Sriram Devanathan guides first-time entrepreneurs at BALSA - St. Louis Business Journal
Sriram Devanathan of Medical Guidance Systems
Dilip Vishwanat | SLBJ
Sriram Devanathan, principal at Medical Guidance Systems LLC
Age: 37
What makes you a diverse business leader? There is way more diversity that exists around us than what is more obvious to us; opportunities while growing up, social capital, economic background, experiences, faith, social/family traditions and culture and so much more. This very much reflects in the diverse ideas, solutions, thought provoking questions that one brings to the diverse range of issues that we face. I love to hear those and look forward to it as it just blows my mind how ingenious and innovative solutions can be arrived when such conversations happen.
What is your biggest accomplishment related to diversity and inclusion? St. Louis is blessed with leaders who work tirelessly to shape up the region and right and the wrongs. I am proud to serve with some of these organizations. I serve along with a stellar group of individuals on the boards of Cornerstone Center for Early Learning and The BALSA Foundation. At Cornerstone we provide quality, comprehensive, and affordable childcare and preschool education in a nurturing, creative environment for St. Louis-area families of all economic backgrounds enabling them to experience diversity, and to embrace the understanding and acceptance that follows. At CCEL, 49 percent of children come from a single-family household with 46 percent paying no tuition. At BALSA, we aim to promote social equity and prosperity in the St. Louis region by helping first-time entrepreneurs get started. Over the last four years, we have awarded number of grants of which 2/d are minority, while 7/10 are women.