Akanksha Tiwari, batch (PFM 2009-2011) is currently the CEO in Fatehgarh Cantonment, Farrukhabad Uttar Pradesh. She started her career working on various projects under Professors at IIFM.
Akanksha cleared UPSC CSE in 2016 and thereafter, she joined the Indian Defence Estates Service (IDES) in 2017. She considers herself a proud IIFMite working for the government.
According to her the most satisfying part of her current role is “helping people and working for their upliftment”. She also holds rich experience in community development, environment management, and livelihoods. She emphasizes on making the best use of the available resources in life always. She looks forward to help IIFM’ites who want to prepare for the Civil Services examinations, so feel free to connect with her.
Facebook ID: https://m.facebook.com/100000900290321/
Q) How has been your journey from IIFM to this role?
A. I originally belong to Bhopal and I got a campus placement at a firm in Delhi NCR but didn’t join as I wasn’t ready to move out of Bhopal. Thus, I worked on projects under Prof. Dr. Rekha Singhal and Prof. Dr. Amitabh Pandey. Both the faculties were very supportive and I have learned many things working with/for them. Alongside this, I was also preparing for the civil services examinations, and every Sunday like a good daughter I used to appear for various other competitive exams without being prepared. Not glorifying ill-preparedness, but I managed to be successful in bank exams which were quite easy in the initial few years of IBPS-CWE. I got through four central banks. With repetitive failures and running out of attempts, I joined the Bank of India in 2015 just to realize it wasn’t meant for me from day zero.
So, I quit and decided to give the Civil Service Exam once again. All hell broke loose. “Leaving a PSU bank, you are foolish”; “don’t be irrational”; “don’t be egotistical”; “banking is perfect for FEMALES”. But as luck would have it, I got successful in my fifth attempt.
Prior to 2017, I was a proud IIFMite working with the government. Now, I am a proud IIFMite working for the government.
Q. What were some of the key milestones/learning in this journey that you would like to share with us?
A. a) Gather social capital: Very important to make friends. It keeps you grounded.
b) Resilience matters. Period.
c) People have their strengths – learn something from everyone. I did.
d) Aspire towards having a Work-life balance
e) Study when you study – party when you party. Don’t mix it up!!
Q. What is the most satisfying part of your current role?
A. Helping people. Also, I can really implement our IIFM learning through our 21-months of PFM – community development, environment management, and creating livelihoods.
Q. Has your learning at IIFM helped in shaping how you approach your professional roles?
A. My experience in the field while working for the UNICEF/UNDP projects helped me gain a lot of insights which allows me presently to implement plans on the ground with a better understanding of possible challenges one might face when plans are brought on the field for execution.
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. This will sound clichéd, but family and friends (including seniors and juniors too). If any IIFMite is aiming for UPSC Civil Services they must know that the knowledge imparted in classes during our course will give one an edge during preparations and will help after the selection too. Once you get selected and are involved in development work, you will get to know about organizations and people working towards development. I for once have utilized my IIFM connections to the core.
Q. What are your favorite memories during your IIFM days?
A. I was a spoilt brat and had never ever lived in a hostel. Funny (but irritating for my batchmates) part was that I used to cry the most because I was “HOMESICK”. But then once the friendship kicked in, I created some memorable moments. The senior batch pampered us and I made some amazing lifelong friends from my batch as well as from the junior batch.
My favorite memory from the top of my head will always be surprising people by winning both the besura and sureela music competition in Kalpataru. Barring the initial three months which I spent crying, people made my IIFM journey worth it.
Q. In hindsight, what was the biggest contribution (courses, faculty, library, friends, and alumni. Anything else!!) or take away from IIFM that you think played a critical role in shaping you as an individual or professional?
A. I think my previous answers include all of these. You have to learn something from everything and everyone.
Q. The best friends/seniors/faculty at IIFM? Some memorable tidbits that you like to share.
A. It will look like an attendance sheet if I start mentioning my friends. And also I am afraid of the beating that I will get if I miss anyone.
Amongst the faculty members, my favorites are Prof. Amitabh Pandey Sir and Prof. Rekha ma’am, though she never taught my batch but has taught me a lot.I deeply admire all the faculties of IIFM.
Q. As an alumnus, what is your advice to freshers or those who are joining IIFM to get the best out of the 2 years there?
A. Figuring out clearly what you want is overrated. Only 10% of the people I know have a clear-cut path of what they want to do in the next five years of their lives. Your goals change according to your priorities, just don’t be finicky. If you are confused about your future, it is fine. Just do a SWOT analysis about your decision points and try to utilize the resources the best where ever you are. Go to the library, study (moderately), play in the badminton court and go for a run.
Q. What is your typical day at the office? (We want to know what your day job looks like)
A. I am in administration and hence, my typical day involves handling people – Sarkari staff and the public. I am responsible for the development of the area I am posted in – so I am in charge of health, education, sanitation, general wellbeing of the area, building permissions, etc. I love solving grievances and helping people and now that’s a part of my job. A big mention is needed here that I still make PPTs, make excel sheets, and have endless video conferences.
Q. And how about weekends, Hobbies, Family, and anything else you want to add
A. I am posted in a remote cantonment area in UP. My husband is posted overseas and my family roams around thus, my three dogs take up most of my time after office hours. Also, my eternal effort to lose weight since IIFM days still hasn’t been super fruitful so, the rest of the time I workout. Cantts have amazing roads to jog.
Q. Favorite Books, movies, authors.
A. I will be a bad influence and will sound like non-ideal alumni if I answer this question truthfully. Also, Harry Potter rocks!
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 would love to help if anyone wants any guidance regarding the preparation of Civil Services.
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. Haven’t visited the campus since last I worked there in 2014 so I am not eligible to answer this question. One notable mention is the outreach to the alumni. The IIFM alumni are really doing great in varied sectors and we need to work towards being a united institute and helping each other grow
Q. Any suggestions on who you want to get profiled/interviewed here?
A. You must include a variety of profiles as you are aiming here. I will give you some names:
Academia: Munish Sikka Sir (already interviewed), Arpana Tirkey, Sumit Banerjee, Neelima Mishra
Doing amazing at their jobs: Apoorva Singh, Richa Singh, Ankit Malani, Ramanshu Ganguly, Pramod Upadhyay Sir, Priyanka Batra Ma’am, Renuka Saroha Ma’am, Himwan Sir
Job Providers: Anuj Sharma, Karan Girdhar
Government Job Holders: Md. Shoaib, Siddharth Banerjee, S.Krithika, Manish Dohare, Smita Roy, Lalit Vimal, Sampath.