Part-time writer and full-time birder. Sustainability professional with 15 years of experience in alternate energy, sustainability, green business operations, ESG, contracts and project management. He is also the author of poetry books “What Goes into a Butterfly” and “When Ants Grow Wings” .He also occasionally writes for publications like the Hindu, the Business line and the Wire which is all accessible at https://muckrack.com/sunil-rajagopal.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunil-rajagopal-2949b911/
Instagram: @onlongwalks
Q. How has been your journey from IIFM so far?
A. It has been long and rewarding. I’d like to think I am a better person for it. IIFM seems both like yesterday and a long time ago now.
Q. What were some of the key milestones / learning in this journey that you would like to share with us?
A. I have been able to develop and pursue my passion for nature which has helped me both in my profession and to take up writing in different forms. My second book of poetry titled “When Ants Grow Wings” was recently published (https://www.amazon.in/When-Ants-Wings-Sunil-Rajagopal/dp/B0CG19SKND/) and has been doing well. I hope some from the IIFM fraternity read it too, because I am sure some of the themes will resonate with them.
I met my wife Parul at IIFM and now we have a lovely daughter who am sure has some IIFM DNA in her. I am also fortunate to have found and kept a handful of friends along the way.
The biggest learning for me is that to have a sane life, we need to understand what is important to us, make choices even if it makes no sense to others and be patient.
Q. What is the most satisfying part in your career?
A. I spent nearly 14 years at a single company, often in roles which were not ideally suited to my temperament and skills. But I am proud of the fact that I adapted to those, excelled (sometimes to my detriment) and left a way for others to follow easily. And then when the opportunity came, I have been able to move to a line of job that is entirely keeping with my interests.
Q. Has your learning at IIFM helped in shaping how you approach your professional roles?
A. Of course, it has. In the way of understanding of how ecology, community and environment interact with the larger world which is one of market driven economics. And especially how it is people skills and not technical skills that get things done. It also helped to have friends who walked into different spheres of life and shone a light on them.
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. Hard to say. I try to do whatever I do, well and being of assistance to people in need gives me great satisfaction. And reading, it really does open new worlds to us.
I am not the best to dole out advice w.r.t classes and courses. To freshers, I would say make the most of your time at campus – being outdoors, making relations for life, trying new things and paying attention in general. To the graduates I would say, when the opportunities come along, take them and not overthink.
Q. What are your favorite memories during your IIFM days?
A. All those field trips, going out for dinner crammed into autos, spending entire days walking around the campus and chatting and sharing food on the hostel walls.
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. People. How you work with them, reconcile to their thought processes and get along with them.
Q. Some memorable IIFM tidbits that you like to share?
A. There are just too many memories to be able to pick any single one out. But I still remember the first time a group of us trekked down (within the first week I think) and crossed some flooded bits to get to a temple in the middle of the lake!
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. I know many of us join with no interest in forests and environment but rather as a safe way to find a job. But understanding a bit more about them will help you live a healthy life. Enjoy the campus and friendships while you are there.
Use the library and pick the faculty’s brains. Both are far better than you realise they are.
Q. What was your typical day at the work? And how does it look like while you are on a break?
A. I typically like to get in early (the first one hour or so till everyone has their tea is when you get most things done) and leave early. And generally, can switch right off when I get back home.
On a break I either laze around eating or listening to music or travel.
Q. And how about weekends, hobbies, family and anything else you want to add?
A. Birding and observing nature closely while taking long walks. Long drives, on 2 wheels if alone or on 4 wheels with family. Music. I learnt to play the violin, which is fiendishly hard to master, after I was 35. And now, hours spent with our daughter.
Q. Favorite Books, movies, authors?
A. If I had to pick a single book it would be “The Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemingway.
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? Your engagement with IIFM Placement or OT/SI?
A. I am not the most social person around, nor very active on such forums. But I have tried my best to assist those who have approached me with requests for internships, jobs and anything else. I am happy to help wherever I can.
Q. What do you think is different at IIFM now vs when you studied there?
A. A lot has changed. Right from the batch size, the specialization of courses, the profile of students and their engagement with each other and the campus. But this is a time which seems ideal for people with an IIFM profile (current or alumni) to grasp with both hands.
Q. Any suggestions on who you want to get profiled/interviewed here?
A. Someone who has started something of their own. Rahul Bharadwaj from my batch, if he has not done this already.