Shriyans Bhandari

Shriyans Bhandari is an Indian social entrepreneur, author, educator, and sustainability advocate best known as the co-founder and chief executive officer of Greensole, a social enterprise dedicated to recycling and upcycling discarded footwear for underserved communities.

He has gained recognition for combining environmental sustainability with social impact, creating innovative solutions that address both waste management and access to basic necessities.

St. Paul's Senior Secondary School, Udaipur, and high school from Mayo College Ajmer

Mayo College, Ajmer
Jai Hind College, Babson College

Shriyans Bhandari was born in Udaipur, Rajasthan, India, and spent his early years in the city. He completed his schooling at St. Paul's Senior Secondary School, Udaipur, and later attended Mayo College, Ajmer, one of India's prominent residential schools.

He subsequently earned a Bachelor of Management Studies in Finance from Jai Hind College, Mumbai, and went on to pursue a Master's degree in Entrepreneurial Leadership at Babson College's Franklin W. Olin Graduate School of Business in the United States.

An avid athlete and marathon runner, he developed a passion for long-distance running during his youth. Through participation in numerous races, he became increasingly aware of the environmental impact of discarded sports shoes. Observing that many used shoes were being thrown away despite still having usable components, he began exploring ways to extend their life cycle and reduce waste.

Inspired by this realization, he co-founded Greensole with fellow athlete Ramesh Dhami. The organization was established with the objective of collecting used athletic shoes, refurbishing them, and transforming them into durable footwear for people who could not afford shoes.

The initiative sought to address two challenges simultaneously: reducing environmental pollution caused by footwear waste and improving access to footwear among disadvantaged populations.

Under his leadership, Greensole evolved from a small sustainability initiative into a recognized social enterprise. The organization developed partnerships with corporations, educational institutions, and community groups to collect discarded footwear and distribute recycled shoes and slippers to children and families in need.

Through these efforts, Greensole has become an example of a circular-economy model that combines environmental responsibility with social welfare.

Shriyans Bhandari has also been active in education and institutional leadership. He serves as a Director and Board Member of Heritage Girls School in Udaipur, where he has contributed to initiatives focused on education, leadership development, and student empowerment. His work reflects a broader commitment to social progress extending beyond environmental sustainability.

As a social entrepreneur, he has supported numerous philanthropic initiatives focused on improving access to footwear, education, and livelihood opportunities. Through Greensole, he has overseen programs that distribute footwear to underprivileged children and has worked on projects aimed at creating employment opportunities through footwear recycling and manufacturing.

One such initiative involved the establishment of a skill-development center in partnership with Tata Steel to train tribal women in recycling and footwear production.

He is also a public speaker and advocate for sustainability and entrepreneurship. He has delivered talks at various educational and professional forums and has served as a TEDx speaker, sharing insights on social innovation, environmental challenges, and purpose-driven enterprise.

He has spoken at national and international platforms, advocating the role of entrepreneurship in solving social and ecological problems.

In addition to his entrepreneurial activities, he is an accomplished author. He authored "Birds of Aravallis," a work produced in association with the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation and the Bombay Natural History Society, reflecting his interest in nature and conservation.

He later co-authored "Lessons of a Curious Sole," a book that chronicles his entrepreneurial journey and the lessons learned from building Greensole and pursuing social impact through business.

His work has earned him significant recognition within the fields of social entrepreneurship and sustainability. He was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list in the Social Entrepreneurs category and has received several accolades for innovation, environmental stewardship, and impact-driven business leadership. His efforts have been highlighted by a variety of national and international media and business organizations.

Photo Gallery