Sameera Chukkapalli Holmes
Founder and Director at Needlab- Claim this Profile
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English Full professional proficiency
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Hindi Native or bilingual proficiency
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Telugu Native or bilingual proficiency
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Kannada Full professional proficiency
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Spanish Elementary proficiency
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Bio
Maria Isabel Vélez I.
It was an unexpected, but very great opportunity to work with Sameera and all the Needlab team. I always wondered how do "those impactful companies and young people" actually get to make a difference in the world, so that I could one day do the same. I definitely must say I learnt that and much more. Sameera taught me you need to have commitment beyond any belief, hard work (which you could evidence from her always), the ability to tell people your ideas openly and with the best attitude, but also to accept any answer with grace and kindness. As a leader she was also very skilled in connecting not only ideas, but people as well. I found specially remarkable how from one day to another she announced having got support from X big company or institution, or also made not only a ton of applications to spread the word about the project in competitions, but also managed to come back home with the price. What I would highlight the most about her skills is not only her knowledge in her field, but the amazing managing, hands on and creative skills to make a project come to life. If you ask me, those are the things you need to "make a change". Thank you Sameera for the time together and for all that I could learn from you! Hope to keep in touch.
Ruben Brunsveld
I had the pleasure and honour of mentoring Sameera through the Swedish Institute Management Programme Asia. This programme brings together progressive executives to work on sustainable business and responsible leadership. As a participant Sameera was quick thinking, someone who saw the bigger picture and always open to learn more. She also possesses the rare combination of having high-end expertise; empathy to apply that expertise for the greater good and the ability to communicate about it at any given level. I gladly recommend Sameera to anyone who considers working with her!
Maria Isabel Vélez I.
It was an unexpected, but very great opportunity to work with Sameera and all the Needlab team. I always wondered how do "those impactful companies and young people" actually get to make a difference in the world, so that I could one day do the same. I definitely must say I learnt that and much more. Sameera taught me you need to have commitment beyond any belief, hard work (which you could evidence from her always), the ability to tell people your ideas openly and with the best attitude, but also to accept any answer with grace and kindness. As a leader she was also very skilled in connecting not only ideas, but people as well. I found specially remarkable how from one day to another she announced having got support from X big company or institution, or also made not only a ton of applications to spread the word about the project in competitions, but also managed to come back home with the price. What I would highlight the most about her skills is not only her knowledge in her field, but the amazing managing, hands on and creative skills to make a project come to life. If you ask me, those are the things you need to "make a change". Thank you Sameera for the time together and for all that I could learn from you! Hope to keep in touch.
Ruben Brunsveld
I had the pleasure and honour of mentoring Sameera through the Swedish Institute Management Programme Asia. This programme brings together progressive executives to work on sustainable business and responsible leadership. As a participant Sameera was quick thinking, someone who saw the bigger picture and always open to learn more. She also possesses the rare combination of having high-end expertise; empathy to apply that expertise for the greater good and the ability to communicate about it at any given level. I gladly recommend Sameera to anyone who considers working with her!
Maria Isabel Vélez I.
It was an unexpected, but very great opportunity to work with Sameera and all the Needlab team. I always wondered how do "those impactful companies and young people" actually get to make a difference in the world, so that I could one day do the same. I definitely must say I learnt that and much more. Sameera taught me you need to have commitment beyond any belief, hard work (which you could evidence from her always), the ability to tell people your ideas openly and with the best attitude, but also to accept any answer with grace and kindness. As a leader she was also very skilled in connecting not only ideas, but people as well. I found specially remarkable how from one day to another she announced having got support from X big company or institution, or also made not only a ton of applications to spread the word about the project in competitions, but also managed to come back home with the price. What I would highlight the most about her skills is not only her knowledge in her field, but the amazing managing, hands on and creative skills to make a project come to life. If you ask me, those are the things you need to "make a change". Thank you Sameera for the time together and for all that I could learn from you! Hope to keep in touch.
Ruben Brunsveld
I had the pleasure and honour of mentoring Sameera through the Swedish Institute Management Programme Asia. This programme brings together progressive executives to work on sustainable business and responsible leadership. As a participant Sameera was quick thinking, someone who saw the bigger picture and always open to learn more. She also possesses the rare combination of having high-end expertise; empathy to apply that expertise for the greater good and the ability to communicate about it at any given level. I gladly recommend Sameera to anyone who considers working with her!
Maria Isabel Vélez I.
It was an unexpected, but very great opportunity to work with Sameera and all the Needlab team. I always wondered how do "those impactful companies and young people" actually get to make a difference in the world, so that I could one day do the same. I definitely must say I learnt that and much more. Sameera taught me you need to have commitment beyond any belief, hard work (which you could evidence from her always), the ability to tell people your ideas openly and with the best attitude, but also to accept any answer with grace and kindness. As a leader she was also very skilled in connecting not only ideas, but people as well. I found specially remarkable how from one day to another she announced having got support from X big company or institution, or also made not only a ton of applications to spread the word about the project in competitions, but also managed to come back home with the price. What I would highlight the most about her skills is not only her knowledge in her field, but the amazing managing, hands on and creative skills to make a project come to life. If you ask me, those are the things you need to "make a change". Thank you Sameera for the time together and for all that I could learn from you! Hope to keep in touch.
Ruben Brunsveld
I had the pleasure and honour of mentoring Sameera through the Swedish Institute Management Programme Asia. This programme brings together progressive executives to work on sustainable business and responsible leadership. As a participant Sameera was quick thinking, someone who saw the bigger picture and always open to learn more. She also possesses the rare combination of having high-end expertise; empathy to apply that expertise for the greater good and the ability to communicate about it at any given level. I gladly recommend Sameera to anyone who considers working with her!
Credentials
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Swedish Institute Management Program
The Swedish InstituteSep, 2019- Oct, 2024
Experience
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Needlab
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Spain
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Architecture and Planning
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1 - 100 Employee
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Founder and Director
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Sep 2016 - Present
Needlab is a design research organization aimed at solving sustainability issues for communities using human-centred design strategies. We stand by the motto for the people, by the people, of the people and we are of the opinion design is responsible for making lives better. With the ideology of “think global, act local”, we focus on unveiling new ways of creating a dialogue between local materials, social customs, cultural heritage, and the environment. Needlab is a design research organization aimed at solving sustainability issues for communities using human-centred design strategies. We stand by the motto for the people, by the people, of the people and we are of the opinion design is responsible for making lives better. With the ideology of “think global, act local”, we focus on unveiling new ways of creating a dialogue between local materials, social customs, cultural heritage, and the environment.
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Obama Foundation
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United States
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Non-profit Organizations
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200 - 300 Employee
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Obama Leader
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Jan 2022 - Present
The program identifies emerging leaders working in government, civil society, and the private sector who have demonstrated a commitment to advancing the common good. The aim is to build a growing network of innovative and ethical changemakers who seek to drive change in their communities while developing and supporting one another. Through a core set of shared values and leadership skills, the program seeks to lift up a new generation of civically active, positive role models who are prepared to create tangible solutions to the challenges in their communities, countries, Europe, and the world. Show less
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NYU Tandon School of Engineering
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Higher Education
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700 & Above Employee
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Adjunct Professor
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Jan 2023 - Present
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Pratt Institute
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United States
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Higher Education
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700 & Above Employee
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Visiting Associate Professor
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Jan 2023 - Present
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L'école LDLC
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France
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Education Administration Programs
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1 - 100 Employee
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Visiting Lecturer - Social Innovation
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Mar 2020 - Present
Sustainable and innovative project Ideation mentorship to achieve UNSDG goals. Sustainable and innovative project Ideation mentorship to achieve UNSDG goals.
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UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme)
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Kenya
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International Affairs
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700 & Above Employee
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UN-Habitat Assembly, Exhibitor and Speaker
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May 2019 - Jun 2019
Selected build and exhibit a self-sufficient, resilient house designed by needlab at the UN-HABITAT Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya. I strongly believe everyone deserves and has the right to safe, dignified shelter. I am honoured for the oppertunity given by UN-Habitat and Vnext for their support. During the "House for all, Leaving no one behind" session, I presented a solution developed by Needlab and its collaborators which aims at solving the problem of secondary homelessness sustainably. This presentation was followed by a panel discussion and opened up to the public for questions. Show less
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Yunus & Youth
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United States
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Civic and Social Organizations
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1 - 100 Employee
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Fellow
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Apr 2018 - Nov 2018
Yunus&Youth is an organization supported by Nobel Peace Prize Professor Muhammad Yunus incubating the next generation of social business leaders. Yunus&Youth is an organization supported by Nobel Peace Prize Professor Muhammad Yunus incubating the next generation of social business leaders.
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Fab City Foundation
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Estonia
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Architecture and Planning
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1 - 100 Employee
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Fellow
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Apr 2017 - Jun 2018
Fab City Global Initiative is enabling this shift away from the industrial paradigm of Product-in Trash-out, by enabling the return of manufacture to cities supported by a Data-in Data-out urban model. Fab City Global Initiative is enabling this shift away from the industrial paradigm of Product-in Trash-out, by enabling the return of manufacture to cities supported by a Data-in Data-out urban model.
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Carpe LA
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Greater Los Angeles Area
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Designer
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Apr 2017 - Jan 2018
CARPE LA Augmented Reality project, funded by the LA2050 program, to eliminate gray zones in public parks and to make them user-friendly. Developed the product based human-centered design logic, user experience, and digital physical interaction. Was part of the core team to develop the augmentation of the app using Unity. CARPE LA Augmented Reality project, funded by the LA2050 program, to eliminate gray zones in public parks and to make them user-friendly. Developed the product based human-centered design logic, user experience, and digital physical interaction. Was part of the core team to develop the augmentation of the app using Unity.
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vo trong nghia architects
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Ho chi minh city, Vietman
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Design Assistant
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Feb 2015 - Jun 2015
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External reference architects
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Barcelona Area, Spain
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Architectural Design Intern
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Aug 2014 - Jan 2015
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Education
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2016 - 2017
Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia
APPLIED RESEARCH – OPEN THESIS FABRICATION, Architecture -
2018 - 2018
University of Southern California - Marshall School of Business
Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies -
2015 - 2016
Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia
Master’s Degree, Architecture -
2013 - 2013
UC Berkeley College of Environmental Design
courses, interactive architecture -
2010 - 2015
B. M. S. College of Engineering
Bachelor’s Degree, Architecture
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