Charlotte County Success Story: Priya Ahluwalia’s Inspiring NASDAQ Launch

August 29th, 2025

PRIYA AHLUWALIA: A CHARLOTTE COUNTY SUCCESS STORY

When people talk about Charlotte County, they often mention the beaches, the sunsets, and the relaxed Florida lifestyle. But Charlotte County is more than a destination. It is a place where leaders are born and where global stories begin. Few people embody this better than Priya Ahluwalia. Her story is a true Charlotte County success story, showing how local leadership can reach international platforms.

Priya is not a stranger to service. As the Public Image Chair of the Southwest Florida Rotary Club, she has spent years championing projects that focus on literacy, cultural awareness, and youth empowerment. Her career journey reflects both professional expertise and a personal dedication to giving back. On her professional LinkedIn profile, she highlights strengths in nonprofit leadership, business strategy, and cross-cultural collaboration. This mix of skills positioned her to take on opportunities that extend beyond Charlotte County, but always with her community in mind.

What sets Priya apart is her ability to connect people. She bridges local and global audiences, showing how a county in Southwest Florida can play a meaningful role in international conversations. Whether presenting ideas to Rotary leaders, mentoring young professionals, or representing her community on a national stage, Priya has consistently proven that leadership rooted in service resonates far and wide.

Her journey also demonstrates how Charlotte County cultivates talent. The county is not only about economic development and business recruitment—it is about building human capital. Priya’s path, from local Rotary meetings to the bright lights of Times Square, is evidence that Charlotte County produces leaders capable of influencing change around the world.

Her involvement with the Rotary project that culminated in a NASDAQ book launch was not a coincidence. It was the result of years of dedication, relationship building, and vision. Priya represents the best of Charlotte County: grounded in local values but unafraid to step into global arenas. And when she stood in Times Square, with the NASDAQ tower glowing behind her, she carried with her not only her personal story but the story of an entire community.

ROTARY, CHEF VIKAS KHANNA, AND THE FESTIVAL OF BUNGALOW

The story of this Charlotte County success is also the story of Rotary and Chef Vikas Khanna. Rotary International, with its motto “Service Above Self,” has always stood for service, literacy, and cultural connection. The Southwest Florida Rotary Club has taken that mission seriously, focusing its energy on initiatives that empower children and strengthen communities.

In May 2025, Priya Ahluwalia presented Chef Vikas Khanna with the Paul Harris Pin and named him an honorary member of SWFL Rotary. Khanna, a Michelin-starred chef and humanitarian, had heard of Rotary before but had never directly experienced its global reach. One week later, he called Priya with a promise: “Priya, my 39th children’s book will be Rotary’s book. It will be your club’s book.” That single statement set in motion a project that would culminate in Times Square just three months later.

The book, Festivals at the Bungalow, is more than just another children’s title. It is a celebration of renewal, cultural richness, and unity. Khanna, known for weaving culture into everything he creates, envisioned the book as a gift to children. True to Rotary’s principles, the book would not be sold. Instead, thanks to a fundraising effort led by SWFL Rotary, 2,000 copies were printed with $20,000 raised through partnerships across the U.S. and India. Those copies are now being distributed free of charge as part of Rotary-led literacy programs.

Priya herself put it best when she reflected on the moment: “To stand in Times Square while seeing our book light up the NASDAQ tower was a once-in-a-lifetime moment. But even more powerful is knowing that these books will soon be in the hands of children, sparking imagination and promoting literacy. This is Rotary at its best — uniting people across borders to create lasting change.”

That quote captures the heart of the project. The book was never about profit. It was about purpose. It was about showing how one idea, backed by service-minded leaders and community spirit, could ripple outward. From Charlotte County to New York to India, this effort united people across cultures with the simple but powerful goal of helping children discover the joy of reading.

FROM CHARLOTTE COUNTY TO TIMES SQUARE: WHY NASDAQ MATTERS

For many, NASDAQ is a financial marketplace. For others, it is a symbol of innovation, resilience, and global influence. But for Charlotte County, NASDAQ on August 15, 2025, became something more. It became the backdrop for one of our most inspiring success stories.

The launch of Festivals at the Bungalow at NASDAQ was historic. It marked the first time a Rotary Club had ever launched a children’s book on that stage. When the book cover lit up the iconic Times Square NASDAQ tower, it represented more than a project. It represented possibility. Millions of people witnessed the moment, and Charlotte County was at the heart of it.

This global visibility matters. When local leaders take their values to the world stage, it strengthens the reputation of their home community. Charlotte County gained recognition not only for its Rotary leadership but also for its ability to nurture talent that can influence international conversations. For investors, site selectors, and families considering a move, this kind of story is powerful. It signals that Charlotte County is more than a place to visit—it is a place where leaders grow.

Priya’s leadership made the moment even more meaningful. She coordinated with Rotary clubs across the U.S. and India, managed communications, and ensured that Charlotte County was represented in the global spotlight. Her leadership role underscored that women from our community are shaping global narratives.

This NASDAQ moment also aligned perfectly with Rotary’s mission. Rotary is about connection and service. By choosing to launch at NASDAQ, Priya and Khanna connected service with visibility, literacy with innovation, and local leadership with global attention. For Charlotte County, the moment symbolized how far our influence can reach when passion meets purpose.

THE FUTURE OF LEADERSHIP AND GLOBAL IMPACT

The NASDAQ launch may have been historic, but it is not the end of the story. It is the beginning of what comes next—for Priya, for Rotary, and for Charlotte County.

Priya’s leadership highlights the growing influence of women in global decision-making. From nonprofit work to international platforms, women leaders are changing the way we see service and leadership. Her success sends a clear message to young people, especially girls in Charlotte County: your story matters, and your leadership can reach the world.

The project also reinforces the importance of storytelling. Children’s books are not just about words on a page. They shape imagination, empathy, and resilience. By investing in literacy, Rotary and Charlotte County leaders are investing in the future of children everywhere. This commitment to the next generation is not only noble—it is strategic. Communities that invest in their children’s literacy today are building stronger, more innovative economies tomorrow.

Charlotte County’s role as a launchpad for global talent is also clearer than ever. Our county is not just about infrastructure or business parks. It is about people. It is about producing leaders who can stand at NASDAQ, represent Rotary, and inspire international audiences. The story of Priya Ahluwalia proves that we are succeeding.

Looking ahead, Priya will continue to expand her impact, both through Rotary and through her broader leadership work. For Charlotte County, her success is not just a source of pride. It is an example of what is possible when local commitment meets global vision. It shows that Charlotte County is not only a great place to live but also a great place to lead.

CONCLUSION

Priya Ahluwalia’s journey is a Charlotte County success story in every sense. From presenting a pin in May to standing on the NASDAQ stage in August, she carried Charlotte County’s values of service, literacy, and leadership into one of the most visible places in the world.

The partnership with Chef Vikas Khanna and Rotary International created a once-in-a-lifetime moment. Yet, more important than the lights of Times Square are the children who will soon hold the book in their hands. For them, the story is just beginning.

For Charlotte County, Priya’s leadership is proof that our community’s greatest export is not products or services—it is people. And with leaders like her, our story will continue to inspire far beyond Florida’s borders.

SOURCES

Florida Weekly: https://charlottecounty.floridaweekly.com/articles/swfl-rotary-club-and-chef-vikas-khanna-launch-childrens-book-at-nasdaq/
Priya Ahluwalia LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/priya-ahluwalia-59101423/
Rotary International: https://www.rotary.org/
NASDAQ: https://www.nasdaq.com/