Sushma Barakoti is the Executive Director of the Refugee Women’s Network (RWN), an organization that empowers refugee and immigrant women and their families in the U.S. With a B.S. in Agriculture from India and an M.S.W. from Marywood University in Pennsylvania, she combines expertise in development and social work to lead RWN’s growth in programs, staff, and resources, providing vital services such as legal aid, job training, and education.

Before joining RWN, Sushma worked in Nepal with international organizations like UNDP and PLAN International, managing projects on microcredit, HIV/AIDS prevention, and gender equity. She also co-founded Sunavworld, LLC, an Atlanta-based social enterprise that supports women artisans through sustainable, fair-trade products. Recognized with the Nikki T. Randall Servant Leadership Award, Sushma continues to champion women’s empowerment and social change locally and globally.