In this episode, Kathy & Dr. Vandana Arcot discuss…
Christmas Abundance
Santa Claus
Learning about gift giving as a child and how it differs from culture to culture
How food culture breaks down barriers
Entertaining & hosting parties for kids versus for adults
Mixing different groups of friends and how that affects conversation and energy at a party
Let me formally introduce everyone to Dr. Vandana Arcot by providing her bio below…
Dr. Vandana Arcot is a multifaceted leader in medicine, international development, entrepreneurship, and environmental advocacy. As a physician with degrees in Medicine (MD) in Bangalore, India; Public Health (MPH) in New York; an MBA in International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland; and an Executive MBA in New York, she began her journey in WHO SEARO working on grassroots change programs in urban slums and semi-rural South India.
Over 14 years, Dr. Arcot has collaborated with UNAIDS, WHO, UNICEF, GAIN, and the World Bank on SDGs in nutrition (SDG2), health (SDG3), WASH (SDG6), and gender equality (SDG5). She managed humanitarian projects in Uganda, Nepal, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Kenya, and beyond, raising over $130 million for HIV/AIDS prevention, domestic violence response, maternal and child nutrition, and emergency aid. Key achievements include a $25 million UNAIDS grant for orphan care in Uganda; behavior change campaigns in Southeast Asia, like RUMPI SEHAT in Thailand for breastfeeding; work in Mother Infant Young Child Nutrition under the UN Secretary General; and protocols for safe housing and health services for abused women in India. During COVID-19, she supported 370 community health centers and 23 initiatives across 17 Indian cities, aiding pediatric cancer patients and providing therapy for differently abled children.
Transitioning to entrepreneurship, Dr. Arcot founded VUND New York in 2017, a sustainable luxury home fragrance brand committed to bee conservation. Under her leadership, VUND has established 35 bee farms across the U.S., partnered with organic farmers and Michelin-starred chefs, rescued over 1,300 beehives, and educated 120 high school students—79% women, many of color—through the Brooklyn Bee Corp. She co-founded a global community that served as a safe space for feminist founders from 4 continents and 17 countries to collectively learn, share, and grow, connecting women leaders in fields like authorship, directing, engineering, science, research, industry, investment banking, medicine, philanthropy, media, and technology to create a better world for future working women.
She now serves as Director of Komselj, an agency driving organic growth, business strategy, and social media marketing for philanthropists and nonprofits, raising $72 million in just eight months
A featured Game Changer in Women’s Empowerment by LinkedIn in 2019, Dr. Arcot sits on advisory boards for organizations focused on neurological disorders, animal welfare sanctuaries, fertility health entrepreneurship mentoring, educating and providing therapy to differently abled children and youth, and quality medical care—highlighting her commitment to advancing medical research, social equity, environmental conservation, and community well-being. She is a sought-after speaker and mentor at institutions like the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Indian Institute of Management, and Columbia Business School, with publications on social determinants of health, domestic violence, and impact investing.
Balancing her professional pursuits, she embraced motherhood in 2015, navigating challenging pregnancies and raising two sons, which deepened her insights into work-life boundaries and resilience.
Dr. Arcot’s life embodies compassionate leadership, blending clinical expertise, innovative strategies, and advocacy to create scalable impact in health, equality, and sustainability—proving that one person’s multifaceted path can inspire global change.
Are We The Only Ones Pod is thrilled to have such an accomplished advocate as a regular guest for Season 2!
Video Editing by Chris Malatino-Brown
Theme Music by Citizen Kang Music
