Padmaja Kumari Parmar (née Mewar), daughter of the House of Mewar, represents the world’s oldest serving dynasty, founded in 734 AD in Udaipur, Rajasthan. Inspired by her grandfather’s establishment of the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation in 1969, Padmaja’s work spans philanthropy, hospitality, and health. In 2013, she founded Friends of Mewar, a Boston-based nonprofit dedicated to preserving cultural heritage, expanding preventive healthcare, and promoting women’s empowerment and education.

A seasoned hospitality executive, Padmaja is part of the third generation of heritage hoteliers at Historic Resort Hotels. Previously, she served on the Advisory Board for the Bvlgari Hotel in London. She is a member of the Advisory Board at Princeton’s MS Chadha Center for Global India, Harvard Medical School’s Global Health and Service Advisory Council, and a Global Ambassador for Breakthrough T1D.

Whether amplifying the stories and rich cultural heritage of her hometown Udaipur or empowering others through her Type 1 Diabetes journey, Padmaja educates and inspires individuals and communities toward positive change. She champions impactful initiatives she is passionate about at a local level and on global platforms.