'My Son Knows Mama Goes To Office’: Shloka Mehta On Ambani Family’s Support And Building ConnectFor
Shloka Mehta Ambani discussed balancing motherhood and her non-profit, ConnectFor, which connects volunteers with NGOs, creating significant social impact.
Alongside co-founder Maniti Shah, Shloka has spent the last decade building ConnectFor, which has connected over 1 lakh volunteers with more than 1,000 NGOs across India, creating a social impact valued at Rs 21 crore.
Shloka Mehta Ambani warmly acknowledged the unwavering support she received from her in-laws, the Ambani family, especially as she navigated both motherhood and her work in the social sector.
She emphasised that none of her accomplishments, from co-founding ConnectFor to balancing professional and personal roles, would have been possible without the encouragement and belief of her family.
“My son is just two, but I think he already understands that mama goes to office,” she said. “It's important for him to see both his parents go to work and know that we’re all doing something to better ourselves.”
Shloka highlighted that her in-laws, including husband Akash Ambani and their extended family, take pride in what she does.
“Our parents take great pride. Our husbands take great pride now in saying, ‘Yeah, this is what my wife does.’ They sort of advertise us better than we ever could,” she laughed.
This familial backing, she noted, has been instrumental in enabling her to build ConnectFor, raise a child, and pursue her purpose with confidence and stability.
Shloka, who studied Anthropology at Princeton University and completed a Law degree at the London School of Economics (LSE), shared that she focused her thesis and dissertation on topics within the social sector, reflecting her longstanding interest in philanthropy and grassroots issues.
For Shloka, instilling a sense of purpose starts at home. “Whether you're a homemaker, an entrepreneur, or in a corporate job — it’s all work. Just because it’s not defined by hours, doesn’t mean it’s less valuable,” she emphasised.
Both women became mothers within months of each other, but even as they navigated personal milestones, they ensured the platform never paused. “There hasn’t been a single day in the last 10 years that ConnectFor has shut shop,” Shloka noted.
Speaking about her motivation, she added, “I want my child to know that I was passionate about something and I followed through, and I want him to do the same.”
What Is ConnectFor's Mission?
Shloka and Maniti Shah designed ConnectFor to bring corporate-style professionalism and rigour into the nonprofit sector, matching volunteers efficiently while prioritising human relationships (“community capital”) for lasting social impact. They emphasise that real connections, not just automation, underpin sustainable change.
To date, ConnectFor has facilitated over 1 lakh volunteer matches with more than 1,000 NGOs, saving the sector around Rs 21 crore in value.
Shloka shared how hands-on the early journey was, from visiting NGOs themselves to even volunteering when they couldn’t find someone.
“We called NGOs ourselves, visited them across the city, and even created Google Forms to match volunteers.”
Despite getting married and becoming mothers, neither Shloka nor co-founder Maniti Shah ever let ConnectFor pause. “There hasn’t been a single day in the last 10 years that ConnectFor has shut shop," she shared.
For years, they didn’t talk much publicly about ConnectFor but with its scale growing and public interest in volunteering increasing, they felt it was time.
“Now more and more people want to give back. It made sense for people to know what we do," Shloka added.
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