IDEAS INTO ACTION

Turning ideas into impact.

My work has taken me across business, technology, community building, public service and entrepreneurship. The settings have changed, but the question has remained remarkably consistent: How can we bring people, ideas and technology together to make things better?

01 Community

Takeout 25

Street scene with a food stand under a green canopy and a crowd of people waiting and walking by. The stand has a chalkboard menu and is situated in front of a shop with mannequins and clothing inside. An American flag is visible on the building in the background.

What began in 2020 as a simple idea to help local restaurants survive the pandemic grew into a community movement.

Takeout 25 brought residents, restaurants and community partners together around a shared belief: small individual actions, coordinated at scale, can create meaningful local impact.

The experience led to new work around sustainability, food security and stronger local business ecosystems—and ultimately to my book, The Takeout 25 Effect.

What I learned: Community isn't something we have. It's something we build.

Takeout 25: A Community-Driven Entrepreneurial Initiative in Illinois — SAGE Business Case / University of Virginia Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy
A teaching case examining Takeout 25 as an example of social entrepreneurship and community mobilization. Case study information

Chicago Tribune — “Takeout 25 Has Saved Local Restaurants in Oak Park. Now It's Flexing Its Spending Muscle Across the Chicago Border, in Austin.”
Takeout 25 was featured on the Chicago Tribune front page in May 2021. Media archive

02 Transformation

Junior Achievement

A man with glasses presenting to a large group of children seated in an auditorium. A presentation slide titled 'Our community' shows illustrations of houses, a park, a police station, and other community buildings.

At Junior Achievement of Chicago, I lead digital transformation—exploring how technology, data and artificial intelligence can help a century-old organization expand its impact for the next generation.

The work ranges from modernizing operations and measuring performance to developing new digital learning experiences and experimenting responsibly with AI.

What I’m learning: Digital transformation isn't primarily about technology. It's about helping people and organizations adapt.

03 Entrepreneurship

20fy.ai

20fy.ai grew from something I kept seeing through Takeout 25: independent restaurant owners are surrounded by valuable customer feedback but rarely have the time or tools to turn it into action.

We’re building an affordable AI-powered platform that helps restaurants understand what customers are saying, respond efficiently and turn feedback into practical insights for improving and growing their businesses.

What I’m learning: The most useful technology often begins with a very human problem.

04 Public Service

Oak Park

A group of people at a construction site with shovels, some smiling and working, with an urban building in the background under a clear blue sky.

From 2021 to 2025, I had the privilege of serving as an elected Village Trustee in Oak Park, Illinois.

Local government gave me a front-row seat to the opportunities and complexities of turning ideas into public policy. It reinforced the importance of listening across differences, balancing competing priorities and remembering that leadership is ultimately about the people affected by our decisions.

My term ended in 2025, but my interest in civic life and strong communities continues.

What I learned: Public service requires both conviction and humility.

Wednesday Journal — Oak Park Village President Election Coverage — 2024–2025
Profiles, candidate forums and reporting on Ravi Parakkat's campaign for Village President. Candidate profile

LESSONS

What the experiences are teaching me.

Leadership is the ability to mobilize others toward a shared purpose.
Impact compounds when people act together.
Technology matters when it improves people's lives.