Email – [email protected]
Important and Interesting links on Mr. Lokesh Kumar –
https://indiansforguns.com/viewtopic.php?t=4475
http://arunachalepitome.blogspot.com/2010/12/eco-tourism-workshop-organised-at.html?m=1
https://iifmight.com/2004/07/badminton-tournament-at-iifm.html?m=1
Q. How has been your journey from IIFM to this role?
A. It’s an amazing journey, nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. I was inclined towards ecotourism and conservation since my early days. Credit for the same goes to Suprava Ma’am, Madhu Ma’am, KNK Sir, Yogesh Sir, Amitabh Sir...all of them motivated me to contribute to ecotourism, conservation, and social development sector.
I joined various organizations like Leisure Hotels Corbett, ECOSS Sikkim, JLR Karnataka, Pragya, JPS Associates, Gujarat Tourism before going to Yes Bank. While undertaking various assignments I traveled the pristine Himalayan stretch right from Ladakh to Tawang. In various roles I have served I got the opportunity to contribute from all segments-NGO -Government-Corporate.
I have experienced more than 50 national parks and sanctuaries and the tourism model they practice. I have prepared more than 6 state-level tourism policies and implemented more than 15 internationally funded projects in tourism and allied domains. I feel privileged to be a part of IIFM and I am always connected to the faculties to date, who are always willing to support me.
Q. What were some of the key milestones/learning in this journey that you would like to share with us?
A. In this journey, some of the learnings worth mentioning would be as follows:-
a. Taking organisational training (Internships) seriously helped me in my career, it had a huge impact on overall report writing skills, communication techniques, analytical approach, etc.
b. Focus on one domain is the key and improvising and scoping in the same is required at all stages of career path.
c. Maintaining a low profile at the initial stages of career, as learning is more important in that period. Post-IIFM life is different and decision making is difficult, consult seniors and faculty before tricky situations.
d. For better opportunities focus on government and funding institution’s priority on sector and projects. This will land you in a better place and organisation.
At a personal level, my key milestones are that I have contributed to approximately 6 states(UP, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Gujarat, Daman, and Diu UT, Pondicherry, MP, etc) in tourism policies, homestay policy, skill policy, ayush policy, etc. I got the opportunity to work as Chief Operating Officer with SPV of Gujarat Tourism at an early age, which was very enriching.
Q. What is the most satisfying part of your current role?
A. Contributing to states, ministries, and corporates in the field of my passion viz. ecotourism, social development, gives me immense pleasure. Also, the present role has made me travel to the lengths and breadths of India and has given me the opportunity to prepare investment compendiums and project profiles for the state of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The present role has also given me a chance to share, present and replicate my experiences in other states, which I find most satisfying.
Q. Has your learning at IIFM helped in shaping how you approach your professional roles?
A. Totally, the key learnings at IIFM have always helped in shaping my approach. The way we were trained during field visits, organisational training has helped thoroughly.
It has improved the way we look at things, the communication techniques for conducting FGDs (Focus Group Discussion), PRA (Participatory Rural Appraisal), etc. have helped me in all field-related assignments. During IIFM we were made to give numerous presentations (especially on Mondays) on any topic, and we used to despair it during those days, I am pretty sure that now my batch mates can agree on how that has helped us all in totality.
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. IIFM has struck a chord about helping others, throughout my career, my life has gone into thinking and developing enterprises for the needy, underprivileged, vulnerable, and disconnected communities. I consider this as the biggest influence…that through my planning, policy development, presentation to minister or a bureaucrat on tourism/community-based tourism I can directly affect and influence communities for their betterment.
My only advice to the freshers would be that one should only choose domains based placements, else all IIFMites would end up in a microfinance/banking institution. Please look out for opportunities in other vibrant fields such as – Watershed, Handicrafts, CBET (Community Based Ecotourism), Wildlife Conservation, Enterprise or MSME development, Gender, Social Safeguard…etc. These domains have lots of potentials and all sorts of Big 4 or Consulting Organisations hire people in these fields regularly.
Q. What are your favorite memories during your IIFM days?
A. I was into sports big time (Badminton, TT, Cricket, Volleyball, Football, etc.) and won the Best All-rounder of the year award for both years in Kalptaru ( annual fest). I also had the privilege of representing IIFM in two national forests sports meet at Goa and Raipur respectively. Besides my gang G8* was a mix of all personalities and we were involved in many activities like Biking, Boating, Kayaking, Bird watching, Food, etc.
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. IIFM is a great institution with great faculties, and I was blessed to have a really good bunch of colleagues, juniors, and seniors with me at IIFM. It would be an injustice to single out few contributors, as I think all the above have immensely contributed in their own way.
Q. The best buddies / seniors /faculty at IIFM? Some memorable tidbits that you like to share?
A. Best Buddies (G8) – Rakesh, Jaggi, Kanishk, Vishu, Akai, Pooja, KT, Billa, Seniors- Kunal, Induja, Samita, Karmveer, Arif, Sachin Badkas, Juniors – Veerendra, Param, Swapan, Nitu.
Independence Day Football Cup 2004 (Flagship Sports Event): Independence day match has always been very competitive between Senior Batch and Junior Batch at IIFM and for us, this match will surely live in our memories, juniors were very excited to defeat us in the football match and they were trying for pressure tactics by claiming that how easily they will defeat us. On match day I scored an opening goal from left leg free-kick and then the juniors were rattled all over the ground (they lost 4:1, of the only goal we conceded was an own goal)… Humiliation was in the air, and they were reluctant in facing us ;).
Q. As an alumnus, what’s your advice to freshers or those are joining IIFM to get best out of the 2 years there?
A. Enjoy the course and days at IIFM. The type of opportunity you will get here is unmatched. Be focused and sharpen your skills. Keep interacting with faculties and seniors and make the most out of it.
Q. What is your typical day at the office?
A. Post lockdown the job is not very interesting. The routine job is to align the team in my geography, do scoping, and finalise priority in meetings. Pitching products to increase the wallet share of the bank. Few con calls each day and chasing the target on a day-to-day basis.
Q. You would like to share about your typical weekends.. Hobbies.. Family..
A. I am blessed with a beautiful daughter Adya, who is 20 months old, very naughty, and talkative. My wife Charu is a CS and we met during my job with JPS Associates in Delhi.
I like driving and cover long driving expeditions during holidays. Weekends are usually a small outing, good food, and some booze.
Q. Favorite Books, movies, authors, ..
A. The monk who sold his Ferrari, Connect the Dots, Five Point Someone… Movies – Chak De India, Swades, DDLJ, Sholay, Drishyam, Special Ops, Sacred Games, Baby, Apharan, Mirzapur, etc. Authors – Rashmi Bansal, Robin Sharma.
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.
a. Providing one-to-one sessions in ecotourism, social development, and related opportunities to the interested students.
b. Placements.
Q. What do you think is different at IIFM now vs when you studied there? What do you think is a positive change and what is not?
A. I guess now the batch strength is much larger as compared to our time. Smaller groups were much cohesive and bonding was much higher.
Q. Any suggestions on who from our alumni you want to get profiled/interviewed here?
A. Rakesh Guran, Pooja Kumar, Akai Mao.