Our Team @Redefine Women

Originally from India, Irfana Patla, the founder and the executive director of Redefine Women, works as an LMFT at a private mental health clinic in Claremont. She has a double master MSc in computer science, MS in Psychology and is currently pursuing PsyD (doctorate in psychology). Irfana Patla is a compassionate, empathetic, resilient woman who came to the United States to make a fresh start to the second innings of her life. Although she briefly worked in the IT Industry for a few years, she took a break from work and stayed at home for a brief period due to personal issues. Her career took a turning point when she started working as a Manager at Asha Hospital in Hyderabad, India. She realized that her passion is to help people and empower them to be self-reliant. Irfana Patla formed REDEFINE WOMEN after learning that it takes a while to complete her doctorate. She does not want to delay working on her lifelong passion of helping people. Her motto "Don't wait until tomorrow. Maybe it's too late to do the things you can do it today". Her life's aim is not only to serve people but bring a change in our society where future generations should no longer suffer from Gender discrimination.

Manoja Weerakoon is a board member and treasurer at Redefine Women. She has a bachelor’s degree (B.A.) in Sociology, and a master’s in philosophy (M.Phil.). She started her carrier as an Assistant Lecturer at one of the prestigious Universities in Southeast Asia, the University of Peradeniya Sri Lanka. She worked closely with young adults as a teacher, mentor, and assistant academic sub warden of one of the girls’ hostels in the University. As a young adult, she was an active member of Rotaract Club and worked as Director of Community Service and Secretary of the club. She launched many social service projects to help young children, seniors, and incarcerated individuals. Later she moved to the field of market research and did qualitative research. She had the opportunity to work at the grassroots level with people to assist major companies in marketing their brands.

 Manoja worked as the customer service manager in one of the prominent USA bank’s Citibank N.A. During her tenure as the customer service manager, she had the opportunity to assist diplomats and others in their banking needs. Before moving to the USA, she worked in a large motor company as a customer service manager. She had the opportunity to teach and encourage service providers and employees to improve their customer service skills. Manoja always had a passion for helping young children. She changed her field of work to teach young children ages 2 – 8 years, as an elementary teacher and a preschool teacher in La Canada. She has a diploma in Montessori education. She is very passionate about her carrier as an early childhood educator and now owns an early childcare center in La Habra. She was recognized by KPCC-NPR Public Radio during the 2020/2021 pandemic for her work as a childcare provider to her community. She is also a real estate broker and owns her own company. Real Estate is the best way to empower voiceless and powerless people to build their sustainable wealth to secure their future. She helped many of her clients go above and beyond their expectations to fulfill their lifelong dream by providing down payment assistance to secure their first home. She loves to help others, and even during her university days, she worked as a volunteer in an organization that helped people in mental distress by providing confidential emotional support to them by joining an organization called Sumithrayo in Sri Lanka. 

Manoja is happy to be a valued member of Redefine Women. She sees this as an opportunity to empower other women to open their businesses and develop their self-worth. She brings many years of work experience with many age groups and people of different walks of life to understand and serve others who need her help. Manoja takes pride in being a mom, wife, friend, mentor, and educator who loves nature and travel.