Mamta is an Experienced researcher, evaluator and college instructor with over 10 years of experience in government, non-government, and academic settings. She has strong expertise in systemic inquiry, mixed methods research, data analysis, environmental scan, impact measurement, program evaluation and teaching college level courses.
She believes that generalist is the term that best describes her- since she has experience in project management, community development, research, monitoring and evaluation, public policy making n sectors as varied as non-profit, academia and the public service.
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mamta-vardhan-phd-b5402a30
FB: Mamta Vardhan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mamta_upnorth/
Q. How has been your journey from IIFM so far?
A. My journey from IIFM to my current role in Alberta Public Service has not been a straightforward one at all! I joined Seva Mandir, a highly reputable non-profit organization in Udaipur Rajasthan after my graduation from IIFM in 1996. I worked in this grass roots level NGO for 7 years before coming to USA for my graduate studies. After my PhD from Michigan State University, I was offered a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Calgary. A job opening for my husband and fellow IIFM’ite Rohit (PFM 96) brought me to Edmonton where I found another postdoctoral opportunity at the University of Alberta. After a few years teaching, I decided to shift gears. I joined the Alberta Public Service in 2018. So, you see a lot of my career choices have not been very intentional, but I am proud to say that each twist and turn my career took, begged me to be flexible and open and made me resilient and bold for good (something I cannot say for myself in 1996 as an introverted, shy, newly minted IIFM graduate).
I am not sure if folks are actively seeking an unconventional career trajectory like mine. However, having started from scratch so many times in my career path, I find that the only reason I persisted and succeeded (despite odds) is because I identify as a generalist. To have a generalist mindset is to be a big picture thinker but having the ability to simplify complex scenarios, be a life-long learner, be creatively adaptable, and have broad expertise, which is in-depth and meaningful, at the same time.
Q. What were some of the key milestones/learning in this journey that you would like to share with us?
A. As I shared my career path has been a curvy one so there are many glorious and not so glorious milestones along the way. Some of the most satisfying and memorable part of this journey are from days at Seva Mandir. We created a federation of Forest protection committees in Udaipur. It was a very fulfilling experience seeing not one but hundreds of forest dependent community groups coming together to lobby for rights over their village forests. I remember a 10-day ‘padyatra’ that the federation undertook for World Environment Day in the heat of June. I was part of the community groups going from village to village chanting slogans and being hosted at a different village each night. Another memory worth sharing is the news of receiving the Ford Foundation fellowship for Graduate studies in the USA. A glorious and not so glorious mile marker is the intensive one year, field work in rural Tanzania I did for my PhD with an 8-month-old baby. I was juggling so many things at that point in my life, from Swahili language lessons, to designing field experiments, to learning to light and cook food on a charcoal stove, that I was always exhausted (not so glorious moment!) and fired up at the same time. Teaching ‘gender and development’ courses to undergraduate students and getting recognition for doing so was also something that I remember with pride.
Q. Has your learning at IIFM helped in shaping how you approach your professional roles?
A. As I said in response to a previous question, IIFM prepares me to be a generalist. I did not know at that time but looking back that is an important skill that IIFM imparts to students. The students get exposed to so many courses, diverse, intersectional experiences, that generate so many learning moments. The flexibility, ability to envision and resilience that result from these experiences is key to addressing the complex socio-natural, systemic challenges that IIFM’ites face in their jobs. These are also the skills that transfer over to solving real life problems as well.
Q. What are your favorite memories during your IIFM days?
A. So many moments surface when I think of my time at IIFM. One thing I remember of that time is the collegiality in the batch, how easily we all became friends for life. I loved the social gatherings- the parties at IIFM were some of the first real parties I ever went to (mind you I went to an all-girls school and college, and I had never been to a Disco before!). I remember (with horror) the day I was about to drown and (with fondness) how I was saved. The savior is someone who has been part of my life since! No prizes for guessing who this person is 😊
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. I think that Fieldwork and the OT (now called SI & Project Work) segments played a huge role in shaping my career and life choices. Call me naïve but the fieldwork gave me an inside view of how hierarchies work in organizations and communities. At IIFM, I had a first dib at so many things- first public speaking opportunity, first introduction to a computer, first full-sized report writing, first interviewing folks on the streets, and literally living in remote forest villages! I was a nervous wreck at many of these firsts but there is no second guessing that these experiences make you a well-rounded person. I am grateful for all these learning moments.
Q. The best buddies / seniors /faculty at IIFM? Some memorable tidbits that you like to share?
A. There are so many people and moments to mention. The highlight of the two years was the entire group of Lantana boys- they were so funny and always up to a prank! I cannot forget ADP’s smart one-liners that would crack us up! The customary dip in the moat on Holi was another memorable moment- I have not had a Holi like that since 1995. Some faculty members that made an impact on me are: Suprava Patnaik Maam for being so approachable and always willing to listen and share professional and life advice, Madhu Verma Maam for teaching microeconomics in a comprehensible manner and Majumdar Sir for his exact, methodical approach to teaching Silviculture! I loved his class and still remember my trees!
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. My advice, believe in yourself, go out and do all the things that are in the box and out of it. IIFM is a big name now compared to when I was there. India is also not India’s of 1990s. That means there are so many more opportunities (than just Forest Development Corporations, Paper mills and NGOs) for students to explore. There is stability at the leadership level- thanks to our new Director! So, IIFM students have their job cut out- I would say seek out the opportunities and run with your ideas. You have it in you to make it big!
Q. What was your typical day at the work? And how does it look like while you are on a break?
A. I work as a Research and Evaluation with the provincial government, and I would say every day is different. Some days, I become a consultant and I find myself talking with ministerial stakeholders to understand their evaluation needs, on other days I am a researcher designing surveys and conducting interviews to gather data from clients and members of the public, and on the days I am an analyzing data and writing reports I become an analyst and storyteller. I am also a champion for diversity and inclusion initiatives in the Alberta public service and very often I volunteer my time as Vice-Chair for the Multicultural Employee Group hearing challenges to career advancement that minorities face and voicing these over to the top levels of the organization.
Q. And how about weekends, hobbies, family and anything else you want to add?
A. We are a family of three and a quarter! – Rohit, I, our sixteen-year-old son Kartik and Loki, our two-year-old Shih Tzu (he is technically a dog, but we like to think of him as a cute combo of puppy and baby!). The weekends are typical of a family living in the west- filled with running numerous errands, catching up with family in India, deep cleaning, walking the baby (oops puppy!), hours at the ice-hockey arena and going for a nature hike weather permitting. The list of chores is so long that I miss my domestic help from India.
Most Saturday mornings for me start with a morning group yoga and meditation with my Art of living community. After that is a quick grocery run to the supermarket and then a big brunch with family where we share about our week, watch a few TikTok videos that my son has discovered. I love to cook so I explore cuisine or a dish on the weekend and load up on meals for the week. I also try to cram a bit more of my hobbies on the weekends.
Some of my hobbies are reading, traveling (although the prairie weather limits that a lot) and a newly acquired one- crocheting (Rohit and Kartik would insist that Instagram is another one of my hobbies!) and volunteering for the Edmonton chapter of the Art of Living Foundation. I read mostly non-fiction books and biographies. Currently, I am reading books about self-transformation and breathwork. A favorite book of mine is ‘Wild’ by Cheryl Strayed.
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 a part of the Alumni Association and I read most posts and thoroughly enjoy the newsletter that is shared on one of the WhatsApp groups. While I have not been active on this forum, I am open to engaging with students. I can give back to the institute by sharing my knowledge and experience, teaching a class on gender or evaluation or qualitative research methods.
Q. Any suggestions on who you want to get profiled/interviewed here?
A. I would love to see my batchmates Gazala Ali, Seema Joshi, Archana Sharma, and some fellow Canadian IIFM’ites featured in here.