optimising customer experiences and large scale IT transformation. He has successfully lead cross functional and multi-cultural teams across UK, India, Singapore, Romania, Spain and Egypt, Brazil.

Aniruddha holds Master of Business Administration degree from Symbiosis International University, Pune, India and Engineering degree in Electronics from Nagpur University. With over two decades of experience, he is currently leading technology teams at Vodafone Group, UK.

Beyond his professional endeavours, Aniruddha is an active volunteer of Art of Living organisation and charity organisation IAHV in the UK. Apart from that Aniruddha is actively supporting various Indian charitable organisations in Maharashtra, India. He joined the OMPEG core team with objective to promote educational institute tie ups with OMPEG as a facilitator for student internships and placements in organisations and equally provide a wider platform for Maharashtrian entrepreneurs to showcase their products/services globally.

Connect on: LinkedIn

Website: aniruddhaharne.com

Ashish Kirtikar

Ashish Kirtikar is a highly accomplished industry professional with over 17 years of expertise in information security, managed security services, and consulting. Has successfully led global teams, managed P&L responsibilities, and established robust business strategies that drive profitability and operational excellence. With his strategic vision, leadership acumen, and deep industry knowledge to drive innovation he has proficiently managed domains like Information and Network Security, Information Risk Management, Cyber Security Resilience, Security Architecture Designing, Information Security Audit and Governance having handled clients across the globe.

Ashish has functioned as a speaker and trainer on various Information Security Topics globally and writes online articles/blogs covering topics of Information Security and Leadership. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from Mumbai University and has completed a general management program from the Indian School of Business and National University of Singapore.

Dr Mahadeo Bhide

Dr Mahadeo Bhide specialises in Fertility Treatment (IVF) after first qualifying as a Gynaecologist. Along with his wife Dr Alka, he runs “Acorn Fertility” which is a licensed provider of IVF and other fertility services (their first clinic is based in South London, SW19).

Dr Bhide did his medical schooling and MD (Obst Gyn) from Sion Hospital Mumbai and came to the UK (1991!) and trained in the NHS to acquire specialised training in IVF.

Dr Mahadeo and Alka Bhide cut their teeth as entrepreneurs in 1996 when they established “PLABmaster” which became the overwhelming leader amongst providers of “bridging training” for doctors coming from the overseas to work in the NHS. They subsequently added a couple more businesses including a chain of day-care nurseries for children and then ran a 9 hole Golf Club since 2007 (now being converted to a Healthcare clinic providing IVF and other surgical treatments). In 2000 Dr Bhide started a general hospital in Thane, India as well.

He cycles to work whilst listening to music – thus engaging in both his hobbies, simultaneously. This also makes him the only man who can somewhat multi-task; after all he’s been treating women all his working life.

Past Core Members

Dilip Amdekar

Dilip is the founder and Managing Director of Harrow International Business School, an UK approved education institution. He is also a Director in Digimation UK and Inkvial Games Limited which are in the business of teaching animation and manufacturing computer games. Prior to setting up these large ventures Dilip, a veteran chartered accountant, led a successful career spanning several decades across multiple continents. He started his career with Chowgule Steamships Limited in Mumbai and after five years became Financial Controller of a Dyes and Chemical Manufacturing factory in Bangkok Thailand. Five years later he was promoted as a Group Finance Director to lead the group’s expansion in Europe and he left the company in 2004 to focus on his personal entrepreneurial initiatives in the UK.

Dilip has a keen interest in the fields of political history and economic development and engages in research activity in these areas.

Ani Kaprekar

Ani Kaprekar is a highly creative business and community leader, with more than 30 years of multi-faceted international leadership career. Ani is engaged in a number of public-private initiatives in Technology, Entrepreneurship and Art. He has partnered with many leaders, organisations and start-up ventures as an Executive Coach, Non-Executive Director and Advisor. In all his initiatives, Ani is driven by curiosity and a strong sense of fairness.

Ani has advised global and culturally diverse organisations as an executive leader, managing portfolios of more than £50 million. In his early India career, Ani played a key role in building a large Tech venture in eGovernment sector. In the UK, Ani worked with public and private sector enterprises such as Mastek, Capita, Lex, HBoS, Lloyds and LeasePlan, amongst others, before setting up his coaching and mentoring practice, Banyan Tree Answers Ltd. He is a Certified NLP Master Practitioner and a member of the Protégé programme at The Coaching Academy, UK.

Ani is formally trained in theatre & film-craft and blends his creative skills and business acumen to create success stories of influence and impact. Ani is also a social media storyteller and followed by more than 1 million people across the world on Facebook.

Ani is a proud Mancunian and participates in many Greater Manchester city initiatives.

Reshma Kulkarni Deshpande

Reshma, a gold medalist both at her undergrad and the postgraduate degree in Psychology, Reshma specialises in Occupational Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience.

Passionate about her work in the field of Behavorial Economics, Reshma has an HR industry experience of over 22 years, 15 of which has been with the local government in the UK, leading on Employee Relations, Engagement and Organisational Development.

As of 2018, she is on the verge of launching her ready mix spice pastes business that promise to introduce an authentic taste of Indian curries to the UK population.

Reshma is also a keen actress with a flair for writing and is passionate about her theatre group Rangamanch UK.

Manjiri Gokhale Joshi

Manjiri is a mega-project specialist, a mentor and an author based out of Milton Keynes. A recipient of the British High Commission Chevening scholarship (2006), she also holds an MSc in mega-project management from the Said Business School, University of Oxford. Manjiri, along with her husband Abhay Joshi co-founded Elephant Connect which specialises in facilitating corporates, governments and charities to achieve their objectives through result-oriented training and project mentoring. Elephant Connect engagements include many reputed names including Global Consultancy Group, London, Ministry of IT (Govt. of India), ICICI Lombard, Kalyani Steels, Shoppers Stop and ISS Facility Services. In her past career Manjiri has played leadership roles in Human Resources and L & D at corporates such as Informa plc, GlobalLogic UK, ICICI Lombard and Zensar Technologies, amongst others. Manjiri has also worked as an Assistant Editor of Dataquest, a reputed publication in Information Technology industry in India.

Manjiri has authored 3 books: Inspired – Lessons from 23 contemporary inspirational leaders (co-author Dr Ganesh Natarajan), Crushes, Careers and Cell phones, Foreword- former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen; Bosses of the wild, Lessons from the corporate jungle, Foreword by Mr K V Kamath, Chairman, ICICI Bank.

Since 2009, Manjiri and Abhay have been running a charity ‘Maya CARE’ offering free assistance to senior citizens in India (www.mayacare.com)

Himanshu Dasare

Himanshu is a Corporate, IP and Technology Solicitor qualified in England and Wales, Republic of India and Europe based in central London. Prior to qualifying as a solicitor, he worked in the legal departments of the Derbyshire Police Force headquarters, a US Bank and a German Energy supplier.

As a business solicitor, he has vast commercial legal experience whilst working with national and international brands and also in assisting on joint collaboration projects to facilitate establishing business presence of companies based abroad in the United Kingdom. He has international offices based in India, Dubai and the United States.

Himanshu strives to assist the community and provides guidance to new start-ups and existing businesses through his law firm Ashton Birch Solicitors.

Avi Tillu

A Trader and Portfolio Manager by profession, Avi started his career at Goldman Sachs, within the esteemed Fixed Income Group. From there, he went on to join Citadel, one of the world’s largest and most successful hedge funds as a Portfolio Manager, wherein he not only attained top-decile returns – without a single down year – but also developed a number of novel, proprietary strategies.

Avi’s entrepreneurial activities extend beyond the workplace, including a stint as Vice President of Oxford Entrepreneurs, a member of the revered Sandbox Network and a founder of Pap, a mobile platform for anonymous, image-based polling (www.nowpap.com).

Avi’s academic background is within Mathematics, wherein he achieved a First Class degree and scholarship from Magdalen College, University of Oxford. He is also a CFA charter-holder, having passed all three levels, on first attempt, with distinction. 

Akshay Shah

Akshay is a Chartered Certified Accountant and a Partner/Director for ACE Accounts and Tax Ltd, having qualified since 2001 Akshay has held numerous CFO/Finance Director positions in medium and large firms in and around London prior to setting up his practice in Milton Keynes. Being an entrepreneur in nature he is an avid property investor and operates various other businesses such as Chiki Ceramiki Ltd.

Married with two daughters he also is an active member and a Charter President of his local Lions Club in Milton Keynes.

An avid outdoor enthusiast he enjoys travelling, networking and meeting like-minded individuals. Akshay is also an active cyclist having completed Birmingham Bikeathon and a mountaineer with a successful expedition to Mt Kilimanjaro.

Samir Gujar

Samir Gujar is a seasoned technology leader with over three decades of experience in the IT industry. As a co-founder and Director of Gauri Ltd., a prominent business and technology consulting company, he has been at the forefront of digital transformation since 2007. Samir’s expertise lies in advising, implementing, and managing world-class enterprise solutions, particularly SAP ERP and Salesforce CRM.

With 24 years dedicated to delivering enterprise applications globally, Samir has worked across various industries, developing a keen understanding of how to effectively harness technological innovations.

He is passionate about helping businesses adopt a “first-time-right” approach to technology investment, ensuring projects not only meet traditional metrics but also deliver tangible business benefits. Beyond his professional endeavors, Samir is committed to fostering entrepreneurship. Beyond his professional endeavours, Samir is committed to fostering entrepreneurship. He served as a core team volunteer at OMPEG, an organization dedicated to instilling the entrepreneurial spirit within the UK-based Maharashtrian community. Through his work at Gauri Ltd. and his community involvement, Samir continues to bridge the gap between cutting-edge technology and practical business applications, driving innovation and growth in the digital age.

Click here to connect on Linekdin.

Rahul Gholap

Rahul Gholap is an Entrepreneur, Founder of Best Choice Travels Ltd based in the heart of London. He holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce and MBA in Finance. He is passionate about Cricket and a true inspiration to many. His dream to be a Cricketer was shattered due to medical conditions that led him to be bed-ridden. Despite the worst health condition, he focused on relearning walking in early twenties and set an example of what transformation means. Today he has also become professional cricket coach and again started practicing and playing cricket.

He decided to travel around the world and for this new love of travelling. Evolving from a humble startup into a reputable travel agency catering to a diverse group by reaching all corners of the world.

Rahul has 25 years of experience in the travel industry includes corporate, luxury travel, retail as well as film & media sectors. His extensive personal and professional knowledge always means innovative tour ideas and true value to his customers’ journeys. He truly lives the mission of his Travel agency – turning peoples travel aspirations into tangible and unforgettable experiences. He takes pride not just earning another client but rather building strong relationships and touching many more lives with best services and supporting social activities.

Click here to connect on LinkedIn- www.linkedin.com/in/rahul-a-gholap-bct/

Website – www.bestchoicetravels.co.uk

Sushil Rapatwar

Sushil holds an Engineering degree from Government College of Engineering, Pune (COEP) in Instrumentation and Control and is a Project Manager by profession. He is also an MBA from Manchester Business School. Before moving to the UK in 2002, Sushil successfully ran an Information Technology development business in Singapore. Presently in the UK he is a director of an outsourcing company Infoserve2India.com which specializes in data entry services and software development.   Sushil is well known within the UK Maharashtrian community for his organisation and participation in several socio-cultural events ranging from community festival celebrations to arts and literary festivals. Sushil is the President of Maharashtra Mandal London (MML), a historic organisation established in 1932 to serve and strengthen the fabric of Maharashtrian community within the UK. During his two reigns as President of MML he led the community to give stellar Dhol-Tasha performances at Trafalgar Square for Diwali in London (2013) and at Wembley Stadium to welcome Prime Minister Modi (2015).  He is also instrumental in starting the country wide elocution competition and countrywide ekankika (play) competition.

Sushil is an avid Badminton player and also a Badminton England certified umpire.  He is also a DJ specialising primarily in Bollywood music but also catering to house, electro & techno music.

Arti Kulkarni Bodas

Arti is an accomplished Project Manager with a robust background in the banking and finance sector, currently serving as independent Agile Coach and Process and Soft skills Trainer for organizations. She brings in fifteen years of experience of Quality Assurance for ERP solutions, CRM applications, Digitalization Initiatives for UBS bank in Switzerland. She specializes in managing large-scale regulatory change and transformation of Waterfall projects into Agile. After moving to United Kingdom Arti transformed her Career as an Agile coach and process Trainer for organizations. She also offers Life coaching for individuals aspiring change in Career and personal life. Being a people’s person and excellent Collaborator, a wide exposure to diverse cultures, languages and geographies is her Asset. She holds dual degrees in master’s in computer management from University of Pune and B.Sc. Physics from Mumbai University and working towards ICF accreditation from Barefoot institute of Coaching UK.

Beyond her professional endeavours, Arti is a well-known Author and storyteller and poet in Marathi community in Europe and United Kingdom. Two theatre plays written by her based on the lives of global Marathi families. These plays are loved by a vast Indian in audience Switzerland and UK, and they are waiting for the next in line. She is experimental in combining dramatherapy and artistic expression as an effective tool in Coaching.