In a world where innovation, science, and social progress often walk separate paths, Neela Rajendra has built powerful bridges—connecting cutting-edge research with real-world transformation. From Fortune 500 boardrooms to grassroots development projects in Benin and Nicaragua, she has carved a singular path as a leader who doesn’t just talk about change but makes it tangible, measurable, and meaningful.
Her life’s work embodies a critical truth: diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are not just moral imperatives—they are strategic advantages. With a career rooted in science and elevated by a passion for social justice, Neela Rajendra has helped reshape organizational cultures, empower underserved communities, and propel inclusive excellence across industries and continents.
Neela Rajendra: A Lifelong Commitment to Social Innovation
Neela Rajendra’s journey began with academic excellence, earning a B.A. from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and an M.B.A. from Wake Forest University. These formative years laid the intellectual and ethical groundwork for a career spent at the confluence of social good and enterprise.
Her early professional years were a whirlwind of purpose. She worked with entrepreneurs and local governments in developing nations to stimulate urban economic growth. In Benin and Nicaragua, Neela helped catalyze grassroots development through sustainable partnerships, always to empower local voices.
But Neela didn’t stop there. She turned her attention to higher education, collaborating with leading institutions like Cornell, Tulane, the University of Maryland, Babson, and Claremont McKenna. Through her guidance, these universities birthed thriving social entrepreneurship programs, giving students the tools to build ventures that serve the greater good.
Science Meets Action: Founding the Science of Diversity & Inclusion Initiative (SODI)
One of her most groundbreaking achievements was co-founding the Science of Diversity & Inclusion Initiative (SODI). As Executive Director, Neela built an unparalleled coalition of over 100 social scientists and 15 partner companies, including industry titans like BlackRock, GE, and Google. Her goal: to take what research knows and make it what the world does.
Under Neela’s leadership, SODI launched a dozen pioneering research projects, linking academics and practitioners in a shared mission to make workplaces more equitable. These efforts led to peer-reviewed publications in top journals like The Journal of Human Resources, cementing SODI’s credibility and impact.
Her ability to align rigorous research with organizational goals made her an invaluable advisor to C-suite executives, scientists, and NGOs alike. She was not just building knowledge—she was building momentum.
Neela Rajendra: Rising to the Stars – Her Role at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory
In a bold career move, Neela Rajendra took her DEI expertise to one of the most technically complex institutions on Earth: NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). As the Chief Inclusion Officer, she brought the ethos of belonging into the realm of space exploration. Her focus was clear—to design scalable, research-backed interventions that would foster a culture of inclusion across the Lab’s high-stakes, high-pressure environment.
At JPL, she spearheaded projects such as the “Space Workforce 2030” pledge, championing the representation of women and minorities in aerospace. She also played a central role in initiatives like the Black Excellence Strategic Team, showing her deep commitment to sustained, systemic change.
She acknowledged the challenges of this mission with courage and clarity. In one 2022 presentation, she highlighted how “extreme deadlines” and institutional inertia can slow down DEI progress—but she remained undeterred, always working to “unlock our potential to Dare Mighty Things TOGETHER.”
A Courageous Exit Amid Political Shifts
In 2025, Neela Rajendra’s exit from JPL made national headlines. It was not simply a professional transition—it became a symbol of the growing ideological divide surrounding DEI initiatives in the United States.
Following President Donald Trump’s 2024 executive order aimed at eliminating federal DEI programs, JPL saw the quiet dismantling of its diversity office. Yet Neela remained—reassigned to lead the newly minted “Office of Team Excellence and Employee Success,” a rebranding that retained much of her original mission, albeit in more politically acceptable terms.
Even as references to DEI were scrubbed from her title, her actions told a different story. She continued championing inclusivity behind the scenes until her eventual termination in April 2025. While the departure was framed diplomatically by JPL’s leadership, it underscored a stark tension between the values of an inclusive workplace and the shifting sands of political leadership.
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