Some journeys don’t follow the expected path. Vedika Ghotane grew up surrounded by doctors and engineers but chose to follow her curiosity for arts and humanities. That decision not only shaped her career in product management and design but also gave birth to a platform that’s transforming lives in the most human way.
Her initiative, Empathize, is simple in idea yet powerful in impact. It connects visually impaired students with sighted peers who volunteer to help them during examinations. India is home to the world’s largest blind population, and with Empathize, Vedika is determined to make education and opportunity more accessible. “We are not obsessed with numbers,” she says, “but with real on-ground change.” To date, Empathize has supported over 450 visually impaired students and professionals across Maharashtra and beyond, helping them achieve academic and career milestones with dignity.
The heart of Empathize lies in its personal touch. Every student matched with a volunteer, every exam made accessible, is a story of independence and possibility. For Vedika, it isn’t about running a large-scale organization just yet, but about creating ripples of change that expand with every new connection.
Beyond Empathize, Vedika has worn many hats — from product manager at startups and corporations to photojournalist for the Times of India. She has also co-founded Humans of Kolhapur, capturing stories from her hometown that deserve to be heard. Today, as she pursues a Postgraduate Diploma in AI for Business at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, her journey continues to balance creativity, technology, and social impact.
At its core, Vedika’s story is about empathy in action. Whether she’s building digital products or bridging the gap between the visually impaired and their peers, she reminds us that innovation is at its best when it puts people first.
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