Co-Founder

Sumita Ambasta has pursued a lifelong interest in Human Development. Her interest has led her from the corporate world of consulting in Human Resources to questions of Development and Philanthropy. As an immigrant mother, she has dealt first hand with the challenges and successes that all people experience on the spectrum of surviving to thriving. While corporate and social experiences have taught her what works in the external world, raising two third culture kids has brought her attention to the importance of inner development.

She has closely studied the role of development, education, culture and arts, both in her personal and in her work spaces. This eventually led her to found Flowering Tree, Inc., in partnership with Christopher McLeod.

She holds an MBA with a concentration in Human Resources and an MA in Sociology. As a Physics major, she brings an active interest in science to all her work. She has also undertaken studies in film and Hindustani Classical Music. She lives and works in three countries. With this varied background of knowledge and experience, she brings multiple perspectives to her work in Education and Development. Her lifelong project is in creating dialogue, and an integration of both inner and outer development in the human person.

Co-Founder

A professional musician, Christopher McLeod came to the work of Flowering Tree through a lively engagement and interest in the intersections of art, culture, history, and global development. He founded Flowering Tree in partnership with Sumita Ambasta in 2006. Christopher works to integrate arts and cultural awareness in all of Flowering Tree’s projects and partnerships. A special focus for Christopher is cross-cultural music education where Flowering Tree has had rich opportunity to share, learn, and develop growing bodies of knowledge both in the field and in the research study.

Christopher is an accomplished classical guitarist who has been a student of Michael Newman, Frederic Hand, Rubin Riera, pianist Sonia Rubinsky and others. At the Mannes College of Music, he concentrated on twentieth century music, composition, conducting, and Schenkerian analysis. He has been heard frequently in performances and Master Classes in the New York area.

Alice Fricke, CFA, is a Client Portfolio Manager with the Global Equities Team of Oppenheimer Funds. Alice’s background is in banking, stock broking and equity analysis, primarily in emerging markets.

At the beginning of her career, Alice worked as a banker resident in South East Asia. As a result, she developed a passion for the arts and cultures of the region and a desire to be involved in its future.

Flowering Tree provides Alice the opportunity to indulge her twin passions for Asia and for practical action. She firmly believes that the future of any culture begins with its women and children. Alice is deeply grateful to be able to serve on the Board of this organization that supports charities that enrich the lives of women and children in Asia.

Originally from the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia, Alice has lived in Indonesia, Japan, Australia, France. Alice holds a B.A. in Political Science and French from Virginia Tech and a CFA charter.

Aditi Goswami is Owner and Founder of Calcutta Kitchens, a specialty food company producing Indian Simmer Sauces and other specialty items. Calcutta Kitchens was founded in 2009 in Connecticut, USA. It has grown from a small company selling specialty Indian items at local farmer’s markets to a retailing supplier to large retailers. Aditi’s passion for food, cooking, and connecting with people motivates all her work and relationships.

Flowering Tree returns Aditi to her roots in India and fulfills her desire to work with women and children especially. The beauty and culture of her homeland is an inspiration, and work for Flowering Tree is a way to inspire and be inspired.

Aditi earned an MBA degree from Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta. She has worked previously in retail planning and real estate. Aditi currently resides in Norwalk, Connecticut with her two sons and two cats, life being defined by her work, family and friends, and her practice of yoga.

Monica is an accomplished executive with proven track record of mobilizing teams to deliver complex and large-scale global programs ($100 M+ budget, 3000+ people, 20+ teams, 10+ countries). Leveraging her technical and interpersonal skills, Monica is adept at building strong alignments and is consistently recognized as a strategic thinker, and a result-oriented leader. Monica specializes in organizational restructuring, operating model designs and modernizing IT services, products and infrastructure.

Monica’s personal experiences have led her to be a strong believer in women’s empowerment and an evangelist to promote resiliency children. Monica is based out of Princeton NJ, where she lives with her husband, two kids and dogs. She loves to hike, bike and read in her spare time.

Board member Emeritus

Nancy was a founding member of the board of Flowering Tree. Her insight and many years of rich experience of service were a critical guide in our early days. Nancy Starr passed away in 2010.

Nancy Starr held a Fine Arts degree from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. Her first career was in the textile industry where she started as a colorist, became a designer, a stylist, and eventually a Vice President of H.M. Kolbe Company and also of Cohn, Hall, Marx & Co. In mid-life, she started a second career "in the cause world." She was on staff of the American Friends Service Committee and later served on its Board of Directors.  She also served on the Board of Directors of the World Without War Council.  During this period, she met Bayard Rustin and worked with him on Project South Africa.  She was led, through Bayard Rustin, to the International Rescue Committee( IRC). Nancy served on the Board of the IRC for two decades.  During that time, Nancy also created and managed the IRC's Planned Giving program.