Kanika Sood is a dynamic Social Entrepreneur, Creative Producer, and Sustainability Educator with over 15 years of experience across marketing, branding, creative production, and environmental advocacy. As the founder of Humans of Hemp and NIEV (Needful Initiatives for Environment Ventures), now part of SEED Initiatives (Sustainability Education and Entrepreneurship Development Initiatives), she is dedicated to sustainable development, conservation, and education.
Professional Experience
HUMANS OF HEMP
Founder & Educator
(2023 - Present)
Created India’s first comprehensive hemp learning and community platform, aiming to promote sustainable hemp practices and scientific understanding.
Established HEMPBIS AND INDIA HEMP NETWORK an online magazine and research initiative, alongside Dr. Kshipra Misra ex-DRDO, focusing on agribusiness development and hemp-based wellness solutions.
Developing educational content, including a podcast, to deepen public knowledge on hemp and its environmental benefits.
NIEV
Social Entrepreneur
Consultant
(2011 - Present)
Kanika originally founded NIEV 2009 to promote sustainability, eco-tourism, and support local artisans in the Himalayas. With more people joining in and efforts becoming serious she registered Needful Initiatives for Environment Ventures as a Private Limited Company in 2011.
NIEV FOUNDATION was separately registered as a non profit trust to carry out the good work and make a difference.
She led NIEV’s adaptation to COURSEED.org during the COVID-19 pandemic to focus on education and entrepreneurship growth in the sectors of- sustainable farming, agronomy, and natural building solutions.
The Autofocus
Co- Founder
2014-Present
Kanika has spent more than a decade in marketing, branding and producing creative content for the some of the most desired brands in the automotive, lifestyle and luxury space.
A journey that started with a love for photography, blended with the interest in advertising and film production. Soon the creative aspect of her personality, met the business acumen that helps her to know this industry so well.
At The Autofocus she leads the core conceptualisation team and spends most of her time in creative ideation, budgeting, scheduling and handling production for most of the work. It’s taken a while to have built this ecosystem which allows her to have amazing experiences while traveling and working in over 28 countries.
Prosight Partners
Associate Partner
(2007 - 2017)
Kanika joined Prosight to manage market entry process for ILSC (one of the largest Canadian vocational training group) in setting up their india operations funded by Canadian fund CIDA.
Became a part of the founding team at Prosight Partners that was set up to advise entrepreneurs in finding strategic investors for growth acceleration and strategic buyers for business exit. Managed all key responsibilities at different stages from putting initial branding in place for the venture to preparing deal collaterals such as Information Memorandum to managing Deal sourcing.
Played active role as Strategist in the advisory board of Prosight Partners India and is also engaged at board level on Prosight global expansion in North America and Europe and other parts of Asia.
Long-term Goals and Vision
Kanika’s vision encompasses transformative projects aimed at sustainable growth and environmental stewardship.
Kanika’s work in promoting agronomy reflects her dedication to fostering knowledge-sharing and sustainable growth within the agricultural sector, ensuring that farmers have access to the best resources and support for long-term success.
Integrating Traditional and Modern Agronomy
Building a Hemp Ecosystem in India
Promoting Therapeutic Wellness
- Plans to establish ‘The Vijya,’ a wellness initiative dedicated to exploring the therapeutic applications of cannabis.