Testimonials

Testimonials from LinkedIn…

WRITING

“Lavanya is a dedicated and bright voice. She was a delight to work with, extremely professional and respectful. I would highly recommend Ms Sunkara as a writer.” ~ Allison Argo, Emmy Winning Producer, Director, Writer, Editor, Narrator, ArgoFilms, Ltd.

“Lavanya is a passionate person. A more apt description is a passionate person with conviction. Her writing attests to this. Whereas some might develop a passion for that which they write about, Lavanya writes about that which she is passionate. As such, her writing comes from the heart. If Lavanya takes on an assignment you can be assured that her whole heart is into it. That level of integrity is hard to find.” ~ Qaalfa Dibeehi

“Lavanya is a consummate professional who uses her pen to enlighten, inform and drive positive change among her readers and the editorial industry at large. Whether she’s writing about conservation, adventure, healthcare, or wildlife, Lavanya delivers thoughtful, insightful, and engaging content every single time — and also happens to be amazingly fast. She’s an editor’s dream and a truly generous colleague and human being. Her integrity and commitment to quality are unparalleled and her writing speaks for itself. I can’t recommend her highly enough.” ~ Dana Weidig, Associate Director & Senior Editor at Environmental Defense Fund

“‘Extremely dedicated and exceptionally talented’ is the phrase that comes to mind when I think about Lavanya. Her generous spirit and enthusiastic personality makes her an absolute pleasure to travel and work with. Lavanya is a brilliant writer who has the ability to capture moments and fine details in a way that makes her pieces both compelling and captivating. She writes from a place of compassion and authenticity, which is evident in her work. It’s rare to come across writers such as Lavanya who have a true purpose for their talent. I highly recommend Lavanya as an experienced and accomplished writer.” ~ Olivia Gilmore

“Lavanya is a brilliant storyteller and passionate conservationist. Her entire ethos centers around writing with a purpose, uncovering and telling stories that matter, and giving voices to those who don’t always have a voice. I’ve worked with Lavanya in a few capacities. She wrote a beautiful story for Pilgrim Magazine—a publication I founded. She also volunteered time in a marketing capacity for an initiative I created called Street Dogs of the World. Most recently, we traveled together (and met for the first time in person!) with New Brunswick Tourism for a few journalistic pieces. In person, Lavanya’s passion is even more pronounced. She cares deeply for the environment, advocacy, conservation, and animal welfare. And that care is evident in all of her finished work.” ~ Ashley M. Halligan, Founder of Pilgrim Magazine

Lavanya has always been a reliable, amazing, and delightful journalist to work with! We have been lucky enough to work with her on several articles throughout the years. She has always been personable, insightful, and responsible. And we are pleased to see her career grow to match her talents and passions! I would recommend her right away for any journalism job needed. ~ Tod Emko, Founder of Darwin Animal Doctors

Lavanya is a prolific writer with a keen eye for wildlife, nature and preservation efforts—the subjects she cares deeply about. She works tirelessly to educate the readers about our planet and the creatures we share it with. She uses her writing talents and passions to truly make the world a better place for all living beings, whether human or animal. And she is a pleasure to work with! ~ Lina Zeldovich, Book Author & Journalist

Lavanya is amazing to work with. She’s creative, intuitive and thinks about angles before I get the chance to. Solid writer, passionate and professional. ~ Stefanie Michaels, Adventure Girl

“Lavanya writes with her heart. Her work reflects depth of courage and richness of experience. The quality of her writing is technically strong and emotionally engaging. Whether it is about bringing home the message of conservation via JeffCorwinConnect.com, and her interviews with tree huggers at the ‘Embracing Trees’ blog, or deep personal narratives that move the reader memorably (including a recent one in the NY Times), her work necessitates meditations on the collective condition of our species, and the relationships we have with other species and with our planet. Therefore, I strongly recommend her work to anyone who is looking for high quality and refreshing verve in writing.” ~ Vinodh Valluri

“Lavanya is a passionate, driven and resourceful writer with strong values, integrity and honesty. She can tell a story with humor and intimacy, bringing the reader into a culture or experience as if it was their own.” ~ Amy Paul, Development Consultant

“Lavanya is an editor’s dream. She understands assignments and her work is spot on. Can’t wait to have her contribute more.” ~ Diana Edelman, Founder of Vegans, Baby 

“Lavanya writes with an authenticity and openness that gives the reader insight while taking them along on an emotional journey. Her words engender you to feel as invested in the outcome of her various adventures as if you were physically along for the ride.” ~Dr. Alisa Hurwitz, drdrama.com

“Lavanya Sunkara is the consummate professional. Ever since I met her a few years ago, I have been taken with her professional attitude and work ethic. She is one of the most well-read, and well-spoken people I know, able to hold an intriguing conversation on virtually any topic. It’s this inquisitiveness that makes her such a great writer. Lavanya is not satisfied with scratching the surface of a story, or writing something that only touches on any particular issue. She is driven to delve deeper than the assignment requires, to get to the real heart of the story and to answer the tough questions that reside there. I am obviously a big fan of her work and I look forward to the work she will produce in the future. Her personal values and beliefs when it comes to social issues like this are truly inspiring. Her commitment to making this world a better place is absolutely genuine and I know that Lavanya will make an unforgettable mark on this planet. Her best and most important work is yet to come.” ~Michael Venzor

EDITING

“Lavanya’s editorial instincts worked magic to dig a story out of ruts in the road and move it forward on a more vibrant and vital path. I cannot thank her enough.” ~ Lisa Rubiner, Writer 

“Lavanya is an inspired, prolific writer and editor. As a writer, her passion for her subject matter comes through in the form of creative original story ideas and clean, engaging prose. As an editor, she’s always able to bring stories to life by strengthening themes, filling holes in reporting, and smoothing bumpy transitions. And as a colleague, Lavanya is positive, upbeat and reliable! My team can always count on Lavanya to do a phenomenal job covering complex animal health topics for our readers. Her clear writing style, vast industry knowledge, and strong relationships with sources make for true service journalism that enriches the lives of those who read it. I recommend Lavanya without reservation!” ~ Wendy Toth, Co-Founder, Great Pet Care

“Lavanya is a talented writer who oozes integrity. She carefully considers how her work will impact higher causes like animal rights or diversity initiatives and so she effects change along with her storytelling and through her expertise. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Lavanya as an editor and as a fellow freelancer, and she has played a pivotal role in elevating the voices of a broad range of female freelancers through a supportive group that she oversees. Lavanya is a passionate journalist and advocate, who anyone would be lucky to have in their corner. ” ~ Brittany Chrusciel, Writer and Editor

“I had enjoyed reading Lavanya’s articles from the small press to the New York Times, but her enthusiastic, positive but constructive edit of an early draft of my novel made me a permanent fan. She is a passionate writer and editor, about whom I can’t gush enough. Highly recommend.” ~ Supriya Savkoor, Author

DEI Work

“In addition to being a talented journalist, Lavanya has been a champion for change in the travel industry, particularly when it comes to issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) for all the years I’ve had the pleasure to work with her. I admire her courage to speak up and mobilize those around her to add their voices and take action. In her work with the DEAI Committee at the SATW (Society of American Travel Writers), she’s compiled resources to make it easier for industry professionals to improve their own DEI efforts and planned some of our most well-attended webinars.” ~ Lydia Schrandt, SATW President (2024), Managing Editor at Coursera

“Lavanya is an outstanding journalist. It’s also been my pleasure to work with her on the DEAI Committee of SATW (Society of American Travel Writers), and her commitment to the principles of Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion is apparent. She strives for positive change in her work and in her life. Lavanya is also an excellent speaker, presenter, and moderator. She comes up with creative topics that address DEAI, and she always ensures her panels are made up of diverse participants.” ~ Elizabeth Harryman Lasley, SATW President (2022), Host/producer at OnTravel MediaHost/producer at OnTravel Media 

“Not only is Lavanya a seasoned writer, she is truly a fearless leader. Her work advocating for DEI in the travel publishing industry at large has been truly transformative with writers, publishers, and tourism boards at large. I have nothing but the highest respect for her and she deserves every accolade that comes her way.” ~ Erica Ho, CEO and Founder of Map Happy

“Lavanya is willing to put herself out there for causes she believes deeply in, bringing her full, authentic self to every conversation. Her initiative to collate a list of BIPOC travel media professionals has single-handedly stopped any viability of the excuse of ‘not knowing who to reach out to’ when you’re looking for racially/ethnically diverse travel media professionals. If you’ve been looking for a passionate advocate for DEI, look no further. “~ Roni Weiss, Executive Director, Travel Unity