Indian-American 'most powerful, influential' woman in California

Shefali Razdan Duggal, a top Indian-American fundraiser at President Barack Obama's re-election campaign, has made it to a prestigious list of the "most powerful and influential women" of California.

40-year-old Shefali, also a member of Obama's Presidential Partners, National Finance Committee (NFC) and Northern California Finance Committee, will be formally recognised at a ceremony on February 2.

National Diversity Council, a non-profit organisation which champions diversity in workplace and communities, has chosen Shefali as one of the "2012 Most Powerful and Influential Women of California".

She is among the top fundraisers for Obama's re-election campaign and raised between USD 50,000 and USD 100,000.

Regarding the honour, Shefali told PTI, "I am absolutely humbled and honoured to have been undeservedly recognised for my efforts within the Democratic Party.

"The National Diversity Council is a prestigious and well-reputed organisation, and I am very grateful to have been considered amongst such a meaningful group of individuals who were nominated, all of which were exceedingly talented."

"I am deeply appreciative of the award and I will attempt, to the best of my ability, to strive towards being helpful, in some small way, to the larger community of which we live," Shefali, who is also a member of the Democratic National Committee, Asian-American Leadership Council and the DNC National Steering Committee, said.

Originally from India, Shefali has been raised in Cincinnati, Chicago, New York and Boston. She received an MA in Political Communication from New York University and a BS in Mass Communication from Miami University .

Earlier, Shefali, a mother of two, had been active in Senator Obama's 2008 Presidential campaign and had also been associated with Senator Hillary Clinton's Presidential campaign where she was a member of the campaign's Northern California Steering Committee and the Women for Hillary Committee.

Apart from being committed to political advocacy, Shefali has worked towards bridging the gap between India and United States and her focus is on invigorating the South Asian Community to become increasingly involved and devoted to the political process.