The only Official French Language Institute and Cultural Centre in Mumbai

NOTABLE ALUMNI

The only Official French Language Institute and Cultural centre in Mumbai

Read on to know why we say “One Language, Many Opportunities!”

www.bombay.afindia.org

About AF Bombay

Founded in 1938, Alliance Française de Bombay aims to promote Franco-Indian relations in the fields of education and culture.

Ms Rachana Thakkar,

Head of HR & Admin and Mumbai Office Representative at BTG

Advaya

Rachana embarked on her French language journey at Alliance Française de Bombay in 2009, achieving DELF B2 and DFP C1 certifications by 2014. Her career progression saw her working at Bouygues Construction India Pvt. Ltd. in 2016 as an Admin & Expat Liaison officer, handling expatriate relocations, government communications, visa processes, and assisting the CFO.

From 2017 to 2020, she contributed to the French Embassy in India and Business France, overseeing the French Young Professionals' Program in India and aiding French companies in navigating the Indian market.

In 2023, Rachana assumed a significant role at BTG Advaya as the Head of HR & Admin and as the Mumbai office's representative for the French desk, working alongside a French lawyer and participating in the CCEF in India to facilitate legal support for French clients through a bilingual platform.

Mrs Sheetal Munshaw Director of Atout France Mumbai

Sheetal Munshaw's journey with the French language began in 1994 at the Alliance Française de Bombay, where she completed her Diplôme Supérieur d’Etudes Françaises Modernes- Littérature in 1998.

Her early exposure to French culture came through participation in the Centre Internationaux Francophones des Lions Clubs de France in 1997.

She continued her academic pursuit with a Master's in the French Language at the University of Mumbai and embarked on a versatile career.

She initially served as a professor at Elphinstone College and later transitioned to journalism. In 2004, Sheetal joined Maison de la France, The French Tourism Board, eventually becoming the Deputy Director in 2007.

She founded her consultancy, Avant Garde, promoting premium travel offerings and representing Chamonix Mont Blanc Tourist Office. Since 2015, she has been the Director of Atout France, achieving significant growth in Indian tourists visiting France.

She received numerous awards, including recognition from ICUNR and LuxeBook, and holds advisory roles in prominent travel publications and commerce chambers.

Mrs Priyanka Shah Talim Head of Innovation at Toulouse School of Economics

Priyanka reflects on her transformative journey of learning the French language, describing her experience at the Alliance Française de Bombay as a holistic immersion into French culture.

As a member of the students committee, she actively contributed to promoting French arts and traditions within the local community.

After completing her DFA at AF Bombay in 2005, Priyanka worked at Campus France, becoming a facilitator for Indo-French educational collaborations, witnessing how proficiency in French fostered understanding between diverse cultures.

Her current role at the Toulouse School of Economics since 2013 has been immensely rewarding, offering opportunities to contribute to cutting-edge projects and collaborate with experts in the field.

AF Bombay not only provided linguistic skills but also became the backdrop for a significant personal chapter, as she met her husband there and celebrated their wedding with the Alliance Française team.

Living in France, they continue their commitment to the French language and culture, promoting world peace and friendship through their involvement in an association. For Priyanka, learning French goes beyond communication skills, unlocking doors to opportunities and meaningful contributions to both local and global communities, making her journey not just linguistic but cultural as well.

Ms Itisha Poladia English, Hindi, and Sanskrit Professor at Bordeaux, France

Itisha, a multilingual specialist with a strong background in German and French, has had a diverse career trajectory, starting from language roles in corporations like Siemens and Colgate-Palmolive, progressing to a business process lead at TCS, and briefly serving as a French Language Expert at Maersk.

After completing her C1 course at AF Bombay in 2018, she transitioned into education, teaching French at AF Bombay, before embarking on a bilingual teaching initiative in France.

Her work in promoting multilingual education extended to her role as a Research Associate at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, where she was involved in major exhibitions.

Recently, she earned a DALF C2 certificate, cementing her expertise in French. Itisha's journey reflects her commitment to language learning and cultural exchange, leading her to become a cultural representative of India in France, where she shares her knowledge on language learning benefits, Indian culture, history, and life in Mumbai with students across various schools, showcasing the vast opportunities that learning French can offer.