Ashish Chicksena is (PFM 2007-09) is currently working as Director – Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) with Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) India LLP, Mumbai, India. He manages ESG aspects for infrastructure funds in India and emerging markets at GIP. He is engaged in ESG due diligence, monitoring, and review for companies/projects; Climate Change Assessment and GHG accounting; developing and implementing environmental and social management systems for a variety of companies; ESG value addition & ESG impact measurement. His current role is to implement the Environmental, Social, and Governance Management System (ESGMS) for addressing the inherent ESG risks and opportunities of the investments across the Funds.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashish-chicksena-57706114/
Q) How has been your journey from IIFM to this role?
A) I started my career with research in environmental and social (E&S) impact assessment. I was trying to understand how this sector works. Especially what role does a financial institution plays in terms of addressing E&S risks. I was engaged in a lot of projects across the environmental sector but from the researcher’s lens, trying to put my study into a document for various stakeholders. Then I moved to consulting and worked extensively with international development financial institutions. This period was interesting and challenging for me as I learned deep insights into how E&S risks are perceived by a financial institution and project developer. What are the key challenges faced during the project design, construction, and operation stage. I worked on a variety of infrastructure and industrial projects funded by multilateral development banks. At an opportune time I was called by an infrastructure fund manager. Here as an infrastructure investor we invest equity in all key Indian infra sectors such as transport, logistics, power, digital infra, oil & gas etc. For the last 8 years, I have learned a lot through my exposure with all kinds of infrastructure companies. And I must say this role is quite challenging, as earlier I was either publishing research papers or suggesting measures through consulting. However, in here, I manage companies where we have equity. So, on one hand, all the risk is with us and on the other hand you can bring out significant change by identifying relevant opportunity through robust implementation. To give an example, with robust safety measures we have reduced accident rates on one of our roads company.
Q) What were some of the key milestones/learning in this journey that you would like to share with us?
A) I believe I am still at a learning stage and will continue to learn. I just want to say that, we should pursue our interest no matter what anyone says. One has to go through a lot of challenges during the journey but the satisfaction of doing something what interests you and matters to society at large overcomes all the challenges.
Q) What is the most satisfying part of your current role?
A) It’s the change I can bring out in the lives of people within and around our portfolio company in terms of ESG implementation throughout the period of our engagement. Also, I like to travel, and in my current role, I have to travel to various sites to assess ESG risks and opportunities. During that time we meet new people across India and in emerging markets. In a way, it enhances your overall perspective and equips you to grasp diverse cultural aspects.
Q) Has your learning at IIFM helped in shaping how you approach your professional roles?
A) IIFM is the root of the tree that I am today. Without strong roots, no tree can sustain all kinds of weather throughout its lifetime. When in doubt I still go back to IIFM for guidance.
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 as an institution is the biggest influencer in my career. Whoever I interacted with during that 2 year period had an impact on me. Be it faculty, support staff, admin staff, library, IT center, mess workers, watchman, housekeeping staff, summer internship, field visits, last but not the least all the students (junior, senior, and batchmates) & alumni interactions.
Advice to students is to spend enough time to learn the sector in the early stage of your career, and continue to do so. As ESG is an ever evolving topic, most of the international financial institution and all development financial institution has a ESG team. In the recent past Indian financial institutions and regulators have started focusing on this topic. There is a significant shortage of skills in this sector in India. It is a very promising and satisfying sector to work.
Q) What are your favorite memories during your IIFM days?
A) Spending the night, out with friends and doing breakfast in the morning at the railway station or bus stand.
Q) The best friends / seniors /faculty at IIFM? Some memorable tidbits that you like to share.
A) Lot of memories, however, can’t share on this platform. Will share in person at an opportune time.
Q) As an alumnus, what is your advice to freshers or those are joining IIFM to get best out of the 2 years there?
A) Enjoy your stay at IIFM and learn from everything and everyone.
Q) What is your typical day at the office?
A) My day starts with my to do list which has some tasks carried forward from yesterday and some new tasks. Most of my time goes in understanding how we can improve the performance of our portfolio companies, and how we can address challenges encountered by them. I keep aside some time to learn what is happening around the world and in India in this sector and how it can impact our business.
Q) And how about weekends, Hobbies, Family, and anything else you want to add
A) Weekends are all about spending time with family and friends. Sometimes travelling to a nearby bird sanctuary for a short trek.
Q) Favorite Books, movies, authors.
A) Too many to capture here. To mention one I would say “Getting India Back on Track” written by Bibek Debroy, Reece Trevor, Ashley J. Tellis, is a good read to understand modern India.
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 can share my experience with my Alma Mater (IIT Bombay). They have a very robust Alumni Student Mentorship Program (ASMP), started 12 years ago with a vision of providing mentors with an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of students who they themselves had been once, and open doors for quality mentorship for students, who can be nurtured by the pioneers in their field of interest. I have been part of this program for the last 11 years and every year take up 2-3 students from diverse background as mentees.
I think IIFM should start its own mentorship program, I understand in the recent past some students have started this initiative. I believe this is the best way for both alumni and students to learn from each other.
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 am not equipped with enough information to answer this question. My apologies.
Q) Any suggestions on who you want to get profiled/interviewed here?
A) Nimmala Mohan Reddy (PFM 07-09)