Meet Our Executive Director, Archana Jayaram

On leadership, community, and building what comes next.

When Archana Jayaram stepped into her role as Executive Director of Brooklyn Community Services in January, she didn’t arrive with a list of changes to make.

She arrived with questions.

In her first few months, she’s been conducting what she calls “listening tours,” traveling across programs, meeting staff, and learning what makes BCS what it is. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we’re taking a moment to meet one of the women who will lead BCS into the future, getting insight into her journey, her leadership, and what she hopes to build alongside the BCS community.

Archana’s story begins with community—not as a concept, but as something lived.

Can you tell us a little about the path that led you here?

“I grew up in West Virginia in a South Asian community in a very [non-diverse] place, and what I experienced was a lot of mutual aid. It didn’t matter where people were from or what language they spoke; people just showed up for each other.

That gave me a really strong sense of the importance of community and of the support that comes from people who just choose to care about you.

With that being the foundation of my background, I knew—when I graduated from college—I didn’t want to do something that didn’t involve people. I came to New York as an urban fellow, working in city government, and I realized even as the most junior person in the room, the decisions I made could have an impact. That was an incredible feeling.”

Archana in conversation with Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, who represents Coney Island.

What ultimately drew you to nonprofit work and to BCS specifically?

“In government, leadership can change everything. But in nonprofits, the mission is clear, and it doesn’t shift based on one person. There’s something really powerful about being part of a place where everyone is working toward the same goal.

With BCS, the history here is huge and powerful. The range of programs is really special. What I see is an organization with so much potential, because the foundation is so strong. The staff, the programs, the intention behind the work…it’s all there.

Now it’s about asking: how do we build from that?”

You’ve been at BCS for a little less than four months, and immediately you kicked off your work with a listening tour. Why was that important to you?

“The worst thing I could do is come in and assume I know things that I don’t know. The best way to learn is to go to the sites, talk to staff, and see the work in action.

One thing I’ve been really intentional about is starting with what’s working. And I keep hearing the same things: ‘I love my team. I love the program. I love the participants.’ That tells me a lot is working really well.

At the same time, there are challenges—and across all of our different programs, there are some common threads. My job is to figure out how to help and how to build connections and provide solutions across all of that work.”

How would you describe your leadership style?

“I would say my leadership style is very inclusive. I like to ask a lot of questions and hear different perspectives.

But I also don’t want us to get stuck in decision-making forever. It’s about engaging the right people, gathering input, and then moving forward.

Earlier in my career, I felt like I always knew the solution. But over time, I’ve learned that just because I think something is right doesn’t mean that’s the end of the conversation.

It’s not just my decision, it’s our decision. And if people don’t believe in what we’re doing, then we have to rethink it.”

Archana visits the Spring Into Action event, celebrating the launch of the BCS Shower Bus season.

In celebration of Women’s History Month, who are some of the women who have influenced your leadership?

“So many. My mom is one of the biggest influences—she was a doctor who ran her own private practice, which was pretty unusual for an Indian immigrant woman at the time. She was fearless and never thought there was anything she couldn’t do.

I’ve also had incredible female mentors throughout my career, women who were strong, confident, and never hesitated to take up space.

Because of that, I’ve never really felt like I shouldn’t speak up or demonstrate what I bring to the table.

At the same time, I think about how previous generations worked incredibly hard—sometimes to the point of burnout—and I want to model that you can do meaningful work and also take care of yourself.”

What excites you most about the future of Brooklyn and BCS’s role in it?

“I think BCS has a real opportunity to be a conduit for the voices of the people we serve.

We work with thousands of Brooklynites every year, and we understand their needs in a very real way. If we can bring those voices into advocacy spaces and decision-making conversations, that’s how we help shape the future.

We’re not just talking about ideas, we’re talking about what people are actually experiencing on the ground.”

If you had to describe your first few months at BCS in one word, what would it be?

“Intense,” she said, before pausing. “But also… beautiful.

The thing I’ve enjoyed most is seeing how teams support each other and how we show up for our participants.

In a world that can feel chaotic, there’s something really grounding about being in a place where people are doing good work, taking care of each other, and creating a sense of safety.”

What’s one thing you want people to know about BCS?

“Nearly anything you need, you can find here.

We just need to keep getting better at telling that story.”

What legacy do you hope to leave at BCS?

“I want BCS to be the best place to work in this field.

A place where people feel supported, valued, and proud to be part of the work. Because when staff feel that way, it translates into better support for the communities we serve.”

As Archana continues to usher us toward our future, we are excited to have an Executive Director who not only sees the power in the work we have done so far, but is ready to both lead and partner with us to keep meeting the needs of our community and maintaining the essence of what it means to be Brooklyn Strong. 

Archana, BCS Chief Advancement Officer, Raine Martin, and New York City Governor, Kathy Hochul.