Akanksha Aga

Founder of Breaking Bread USA • (she/her)

@breakingbreadusa

Tell us about yourself, your connection to Rhode Island, and your work.

I came to Rhode Island from India for college about 20 years ago. I am happy that I made that move. Rhode Island is home; it is where I found so many exciting opportunities and met people who made this home for me. Our vision at Breaking Bread is to offer mentorship and leadership development to anyone who is interested in growing.

What’s your motivation for doing this work?

Nothing connects people like breaking bread together. Our unique peer group format offers a supportive environment to develop 4Cs: competency, connections, confidence, and community. I’ve been fortunate to work in leadership positions with national reach and global clients, but I knew that Breaking Bread belonged in Rhode Island. Breaking Bread is here to bridge the talent-opportunity gap. If you ask anyone with a successful career, they will probably recognize a mentor who guided them and opened doors for them.

In what ways do you hope to leave an impact on the Ocean State in the coming year?

Small businesses, hospitality, restaurants, and tourism are central to Rhode Island’s economy. Running a small business is very challenging. I understand first-hand how difficult these industries are and unfortunately, training can slip through the cracks. We’re here to support people in their career growth and develop leadership skills needed at different levels. We want to partner with more local organizations for a true win-win. When people grow, it has a ripple effect on the families, community, and ultimately the economy.

What challenges do you anticipate having to overcome to achieve these goals?

To be candid, if this work were easy, it would have been done by now. For the longest time, mentoring and training have been seen as nice to have, but they are actually much needed. Employee turnover, disengagement, team conflicts – these are the results of not investing in people. We’re already seeing positive results and want to show the impact of mentorship. Change is never easy, but my father taught me that stamina and determination can overcome many challenges. I’m in this for the long run.

What’s your reason for optimism approaching 2026?

People. I am filled with hope when I see people being there for others. I will never forget the first time that a Breaking Bread program participant offered to pay for a future participant – quite literally pay it forward! This is the ripple effect we are looking for and makes me optimistic. The incredible support we received in 2025 has helped us build and scale for 2026. We’re ready for breaking bread and breaking barriers!

Sponsored by URI College of Business • web.uri.edu/business