FOUNDING TEAM
Priya Sule
Director and Founder
I’m a big champion of the power of people. The Owl House is where I lend my energy to build and strengthen community and educational initiatives for people with Special Needs. I am a creativity enabler - I love bringing disparate pieces together to create meaning. It’s a personal mission.
Over the last 15 years, I’ve experienced different job roles and work spaces, from production sets, to an animation and visual effects studio, to a pest management company. Having worked in HR and Marketing, I’ve had the opportunity to position experience-based learning with adults and to drive the power of brand and brand cultures. I love purpose-driven brands with great philosophies and greater execution – Those who turn their values to action.
I feel privileged to be able to build my dream project within a community that is always willing to share and with some of my closest friends!
Renuka Figueiredo
Director and Founding Team Member
I spent the first 2 years of my career setting up and running operations at The Owl House. My time here has been the greatest source of meaning & joy in my life.
At my current day job, I help the founders of a healthcare startup that has raised over $30M. I now bring in lessons from operationalizing processes in emotionally sensitive environments to help deliver better experiences to more families at The Owl House.
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Joshua Rao
Director and Advisor
I’ve experienced The Owl House journey from the very beginning. As a family, we have watched the house transform into a space that offers different types of engagement and learning opportunities for so many people.
Over the last few years I’ve enjoyed being a sounding board to the ideas that we’ve evolved here and I look forward to doing more of that with our new team.
I’m excited to see where this journey goes, the lives and futures that we will positively impact along the way.
TEAM LEADS
Maitreyee Manglurkar
Chief of Student Success
Educational Qualifications:
Pursuing M.A. Education Management
As a young graduate in 2008 I chose to pursue writing for a variety of mediums.
As of 2018 I decided that the only way to affect any real change in the future is to work with the future itself and so became an educator.
I find myself keenly interested in the effects of community action, the role of policy and the influence of technology in education and upbringing.
How we educate our children, educators, parents and the society at large is of interest to me because I truly believe that learning is lifelong.
Jerlyn Menezes
Education Lead and Learning Facilitator
Educational Qualifications:
B.A. Psychology, B.Ed. Special Education
My passion for supporting and making a positive difference in the lives of neurodiverse individuals drives my career. Every day, I strive to create an inclusive and supportive learning environment where each student can thrive and reach their full potential. Beyond my professional life, I am deeply artistic. Art is more than a hobby for me; it's a way to calm down and express my innermost thoughts and feelings.
Jagori (Ray) Mukherjee
Fellowship Lead and Learning Facilitator
Educational Qualifications:
M.Sc. Clinical Psychology
I have embarked on a journey of social advocacy and academic writing in my little way.Being neurodivergent myself it's important for me to make people understand that neurodivergence is more than a few pages in a medical manual. Addressing its hindrance needs way more than application of age old research.
EDUCATORS
Rosita Souza
Learning Facilitator
Educational Qualification: M.A. Child Developmental Psychology
I am deeply passionate about supporting and empowering neurodiverse individuals. With a strong foundation in developmental psychology, I have found fulfillment working as an educator- particularly in training individuals in practical, vocational skills that foster independence and confidence. My approach is rooted in empathy, patience, kindness and believe that meaningful progress begins with the formation of genuine, trusting relationships that are grounded in deep respect for each individual's unique strengths and needs.
Melita Dias
Learning Facilitator
Educational Qualification: M.A. Psychology
Psychology has always been my area of interest, which has now evolved into a passionate commitment to supporting mental health and helping others. Being an educator at The Owl House fills me with pride as I get the opportunity to support and work with neurodiverse individuals, helping them uncover their unique individual strengths while learning something new from them everyday. Outside of work, I find happiness in cooking, dancing and sometimes indulging in art which also allows me to connect with the students on a deeper level by sharing my interests with them. It's these simple pleasures in life that truly matter to me.
Anica Fernandes
Jr. Learning Facilitator
Educational Qualification: M.A. Psychology
I am deeply passionate about supporting and empowering neurodiverse individuals. With a strong foundation in developmental psychology, I have found fulfillment working as an educator- particularly in training individuals in practical, vocational skills that foster independence and confidence. My approach is rooted in empathy, patience, kindness and believe that meaningful progress begins with the formation of genuine, trusting relationships that are grounded in deep respect for each individual's unique strengths and needs.
Mathson Miranda
Cafe Manager / Cafe Trainer
Educational Qualification: Bachelor of Culinary Arts
Hi, I'm the cafe manager at The Owl Cafe, Goa. Working with neurodiverse individuals is a new experience for me and I have made great progress with the help of our educators. Here, everyday is an opportunity to learn and grow.
I strongly believed that my sense of helpfulness and kindness will come in handy while working with neurodiverse individuals. However, I have had some eye opening moments and I am learning to appropriately harness my abilities into strategies. I have a growing confidence in training neurodiverse individuals for a variety of work space scenarios. And personally, I have a new found approach to life and respect towards neurodiverse individuals.
THE SUPPORT STAFF
Mohan Mandrekar
Administrative Support
I've worked in the hotel industry prior to my time at the Owl House and while the change is daunting, I couldn't be more grateful to be a part of this environment.
I really admire the enthusiasm of the educators in creating a safe environment for neurodiverse students to learn skills. I'm grateful that I too get to be a part of this environment and contribute in my own way.
Josefina Devi
Caregiver and Cafe Assistant
I love to cook and feed people and see their happy faces as they eat my food. The same happiness I find at my time in the Owl House.
For the past one year, apart from my regular duties, I also get a refreshing break when I talk and interact with the students during classroom assists.
Priyanka
Caregiver and Cafe Assistant
I am an explorer and love to travel and it seems I have found a perfect destination for happiness through my work at the Owl House.
The Owl House feels like an escape from the busy life at home. The work doesn't feel tiring and draining. In addition, I get to interact with students and assist them in their activities which always puts a smile on my face and brings joy to my day.
Arun
Driver
I've been driving the students at the Owl House for nearly 2 years now and it's been a very enlightening time. I ensure that the students are dropped and picked up on time and ensure their safety during the journey.
I've learnt a lot from the students during my time here. I am discovering that I can be more empathetic, more sensitive and more patient than I ever thought myself to be.
Maheshwar
Gardener
I have always been very good at working with my hands and caring for the garden at The Owl House is a fulfilling job for me. I also get to interact with the students here who are gardening enthusiasts. There are times when they get to learn something from me and I get to learn something from them as well. And what's most amazing and surprising about this exchange that we don't even speak the same language.