Q. How has been your journey from IIFM to this role?
A. It has been memorable, adventurous, as well as challenging. I started my career with SRIJAN, an NGO working on sustainable livelihood. I had no idea what will be my location until the day I joined the Delhi office. Our induction training was at ‘Khatkar,’ a place that was not even on Google Maps in 2010. I was the only female on the team and was earning more than others. Those who have been in this situation can easily guess how my coming months went by. For others, it was time that I had to work double in order to continuously prove myself. From spending all my Sundays at the field to writing project reports for funders, I did whatever it took to establish myself. The efforts paid off and I was the youngest and only female chosen to start a new project location. From the comforts of IIFM to walking for km to access a toilet, life changed a lot within a few weeks. But those three years changed me as a person. I challenged myself beyond imagination and survived 50°C without electricity. I realized that needs of a community are far more important than my perception of development for them, and that sometimes one needs to be a bystander and let the community take the lead and result of a PRA (Participatory Rural Appraisal) maybe a galaxy away from what you learned at IIFM.
Then from working with rural communities, my role changed to climate change campaigning. I worked with a team of passionate campaigners from across the globe. I was exposed to a working style alien to me; wearing shorts to the office, flexible working hours, and figuring the daylight saving. Working with colleagues from diverse ethnicities, religions, and lifestyles. This experience taught me to always use the diversity lens in my professional and personal life. I was lucky to get opportunities to visit and work with communities in Indonesia, the Philippines, the Pacific Islands, Africa, and Latin America. I was astonished to find the similarities between communities there and back home. While the cultures were different, the human desire to have a better life and a deep connection with nature were common.
As development professionals, we must realize that the aspirations of the communities we work for must be acknowledged and made part of all planning work we do. When we undertake community-based projects, our bosses are the community members. We must consider their suggestions and thoughts as inputs from subject experts. If we show confidence in their capabilities and provide the required support, the results will always surpass our expectations. In my journey, I took pay cuts, worked without salaries for months (perks of working in NGOs), as an independent consultant, I took projects that were not of my core expertise, missed birthdays, and anniversaries. In the last ten years, I overcame hurdles and barriers, but most importantly, I started noticing the privileges I have. This acceptance helps me stay grounded and use my position with even greater responsibility.
Q. What were some of the key milestones/learning in this journey that you would like to share with us?
A. Learning agricultural practices, figuring nuances of opening SHG (Self Help Group) bank accounts, organizing the biggest climate change mobilization are my fondest memories. To survive as an independent consultant, I overcame my phobia and learned different statistical tools, figured nuances of social media, and mastered the art of storytelling. However, my biggest achievement is that Savitri Bai, the woman who changed my perception about gender roles and women empowerment is now CEO of a successful FPO (Farmer Producer Organisations) and shares stage with eminent social development professionals, and still remembers me.
I also want to share that one must not be in denial that about inequalities at the workplace but rather be prepared to handle them. This is the reality that many of us face in our professional life. From shying away to speak about such encounters I now make sure to share them, this is my way of changing the game. It may sound cliché, but each time we talk about issues that affect our work we move one step towards a solution. I now bring my gender, my feminity, and my personal life to work. These are the factors that make me good at my work and I am proud of it.
Q. Has your learning at IIFM helped in shaping how you approach your professional roles?
A. YES. IIFM prepared me personally and professionally to excel at my work. I got used to not sleeping and yet being on time for classes. It comes very handy when you are working against a deadline or taking care of your child at night and going to the office the next day. The field visits of IIFM, interactions with field experts, and experience shared by faculty members helped me figure out what I wanted to do immediately after IIFM. Group assignments prepared me to be a team player and a leader.
Summer internship at IIFM was my first work experience. While I wandered the street of Dharavi, Mumbai, for data collection, I witnessed poverty and humanity like never before. My colleagues were from Naxal affected areas who fled their villages and came to Mumbai for safety and a new life. Their narration of life was something I could never even imagine. What looked like a simple exchange of stories, helped me a lot while working with communities from disturbed areas. Two years are long enough to leave a deep impression in your life. I am glad I got to spend such a wonderful time at IIFM.
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. Communities that I have worked for are my biggest drivers. I have seen people with no resources continue to work towards a better future; their determination and grit are what inspire me. I would recommend volunteering at organizations to gain experience, especially when campus learning is limited. Do remember that a fake experience is easily caught during an interview. If you have it, you flaunt it; if you don’t, then better be silent. We were 60 students in a batch; we all have a different story of reaching where we are today. Others can only guide you, inspire you, support you; eventually, only your hard work will help you achieve success. My boss once told me Swarg dekhna hai to marna to padega (one must die to see heaven). Never shy away from hard work and facing adversity. Never leave an opportunity to learn a new skill. My driving capabilities came very handy while doing fieldwork in Rajasthan and helped me connect with women. My driving tales spread widely and I was recognized instantly. You never know when which skills will come in handy.
Q. What are your favorite memories during your IIFM days?
A. My ideas of the hostel life were based on my favorite book Malory Towers and Harry Potter. IIFM was as magical as Hogwarts and taught life lessons like Malory Towers. It was a dream come true including finding a perfect life partner. It is hard to state the fondest memories.
Q. In hindsight, what was the biggest contribution or take away from IIFM that you think played a critical role in shaping you as an individual or professional?
A. In one of the lectures, Prof. Yogesh Dubey shared how he once witnessed women giving birth at construction sites and then joining the work after a few hours. He told us to always remember the fine line between helplessness and habit, to quote him, “Kissi ki majbori ko kabhi uski aadat mat samjhna.” That’s how I understood the subtle difference between sympathy and empathy, charity, and empowerment. I try to use these lenses in my personal and professional life. As an independent consultant, the IIFM stamp has helped clients have trust in my work. The high standard expected from us trained me to always give my 200% to whatever work I do.
Q. The best buddies/seniors/faculty at IIFM? Some memorable tidbits that you like to share?
A. Best buddies: My roommate Vinisha Minj ( and her Honda Dio) for helping me finish most of the activities from the list of things to do before leaving IIFM. Chandan Khanna for editing all the presentations at the institute and even to date. Pramod Upadhya for all the discussion on Indian Mythology, Manasi Diwan for spending the night with me in hospital and helping me pass subjects involving math and numbers. Best Senior: My husband, Varun Dudeja. He has played the most crucial role in helping me pursue my dreams, be it working in villages or taking care of our 2-year-old son while I worked in a different country.
Faculty: Prof. Amitabh Pandey, I still remember calling him crying from my internship only to be told to grow up and settle my scores through my work. Best advice ever. A special thanks for introducing medical insurance for students. It proved valuable when many of us fell ill after the field trip. Prof. C.S. Rathore for refusing to accept assignments when we were late, even by one minute, and teaching the importance of punctuality. Also, I still find it hard to read a document that is not justified. Prof. Madhu Vermafor demanding excellence and integrity in assignments. Prof. CVRS and Prof. Ashutosh Verma for not failing me in Quantitative techniques and Accounting.
Mr. Tiwari for extending all support during our stay at the hostel and helping us capture the snakes living in our room. Chandu Bhaiya and his team for helping me keep packets of milk and ghee in the kitchen fridge.
Q. As an alumna, what’s your advice to fresher or those are joining IIFM to get best out of the 2 years there?
A. It is a tough time for the current batches. I cannot even imagine what it is to experience IIFM through online classes. It must be tough but keep hanging. These are the two years where you will not be judged for the risks you take and the mistakes you make, so go ahead and enjoy your time.
Q. What is your typical day at the office?
A.
A day would include meeting partners, interacting with colleagues from different teams on discussing the intersection between climate change and health projects, working on reports, preparing IEC (Information Education & Communication material) and training documents, attending webinars, technical meetings, and conferences.
Some days will end at 6 and somedays will run till midnight.
Q. What about your typical weekends?
Weekends are usually devoted to finding new ways of exhausting our son so that he sleeps on time. For many years weekends were devoted to volunteering. I find that volunteering is a great way not only to give back to society but also to sharpen your skills, meet new people, and utilize your time wisely.
Q. What are your Favorite Books, movies, authors, etc.?
A. The Secret Island and Malory Tower series are my comfort books. I read them back to back when I am stressed or want time to pause. My Experiment with Truth and Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead have helped me in my professional journey. I started watching movies and series only at IIFM. Horror and comedy are two genres I enjoy. Watching How I Met Your Mother with Vinisha and searching for the perfect burger in Bhopal led us to a food quest in the city.
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?
A. I make sure to take IIFM’s name in a professional platform and groups I am part of (a trick I learned from my former boss). It helps me create a good first impression and further builds IIFM’s brand. I am always there to support students build their skills like public speaking, writing, storytelling, understanding the latest development, and environment jargon. Whenever I am in Bhopal, I make sure to interact with students, and now that has moved to online interactions. Rest it depends on students how they want to utilize the vast alumni network.
Q. Any suggestions on who from our alumni you want to get profiled/interviewed here?
A. Vidhi Batra, Manasi Diwan , Vartika Shukla, Swati Mehta, Chandan Khanna, Pramod Upadhya, Swati Singh, Vijay Pratap Singh Aditya.