Sdas21@nul.org

Shanti Das is an accomplished entertainment industry veteran, speaker, author, and Philanthropist. Shanti worked in the entertainment business for over 25 years. Her music industry career (from intern to Executive Vice President) included positions at Capitol Records, LaFace Records, Columbia Records, Sony Urban Music and Universal Motown where she worked directly with some of music’s top talent like OutKast, Usher, Prince, TLC, Toni Braxton, Erykah Badu, and more. As a result of Shanti’s extensive community work in the 2000 decade, she decided to establish her very own nonprofit, The Hip-Hop Professional Foundation, Inc. The foundation was rebranded under the name Silence the Shame, Inc., the mental health movement that lead the way since 2016. Shanti has suffered from depression/anxiety over the years and has also experienced love ones affected with mental health disorders. Silence the Shame, Inc. has received global awareness and has become a commonly used hashtag to normalize the conversation in America. Shanti’s foundation curates community conversations, offers wellness trainings, creates content and broadens awareness & education around mental health and wellness. (In 2019, Silence the Shame was awarded one of five awards by the American Psychiatric Association Foundation for advancing minority mental health). In addition to running her nonprofit, Shanti formed a new brand called Yeah Wellness! She speaks live at companies/universities sharing her inspiring story and now facilitating virtual webinars around mental wellness with licensed mental health clinicians.

Companies include: Warner Chappell Publishing, National Geographic, SB Projects, Translation, NBA, Sony ATV, EA Sports, Sony Music UK, Warner Media, Warner Music Group, Def Jam, Dillard University, Syracuse University, Alabama A&M and more. Awards and Honors • 2019 - Shanti was named a Top Changemaker in the World (#7 out of 100) by a UK publication called The Big Issue! • 2019 - The American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) has named Shanti Das as the recipient of the 2019 Media Award for her program entitled, Silence the Shame, which openly addresses the stigmas and misconceptions on mental health. • 2020 – NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Health) awarded Shanti Das their 2020 Multicultural Award. • 2020 Named an Essence magazine Essential Hero in Mental Health • 2021 Culture Creators Health and Wellness Award