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A. Rebellion – the perfect summation of this journey! Starting from where it started, placements at IIFM – I never joined the organization that I got placed in rather I rebelled from the world to land myself a job at UNIDO, working on a project that was the Government of India’s first submission to the Stockholm Convention. Learning the nuances of government functioning, I got bored a tad bit too early and rebelled again to land myself up in Winrock International India (one of the leading I-NGOs of that time). A few years later, I got an opportunity to briefly work at the Independent Evaluation Office of the Global Environment Facility (housed within The World Bank headquarters in Washington DC). Armed with better acumen, I returned back to home in India and my previous employer. Completing a longish stint of about eight years, I dabbled my hands at entrepreneurship briefly before turning back to doing what inspires and motivates me – this time at The Nature Conservancy in India.
Q. What were some of the key milestones/learning in this journey that you would like to share with us?
A. Working at the Independent Evaluation Office of the GEF and rubbing shoulders with some of the brightest people around in the World Bank HQs. A positive externality was my stay at the ISHDC during this time. With people from 60-70 countries living under the same roof at any given point of time, with every dinner table conversation being about a different culture, it was worth a lifetime experience.
Q. What is the most satisfying part of your current role?
A. The opportunity to be able to influence policy. Change takes time and is never easy, and I acknowledge that. To be able to be a part of this change is really satisfying.
Q. Has your learning at IIFM helped in shaping how you approach your professional roles?
A. IIFM provided me with the basic learning and skills. More than that, the exposure opened my mind to a variety of roles and avenues that the sector brings to us. It helped build trust in my instinctive outlook towards everything in each of my professional roles, and also gave the satisfaction of having alternate fall-back options in case I misjudge and fall back flat.
Q. Who (or what) are the biggest influences or drivers in your careers? What would be your advice to freshers and IIFM graduates who are looking to choose similar sectors/roles
A. All my supervisors throughout my career. I have learned a different lesson from each of them. Each of them was a unique personality, and that gave me the experience of looking at the same/similar situations from different lenses.
Q. What are your favorite memories during your IIFM days?
A. IIFM was my first exposure to diversity! It was the breeding ground for developing the necessary skills for negotiating through diverse cultures, personalities, dilemmas, and yet keep smiling and shining. Another distinct and cherished memory is the display of my name on the leader board outside Samagam (we know it better as Room #119). It was a childhood dream come true!
Q. In hindsight, what was the biggest contribution (courses, faculty, library, friends, alumni.. Anything else!!) or take away from IIFM that you think played a critical role in shaping you as an individual or professional?
A. Cannot point my finger on any one aspect, it’s the overall package. IIFM has contributed immensely to where I am today. The always-reachable-at-the-count-of-three second family is the best bit that I cherish about IIFM. This IIFM family extends beyond only my batch. It’s a unique culmination of a variety of thoughts coming together.
Q. As an alumni, what’s your advice to freshers or those are joining IIFM to get best out of the 2 years there?
A. IIFM is an experience – make it worth being nostalgic about! And this experience is mostly found outside the four walls of the classroom. Every club activity, every festival, every interaction on campus brings a unique opportunity to indulge and experiment with your learning curve. That’s precious.
Q. What is your typical day at the office?
A. With the pandemic taking all with virtual, a typical workday nowadays includes calls, reviewing work products, writing reports, etc. This newfound break from travel is a welcome change. But a typical pre-pandemic work month included 12 to 15 days of travel to field locations. It is this travel to various pristine locations and meeting with people from diverse backgrounds that have given me the exposure and such wide-ranging experience.
Q. And how about weekends, Hobbies, Family and anything else you want to add
A. Reserved for family and for lazing around. It’s also the time to pursue craftwork in various forms.
Q. Favorite Books, movies, authors
A. From a very young age, I have drawn inspiration from Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl. I still do.
Q. IIFM is driven by alumni’s passion and commitments towards its goal. How would you like to contribute to IIFM or IIFM alumni, students?IIFM is driven by alumni’s passion and commitments towards its goal. How would you like to contribute to IIFM or IIFM alumni, students?
A. I have always believed and demonstrated the mantra ‘Anything for IIFM (and IIFMites)’. Happy to interact with/mentor the young brigade, to share whatever little knowledge and experience I have, and to learn from them and their experiences.
Q. Any suggestions on who you want to get profiled/interviewed here?
A. Varun Singh, Neeraj Negi, Munish Sikka, Jitendra Balani.