SAW

Skill And Will

Social Sector Nuggets…

Thomas Adaikalam

From my desk...

I have traveled a long way on my journey in the development sector.
Hundreds and thousands of people pass through my memory. There were varied people, with different cultures, races, backgrounds, levels,
etc. But I must admit these were wonderful human beings who left an indelible mark in my life. But more importantly, they shaped,
contributed, and helped the sector grow. There were leaders, field staff, Freshers, activists, champions, social workers, educators, etc. I want
to salute each one of them.

I was not able to reach out to everyone whom I know and some could not find time to respond, but be sure every single individual in the
sector makes an impact and shines as change champions.
As for me, the seed to enter into the development sector was sown by my father, Adaikalam who was known as "uzhaipal uyarnthavar" (Risen by his hard work) in and
around my area. He had the responsibility at the age of 10. to work for the family with a widowed mother and three siblings. He brought out a transformation by converting
a dry barren land into a paradise with so much Greenery and fruit trees. But what impressed me as a little boy, how he cared for the poor and needy who came to the farm
to buy and sell for their livelihood.
My uncle, Arockiam is another influence in my life with his hard work, helping nature. He too has brought about a transformation in the lives of people and nature with the
farm he managed. Till his death a few months ago, he never stopped caring, helping, and smiling. He was a great influence on my journey to live and practice these
qualities.
My Uncle Fr. Kulandai is a missionary in North East. He has touched many lives by his work, zeal for the culture, and promotion of education for the tribals. He never stops
working for the poor and needy. He sacrifices everything for them to live and grow. An amazing person and a strong influence to model him in my development journey.
My uncle Vedamuthu has shaped my life with values and practices that help me in my work today. A man for teaching, training, bringing about change in the lives of many
children and youth by his clear and helpful action, made me walk in his path.

These four men sowed the seed of transformation in me and made me realize the need for a meaningful life in helping, developing, and supporting others. They thought me
the wonderful lesson "Love your neighbor and see God". I wholeheartedly dedicate this attempt to these four persons who did guide, influence, and impacted my life.

I must gratefully acknowledge the support and understanding of my wife, Jayashree, and the boys- Aashish and Avinash. They continue to inspire and accompany me on
this journey.

Thank you Mr. Shivaji Dam for your intro to my venture. Your passion and persona will motivate many in the sector. Thank you, Namrata for their design and Ganesh and
Jayasree for your constant insights and support to realize my small dream.

I thank all the 102 colleagues who have contributed to this collection. This collection is very personal which emanated from their life and experience. These will certainly
merit the respect and value they bring to the table. Each of them is different, unique, personal, and memorable.

Friends, your experience made me realize that the "I" experience should lead to the "we " experience. Together we can make it happen.

Thomas Adaikalam

Shivaji Dam

Foreword

The years of experience and anecdotes of Development Sector veterans, coupled
with the innovative power of newcomers, paint a striking portrait of the state of the
social sector. But, when it comes down to practical matters — say how to best
structure an NGO, or how to design a new program pragmatically, or how to
demonstrate value for money and change
impact of the work — the debate is characterized by a paucity of fact and lack of information.

Thomas, in his long association with the development sector, has attempted to collate the experiences of several
Development sector professionals. This book will not only exhibit the wealth of thoughts and hard work of many
professionals associated with the social sector but will encourage the new professionals to be inspired and
influenced to further meaningfully associate and contribute to the
cause of human development.

I would like to congratulate all the contributors and wish them all well in their development journey. The social
sector truly holds exciting and promising opportunities.

Shivaji Dam
Managing Trustee – Kotak Education Foundation.

Before you enter...

To guide and make your reading easy and meaningful, I am listing below the guided
questions that were given to the contributors and on each page the answers will be in that
Order.

Happy reading…

1. Brief note on your professional life ( Qualifications, years of experience in the sector
and current position).
2.Who is the person from whom you draw inspiration for your development work? (mention
the name).
3.A personal incident (anecdote) that you cherish as a Development professional during
your work?
4.What are your thoughts and inputs for innovators in the development sector?
5.The non-profit sector has been vastly ignored when it comes to its talent pool and
potential. What in your opinion should be a greater focus on honing leaders which can help
the social sector flourish on the world index?

Wishing you a happy and enriching reading...

Colleagues who have contributed (in alphabetical order)

1. Abraham George 35. Govinda Raju 69. Pratibha Nayak
2. Alka Pagare 36. Harsh Shilpa 70. Pratik Dharamshi
3. Akram Syed 37. Hemant Aldangadi 71. Praveen Kumar
4. Alex Walker 38. Himanshu Shukla 72. Prema Gnanakan
5. Ana Maria Locsin 39. Jayashree kumar 73. Priyamvada S. Todankar
6. Anand More 40. Jayasree Ramesh 74. Radha Sundaresan
7. Anil Jha 41. Jiji Bhattacharji 75. Rajesh Kapse
8. Anita Dagar 42. John Penney 76. Reena Khattar
9. Annie Anil Joseph 43. Kavita Datta 77. Rekha Narayan
10. Ankit Khemka 44. Kavita Bihani 78. Renuka Sarkar
11. Antony NJ 45. Keerthana Suresh 79. Richal Crystal Tuscano
12. Antonysamy 46. Keith C. Dsouza 80. Rupangi Sharma
13. Archie Correa 47. Kripa Gopalan 81. Sabitra Kundu
14. Aravind Chittewale 48. Kumuda Kannan 82. Sachal Aneja
15. Arjeeta Basu 49. Larry Johnson 83. Sagarika Bose
16. Arockia Mary 50. Mahmood Noman 84. Samuel Raju
17. Arul Raj 51. Manish Mitra 85. Sandamali R.P.M.
18. Balasubramanian TV 52. Maya Patil 86. Sandip Dutta
19. Bartholomew Basumatary 53. Mohit Poojari 87. Sangita Bhatia
20. Bayjool Desai 54. Mosharaf Hossain 88. Santhosh Dhamale
21. Bhairavi Gawde 55. Munisamy 89. Santosh Kumar Sharma
22. Binu Nair 56. Namrata Ashok 90. Sarika Jain
23. Birupakshya Dixit 57. Nandita Ganguly 91. Sashikala Menon
24. Celine Dsilva 58. Narendra Chand 92. Senek D’Souza
25. Chandra Vishwanathan Dr. 59. Naomi Joshua 93. Sivasubramanian
26. Cyril Joseph 60. Nisha Dixit 94. Srikar Baljekar
27. Daisy Gangurde 61. Nitin Bagla 95. Srinivasa Rao
28. Dilip Arokia 62. Patrick Harris. Bishop 96. Srinivas Sawant
29. Elizabeth Kurian 63. Prabha Mahesh 97. Subhada Vinekar
30. Esther James 64. Prabhat Sinha 98. Sumita Ketker
31. Francis Adaikalam 65. Prabhavalkar Ashutosh Balkrishna 99. Supriya Raul
32. Francis Xavier 66. Prakash Sagili 100. Tataji
33. Gagandeep K. Bhullar 67. Prasannakumar Narayanan 101. Vandana B. Waval
34. Ganesh Raja 68. Prathmesh Raorane 102. Ujapanna Mohanty

Abraham George

I have been working in the development sector since 1991. I have M.Com and MA in Sociology. I
started working with the YMCAs of India as a secretary in 1991, subsequently moved to ITC
agrotech as a finance officer. I left ITC and joined the Indian Institute of Health Management as a
research officer. I have also worked with CARE India as a Monitoring & Evaluation Officer. I
subsequently joined Sightsavers as a program manager and soon went on to become the area
director for the northwest India area and also later became the Director for monitoring
evaluation, research, learning. currently, I am working as the Director of operations for The
Leprosy Mission Trust India
I have had a few people who have inspired me to continue working in the development sector. can't mention anyone's name.

Can't recollect any at the moment

Move with the times work on market-linked development plans livelihood should be an integral part of any development
program

I think there should be greater exposure to development sector professionals in the corporate world as there are a lot of
things that can be learned from them like the use of technology, HR management, etc

The Person with a keen interest in research is also with a sense of humor........

Alka Pagare

My professional life started as a Spoken English trainer after I graduated in English, and took a
short course from the British Council. Later four years after I joined KEF, my career graph moved
to a different path altogether. My interest developed in that field, and then I moved to become a
Coordinator for KEF. To support the role, I completed my Masters in Sociology.

It will be unfair if I name one person. There are many mentors whom I look up to with honor and
pride, who hand holded me, molded me, and supported me in my journey. The first one to name is my first boss of Mr. Mehta
who noticed the teacher in me and got me the certification from the British Council as a Spoken English trainer. It was he
who brought me to the trainer's world. He also introduced me to the developing world and the giving back process. Mr.
Shivaji Dam Sir carved my path intensively to this world and allowed me to trend the path even more deeply. The
Management Committee members polished my skills by providing opportunities that enhanced my growth as a leader My
current boss Dr. Ganesh Raja converted a hardcore teacher into a leader. I am thankful and honored to be facilitated, guided,
and mentored by all my mentors.

Though I have come a long way ahead and no more a teacher now, I have a huge group of my students still following me of
various age groups - thirty to seventy years of age. I feel blessed that I managed to touch their lives in a certain way.

Collaboration is the key. No individual or institute, or organization can conduct the act of positive change in the community
without coming together and putting in joint efforts.

Every college should have a compulsory internship with CSRs and NGOs, like doctors. And it should be a field-based project.
This will ensure the right people sustaining in this difficult field.

The person with tremendous energy to connect with people and has the drive to new learning...

Dr. Akram syed

Started my career as a Primary School Teacher grew up to be the Campus Head of the MBA
College. Today I am heading a CBSE School. M.A, B.Ed. PGDHRM.

People have been of great support and inspiration, Rev. Fathers, Sisters, Teachers, Parents,
Mentors, well-wishers, and above all my Parents.

Deriving the strength to recognize and appreciate my work. Believing in Teamwork, Recognising every team member as part
of success. Making the team as a Family.

Recognize grass-root workers as part of success. Identify talent beyond Qualification. Organize constant training, evaluation,
Mentoring, and Relaxing Sessions. Enhance the socio-economic needs of the team member. Motivation and appreciation
sustains human resources

My buddy in youth work with immense talent to get along with people

Alex Walker

Welfare Rights Officer for 17 years 1992 – 2009

Kevin Roberts, former CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi
Being able to move staff to use new technology in their work. Moving them from paper files to
electronic application.
Never give up. Make sure you gather the best people around you. Don't be afraid to make mistakes and to learn from them.

The not-for-profit has a moral compass that helps and directs the private sector. They have a lot to learn from us.

A very willing person with his tremendous progressive thoughts and insights

Ana Maria J. Locsin

A humanitarian and development practitioner with strong inter-disciplinary background and leadership skills.
With twenty years’ experience as Country Director for several international rights-based organizations with
assignments in Iraq, Afghanistan (twice over), India, Philippines, Timor Leste, and Vietnam. Will assume a
new CD assignment with a new organization in the Philippines

My mother; was a teacher of Literature, History, English, and Spanish. In her profession, she showed me the
value and importance of loving one’s work. Her mission of imparting knowledge and learning to her
students were full of dedication and richness. My most treasured legacy from her is her understanding and care for children, her
acceptance of diversity and inclusion.

From my stint in Afghanistan, I will always cherish the strength and resilience of the Afghans. I will never forget how one of
the staff before shared that each time he goes to work, his mother would bless him as if it is the last time she would see him.
Such practice, I understand was true to other families and it made me realize the acceptance of the situation families are in
but at the same time, how truly strong they are in dealing with such a state of affairs.

It is important to keep our knowledge and learning relevant to the ever-changing times. Innovation is needed for the
development sector, however it is equally important these are deemed appropriate and acceptable to our target
users/participants; mainly coming from our partners/beneficiaries. It is good to “test” an innovation to gain its acceptance.

There are a lot of resources and inputs that may be provided to honing knowledge and skills, however, it is in the persona of
the person/leader that could be missing. The self-realization of the importance and criticality of a leader’s role is what is
needed. Being in touch with field reality and servant leadership are good practices that really should be coming from within.

A person who dares to do good and goes miles to deliver the required outcome. A true veteran who has worked for the cause
of women and children.

Anand More

Anand has always been conscious of his desire to work in the development sector because of the very real
opportunity to empower people to lead a meaningful life. He has found satisfaction in challenging the
statuesque and facilitating change within the community. Over 18 years, Anand is working with established
international NGOs and corporate houses to stimulate social development. He developed a strong project
portfolio and established well-defined monitoring and evaluation processes at Swades Foundation, Heroes
Project, and Aga Khan Education Services. He has also played a vital role in establishing the CSR wing at the
ASK group. In his last assignment at Kotak Education Foundation, he leads a team of development
professionals to facilitate various interventions including Parenting.
Currently, he is associated with Standard Chartered Bank, as part Sustainability team. With a Masters in Social Work and
Post-Graduation Diploma in Education Management, he has also acquired a Project Management Professional certification from
Project Management Institute, USA. Currently, he is pursuing his Ph.D.

I draw inspiration from my grandfather (Mr. Anandrao Narsingrao More) who fought for our freedom from colonial British rule. He was
truly a dedicated farmer and selflessly leader. He did remarkable work for the community by establishing a school in my village, starting
a sugar factory, and initiating social change in the village and surroundings.

The most cherished moment of my life was to hear feedback from students in a rural school. Children said we did not feel we could
continue school, we did not like regular humiliation, studies look very difficult. Now teachers listen to us, help us, encourage us,
appreciate us and experiential learning help us remember things and relate them to our own life. This feedback was posted on one of the
school reform projects we had implemented.

The most critical thing to ensure the success of initiatives in the social sector is ensuring stakeholders' engagement. Numerous
innovations are taking place in the social sector. Engaging key stakeholders meaningfully at the right time and taking them along is the
critical success of any innovations taking place.

I feel social issues are deeply interconnected, the curriculum is not covering how the web of issues can impact each other. Development
organizations are also (some times) not able to develop theories which interlink issue and provide effective solutions. They focus on a
particular issue, sometimes without accounting for how other social issues/barrios need to be addressed resulting in ineffective
programs. Therefore leaders in social development need to understand the cultural context and social issues with far greater depth.

A person in-depth knowledge and seeks more and more.....

Anil Jha

M.Phil. Anthropology with 20 years work with Development Sector

Pradeep Narayanan

We worked to improve the quality of education in the Mewat district of Haryana which has
the lowest women's education indicators. Haryana government helped us and we virtually managed the education
department of the district.

Work accountability and transparency should be increased.

Capacity building of staff on participatory Practices.

A person who believes in building the capacity of people.....

Anita Dagar

Program Director, Head of Strategy, 20 years in Education across corporate and development sector. UGC
fellow for Ph.D. in Philosophy

Otto Scharmer, Professor at MIT, Co-founder of Presencing institute, leader for Online course, Leading from
Emerging Future

I had taken the Head Teachers for an international round Table conference to another city. I could not get the
AC III tickets for the journey back but it was on waitlist 1,2,3 so I was very sure that in a week’s time the wait
the list would move and we will have a reservation. Yet for a back up I had booked sleeper class tickets as well. As luck would have it I did
not get the reservation for AC III and I had to tell the Head Teachers to board the train in super crowded sleeper class. Our travel was for
36 hours. There was almost no provision for food and we had seats in separate compartments. I was sure the moment we get back the
head Teachers are going to walk out of the program. Just before we were about to reach Mumbai I got all of them together for a closing
circle and I expressed to them my inability to get the bookings and my pain to see them travel in such unhygienic conditions and I
expressed my regret. Some magic happened and they all started talking about how it was such a learning experience for them and they
entirely understood my situation and we developed stronger bonding since then.

Innovators in the development sector are people with large hearts, dreams, and determination. Their contribution to the nation and
planet is way beyond profit. The resources are scarce, people undergoing change are not really excited about the change, and yet, these
people design interventions that move the needle on the ground. Akshar school from Asam is fresh in my mind.

In a world that recognizes the financial package of a person as the highest form of achievement, one can not see the need to develop
professionals who work for "Non-Profit". What the world needs to recognize is the current state of affairs we have reached by
underplaying compassion and happiness and overplaying the pursuit of money in life. It is stating the obvious to say that emerging
leaders in the development sector need to be broadcasted for the next generation to have some role models. The scenario is certainly
improving with Harvard and MIT offering such workshops and courses.

A person with strong convictions and the capacity to spread her knowledge...

Annie Anil Joseph

B.Sc., B.Ed. 15 years as a High School Teacher, Homemaker

My Father, Late Mr. M.T. Mathew

Once I was asked to host the Independence Day program of our school. There were many items in Marathi and as I had done
my studies in Kerala, Marathi was totally unknown to me. I put in all my efforts and I made the introduction of all Marathi
items in the Marathi language but what doesn’t go out of my memory is that after some time one of the parents started
conversing with me in Marathi thinking that I belong to Maharashtra. This was a big lesson in my life that “if you decide with
your full heart, anything is possible”.
The best ideas are born in more than one head. Exchange of ideas must be promoted through, meetings and workshops, etc.
A positive innovation culture to be developed where ideas are welcomed and driven forward. An idea management system
needs to be developed where ideas can be introduced and processed.

Leaders must be able to both innovate and implement. They must be committed to quality improvements. Solving the overall
social problem ahead of individual and organizational success should be the prime focus. They should be made to possess a
good understanding of the ecosystem and use data and evidence quickly.

A silent yet impactful teacher who makes a lot of difference in the lives of her students...

Ankit Khemka

Software professional with B.E. in Computer Science, 16 years of experience in IT and Technology
space.

Smt. Sudha Murthyji.

A day out with kids from Maa Niketan Orphanage where I got the opportunity to spend the entire day with kids, listening and
having conversations with them, trying to know them better, and the challenges they face, with smiles and strength. The kids
were super talented and were so warm that I will cherish that time forever.

Data Innovation - Data can be collected more reliably and leveraged through technology today, so that some of our social
problems can be addressed in a much robust manner, especially in malnutrition, poverty, and healthcare space for the BPM
segment of our society.

CSR activities should be given more importance and momentum from the organization's leadership. The government should
champion it and there should be adequate funding to Non-Profit organizations and NGOs so that they can build new leaders
and visionaries in the space. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment should work closely with industry stalwarts
and involve them so that they can set examples for the next generations to be motivated to step into the development sector.

A bright young mind who captures the attention of people through his talents and thoughts and winning ways.

Antony NJ

I started my career as a teacher and have worked in various national and international progressive
positions over the last 22 years. The experience is in the education and health sector. Currently, I
work as Chief School Excellence, Bharti Foundation.

NP Joseph my father has been my inspiration in the way he used to do various works for society
without any expectation. As I grew up Dr. Kurien became my inspiration as he changed the course
the course of milk production in the country by empowering the people

As part of Save the Children, I was Project Director of a technical cooperation fund of EC for MHRD. The project was
instrumental in bringing the focus on School Leadership and teaching-learning standards in school education in the country
and it was one of my cherished and satisfying project that had so many opportunities to learn and at the same time make a
real difference in the education sector in the country

Focus on solving problems of the society in a self-sustainable way

Social sector jobs need to be considered just like any other job. It can not be considered anymore as Charity work. Just like a
finance job requires certain skills and aptitude, a social sector job requires certain skills and aptitude

A person with a never says die attitude to bring the desired change...

Antony Samy

MA, Social Welfare Administration, TISS; 43 years consistent in the Leprosy control sector; Chief
Executive, ALERT INDIA.

The conditions of life for the people affected by leprosy in the self-settled Colony provoked a basic
question as to why human beings are forced to be isolated and stigmatized when modern treatment
can cure them. No reason to believe that people choose such a life. The answer was to work to detect early and cure prevent
displacement from family and community at all costs

The exposure during the studentship to the appalling conditions in which the children were brought up by parents with
visible gross deformities due to Leprosy shook my being. This set course consistent engagement for the cause of Leprosy
affected people spread over 4 decades.

No innovation ever possible if the life experience does not pose a challenge. All innovative engagements are an answer to
challenges, in my life the challenge was to cure people affected by leprosy without taking them out of their milieu.

The success in Leprosy control till date has pushed it to the category of Neglected Tropical Disease. The last mile is as
important as the earlier 99 miles of Leprosy control and subsequent eradication to become a reality. The need is a renewed
fight with trained medical and community workforce to achieve control.

A person with passion, personal touch, and perseverance in his mission for the cause of leprosy eradication

Archie Correa

Youth Director and Finance Administrator for several decades. Now retired

Simple people in rural areas.

The youth in the rural areas have aspirations to move higher in life. I have interacted with hundreds of them during my
tenure. They come back to me with gratitude and willingness to help out others.

One needs to adapt to new ways of reaching, connecting, and empowering the youth, particularly in rural areas. This is
possible if we introduce technology and make it affordable for them.

Give them chance to experiment and make mistakes because we are dealing with human beings, their emotions and therefore
we need a bunch of leaders who know, think, and acts for people who are vulnerable in society.

A person with a heart of love and care for the poor and rural youth

Arvind Chittewale

Masters in social work by default! Masters in Regional planning by default! Lecturer in Education
management by default! A trainer/facilitator completely by CHOICE. A freelancer at The Learning
Circle for the last 29 years.

Victor Frankly & Farrokh Buchia

Once while making a documentary on Tribal Life and the camera person entered the kitchen area of the house with our shoes
and the lady expressed her displeasure. This taught me a big lesson on how for granted we take the poor and how
hierarchical we are.

As innovators, I think developmental professionals are way behind. We are creative but not innovative. I see a big difference
here because creativity is about bringing new ideas and possibilities BUT innovation is introducing something new - that
adds value to the community. Creativity is about imagination BUT innovation is about implementation.

Oh yes, we need to hone LEADERSHIP. I think we have many talented missionaries BUT very few VISIONARIES. There might
be a lot of TALENT but what is needed is COMPETENCE! Leadership SKILLS need to be honed - I mean not just attitude or
knowledge but SKILLS

A person of immense value and novelty as a facilitator to many organizations and individuals

Arijeeta Basu

I am a postgraduate in Sociology, with a PGDM diploma in Public relations, Industrial relations, and
certification in Counselling. Completed 9 years in the Development sector. Currently working as Operations
Manager with Kotak Education Foundation

There is not a single person but an experience that motivates me to work as a developmental professional. As a
student of Sociology, I got an opportunity to do a project with street children under Hope Kolkata Foundation.
The experience of working with the children had motivated me to contribute in some way to bring change into
society.

As a field coordinator with CINI, I got an opportunity to work with underprivileged children in terms of their academic and
extracurricular capacity building. I had to go the extra mile in training and equipping them with the necessary skills since they were
first-generation learners and mostly out-of-school children. However, it gave me immense pleasure and satisfaction when they would put
up stellar performances on the Annual Day of our learning center, which was a testimony to the fact that diligence and discipline can
bring about transformativè changes even if the circumstances are not favorable. I considered myself blessed to get this opportunity and
this went a long way in inspiring me to continue in the social sector.

I strongly believe Mental health should be given more prominence in the development sector. It should be incorporated in the health
programs that are being run rather than as a mere support function. It can reduce the dropout rate by providing the necessary
inspiration and impetus to excel and express oneself. This assumes greater significance in the context of serving the disadvantaged
sections.

I strongly believe that we should be sourcing talents from diverse backgrounds, even at the middle management level, rather than looking
for people with so-called relevant qualifications and experience. The social sector is an ever-evolving one and diversity in sourcing will
help us get better insights/perspectives and design more meaningful programs for our beneficiaries.

A person with so much eagerness and enthusiasm in all the work she does

Arokia Mary

MSW - I have worked for 20 years as a professional social worker and 30 years as a volunteer for several
organizations. Currently, I am working as a Director for Citizenship & Advocacy at Apnalaya. I have worked
with the Domestic workers union, CRY, YUVA, Oxfam India, Kotak Education Foundation, and now at
Apnalaya. I have enjoyed my work with children - especially children on streets whose love has been
unconditional to me. My experience as a Juvenile Justice Board Member has also enriched my life experience
while I have worked with children in conflict with the law. The feather on the cap experience was when I
represented India at the UN-Geneva - presenting the child rights issues in India.

My inspiration is Jesus Christ and my inspiration and values are derived from the Bible.

My children on the streets will always be a treasured memory I cherish and carry in my heart. I remember once when I just got down
from the local train at Dadar and one of the kids from the street screamed from where he was sitting. He called out loud and
clear"Mummy" and when I turned back I saw this kid with a smile. The ladies and men turned around and stared at me; but what I
remember this child's smile on his face. Similarly, a boy was living on Dadar station, who would carry dead bodies from the track. His
name was Bablu. He would come to my office sit with me, insist on having lunch with me, play with my mobile, click photographs, call me
at any time from someone's phone. He and another boy would come home at times if I am not working. These children have grown up
now and are no more in touch with me, but I can never forget them in my life.

Life has changed. The world is also changing rapidly, especially after the pandemic. We need to work on the rights of the urban poor.
Transformation processes should be inculcated in every work we do. Access to basic services and improving their quality would help the
urban poor. One simple thing all of us can do is register the domestic workers with the welfare board. Most of us employ domestic
workers at home. This would go a long way in building welfare security for them.

I feel it is important that we recognize them as an important profession and give them recognition as workers. It's important to also have
social security measures for them and also pay them like people are paid in the corporates. This is a very difficult profession than any
other I would say. Recognition as a worker and payment like any corporate offices pay.

A person with strong beliefs and works tirelessly for the rights of the marginalized

Arul Raj

I am a Catholic Priest. Rector, St. Thomas Mount National Shrine, Chennai.

My inspiration is Jesus Christ.

I chose a boy at 7th Standard and motivated him - Educated him - sent him to Loyola College and Madras Christian College
and made him finish his B.Ed and M.Phil and got him a government job with a big struggle at Chingleput. Now in school, he is
one of the best teachers. He takes care of the poor children’s scholarships. He sends all the government schemes for the poor
and announces them to the school. He shares the information with his friends in the school. He has good communication
with the education department and thus receives maximum help for the poor. He helps the physically challenged,
differently-abled, and counsels many children. I am happy.

Keep the Olympic motto in mind “Faster, Higher, Stronger.” Keep the words of the American poet Robert Frost, “The woods
are dark and deep. I have promises to keep. I have miles to go before I sleep.”Keep the words of Jesus in the book of John’s
gospel 10:10 “I came that they may have life; Life in all its abundance.”

The influencing power of the leader must be given special focus. When Mother Theresa was alive she was just walking and
traveling like an ordinary person. But people were reading messages from her - And that is the kind of focus on honing
leaders must be looked into. We need not speak. Our life must be the message we communicate.

A person with humility and serene in all that he does

TV Balasubramanian

A Postgraduate and Chartered Accountant has 22 yrs of teaching experience and 10 yrs experience in the
NGO sector. Currently with Narotam Seksaria Foundation heading its finance and Accounts dept
My former Line Manager Alice Crasto at Sightsavers

How much funds I saved for my earlier organization when I visited partners of Sightsavers and my capacity building exercise
I do for partners and my colleagues especially when they say that they benefitted from my sessions with them

The development sector should enable people to influence people to add value to other sincere efforts and should increase
the output of human resources in terms of performance. This can happen only if employees in the profit sector also realize
their social responsibility and treat whatever they do for office helps the society in social transformation

I think the non'- profit sector should have a sufficient pay package to attract talent. When talented people are employed in
the NGO sector, the sector would automatically gain public attention.

A person highly acclaimed for his integrity and thoroughness in his work

A person highly acclaimed for his integrity and thoroughness in his work

Bartholomew J. Basumatary

A social scientist with Masters in Social Work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai graduated in 1997.
Over 23 years of contribution in nation-building through dedicated and professional social service to India's most
deprived, excluded, and vulnerable communities living in the most remote and hard to reach areas in overcoming poverty
and exploitation. Worked with several national and international organizations such as Bethany Society in Shillong;
Rashtriya Gramin Vikas Nidhi (RGVN) in Guwahati; Oxfam-GB in Kolkata; ChildFund International in Kolkata and New
Delhi and currently working as Director of Programmes with SOS Children's Villages of India in New Delhi.

Mahatma Gandhi

Although over 10 years have elapsed that I left ChildFund, I continue to cherish the project that was implemented in Bonda Hills of Malkangiri District in
Odisha. There are two different Bonda tribes living in the forest areas: the Upper Bondas (in upper hills) with a population of 6,700 who are the most
isolated from mainstream Indian society, and the Lower Bonda (in lower hills) with a population of 17,000. The region, located on the tri-junction of
Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh states, has always been vulnerable to Naxal insurgency. Encounters, landmine explosions, and kidnappings
were the order of the day in those days. Although ChildFund mostly worked through partner organizations, the project for Bonda tribes was
implemented directly by ChildFund. And, as a Zonal Manager, based in Kolkata I had to visit the project frequently to provide the necessary support to
the team. In the beginning, the project faced many challenges due to remoteness and lack of basic amenities. However, we were able to overcome all odds
and ensure community participation in the project and implement it successfully thereby improving the overall quality of life of the Bonda Tribes and
empowering them to demand their rights. That was also the time when I prayed the maximum for safety and security during the 3 1/2 hours of road
journey from Koraput to Malkangiri and back through the thick forests.

Going by the current development parameters and the human development index, India may take another 100 years to eradicate poverty from the
country. Hence, it is important to create innovative interventions, build knowledge, produce evidence, and, in collaboration with local stakeholders,
shape policy, and implement towards the well-being of marginalized sections of the society. Areas that need to be worked on are mentioned in SDGs.
However, more focus needs to be given in the areas of economic security, workforce development, financial inclusion, social protection, health,
education, and technology reach.

In my opinion, the Government must fix minimum quality standards for every Organisation and then provide necessary financial support to each
organization for implementing development programs. The salaries of the professionally qualified staff of the non-profit organizations must be paid by
the Government as per the Central Government salary scales. Employees of non-profit organizations must be exempted from paying income tax.
Specialized Universities in line with IIMs must be introduced in the country.

A friendly person with a clear focus on the programmatic outcome

Bayjool Desai

Ph.D. from the London School of Economics. Passionate about quality education, about 15 years
ago switched her focus to the students in low-cost schools. Coming from a family of
philanthropists, Bayjool is committed to improving the quality of life for the needy. She manages
her own foundation, advises several NGOs and individuals passionate about social change.

Hard to name one person. Chronologically it began with my parents and the Gandhian upbringing full of 'low living but high
thinking and doing'. I continue to get inspired by teammates and recipients who sensitize and challenge me intellectually
and emotionally every day.

Lots of incidents of compassion, determination, level-headedness, passion, courage. I have always chosen to be directly
involved in the implementation and cherish the difference it is making, drop by drop!

Identify acute problems and their root causes, be frugal in your innovations, focus on quality over scale, build on the deep
sense of purpose to keep learning and loving your work, create margin for flexibility and fellowship to remain lean and
dynamic.

The social sector in India has grown exponentially in the last decade but lots remain to be done. Leadership in this sector
does not come from academic qualifications or boardroom strategies. It comes from lateral thinking, a deep understanding
of the cause, and needs the courage to give what it takes while maintaining attention to details and Arjun's eye on the
problem and its solution. Being a doer and not a talker will help the sector and its leadership flourish.

A person with genuineness, intensity, and detailing in all that she does to ensure good outcome to the beneficiaries

Bhairavi Rohit Gawde

Currently, I am working in Global Vikas Trust and chief operating officer of the rural
development project. I am working in Marathwada and MP.

My father Suhas Kabre.

Earlier I worked in KEF for 8 years, in KEF I learned a lot, but in 2016 I started working in a rural area and I felt this is the
real place to work. You can change India through rural transformation.

In the developmental sector, many people are working in their comfort zone. I feel we should work in a rural area if we really
want to understand our country we would work in a rural area.

None

A dedicated and committed field person that puts her heart and mind into the work

Binu Nair

I hold a Masters Degree in Social Work with over 17 years of experience in the social sector,
worked across social issues of Health, Disability, Education, Water, and Sanitation. In my current
role, I am associated with Bharti Foundation the philanthropic arm of Bharti Enterprises in the
capacity of Chief Program and Operations

Baba Amte

Setting up a primary eye care project in the insurgency affected district of Jashpur in Chhattisgarh where I could integrate
the component of eye care with the existing primary health setup.

Go down to the grassroots, travel through the backward districts and remote parts of the country. Experience the life of the
people but not during the daylight, but when it gets dark. Spend a few days in villages for you to align with a real-life situation
and innovate accordingly.

Leaders today lack the grassroots understanding of issues and alignment with the overall cause for which this sector exists.
The focus should be on creating the right balance – between adopting modern approaches for development at the same time
having a strong orientation on the basics of the sector and how social workers from the past could achieve very big reforms
without any funding only because of the commitment they had towards the cause.

A person who enjoys and has made an impact at the grassroots.

Biruprakshya Dixit

I am a doctorate in Anthropology and working in the Development sector for the last 18 years.
Presently I am working with a UK Charity called Practical Action and leading their programs in
India as the India Coordinator.

MK Gandhi

The day I got the "Champions for Children" Award for our work in Malkangiri, Odisha. This was to recognize our work for
the holistic development of the deprived, excluded, and vulnerable children.

They are the real change-makers and they can make a sustainable world.

The leaders must provide scope to the deserving people to work in this sector. This sector has also been affected by nepotism
like other sectors.

A person of immense aspiration for development and progressive work

Celine Dsilva

I work with Bioversity International as the Country Office Manager, my profile is that of Finance
Admin and HR. I have worked with INGOs starting from Sightsavers to Clinton Foundation and
now Bioversity. I am an MBA with a degree from XLRI Jamshedpur in Advanced Financial
Management

I happen to have stepped into the development sector accidentally, ever since I have found
motivation having seen the need and impact very closely

While working in Sightsavers........... A 15-year-old boy, supposedly blind by birth was identified in an outreach diagnostic
camp, the doctor was confident that the boy could regain vision through a Cornea transplant. He was brought to the hospital,
treated, and operated on - cornea transplant and indeed he got vision. Cannot express the joy in words

Sadly, there are no innovators, even if they are they do not have that kinda network to make it count. The innovator may have
ideas and commitment which probably gets drowned in I, me, my psyche of the organizations

From my experience, I would rather say that the sector itself is responsible for the situation. Nepotism, favoritism, lopsided
bias/es, you name it and the sector is full of it. Leaders who will matter, make an impact, and open up horizons will be
brought in by expanding the purview than just searching/scanning the CV with keywords, references, or sifaarish. The sector
needs to open up and move on from stereotypes

A good human being bringing about change at various fields and levels with her involvement and dedication

Dr. Chandra Viswanathan

I am a physician with a specialization in Pathology, blood transfusion, (MD, Ph.D., DPB, DTM). I was a professor in a teaching medical
school for over 20 years followed by a corporate career for over 16 years. I helped build, operate the largest plasma fractionation plant in
the country and was heading the first public Cord blood stem cell bank, stem cell research, and clinical translation. To my credit are
about a hundred publications in national and international peer-reviewed journals.

I do not have anyone in particular as a role model. I picked up opportunities as they came along and always wanted to take the road less
traveled by others. I always had the mindset to take challenges and face them head-on. I crave to learn new things. I am logical,
argumentative, and will always want to seek a scientific basis to solve problems. None of what I did was planned. Every opportunity fell in
my lap. I then nurtured them to success.

My stem cell research team was quite enthusiastic about the group’s objectives, however, there were one or two young fresh team members whose opinions did not surface
in review meetings, as they were probably shy. I did a personal ‘one on one ‘ meeting with them and asked them how they would lead if they took my seat!! Answer by one of
them: you have all the expertise and the experience. Who are you fearing? If I were you, I would have launched this new project long ago without waiting for validation.
What is stopping you?? If you do not take a chance, who will?? Answer by the second colleague: if you did something new, all of us will get rewarded as a team. If you fail,
people would say, some projects did not succeed despite the best brains and plans. So just don’t think. We are with you Dr. Perhaps I needed these words of strength from
the young boys. I thought through this and silently agreed with them!! I thanked them. I worked with a new bout of energy and we did not stop. There were several ‘firsts’ to
our credit as we kept breaking our own records in the stem cell domain.

1. write the clear goals of your project and internalize them. 2. Keep thinking about it at all times of the day and night only if you truly believe in the larger objectives. 3.
quantify and qualify the challenges that you could face.. costs, time, people, etc., etc. 4. See the obstacles and go closer to them- Analyze, understand in-depth till you lose
the fear and anxiety. Fear is your worst enemy. 5. Don’t always have to embrace the same beaten method. When necessity presses you, your innovative brain starts working.
Enjoy coming out of the comfort zone and look at nontraditional answers to the problem at hand. 5. Invite stakeholders and discuss and seek views of people and specific
help if needed, and possible innovative ways for a problem at hand. 6. Do a good check on your strengths and weaknesses and work on the latter 7. Build a team, define the
scope, and trust the members. Be a leader and hold them. 8. You will be surprised when everyone comes up with ‘unthought-of ‘ ideas and solutions.

1.People with passion for the chosen area/ specific sector will do much better 2. Leadership should be given training in fundraising, in addition to domain knowledge. Of
great importance is compulsory periodic regular exposure and participation in performance discussions, relevant conferences, publish data and papers in journals of
repute, corporate forums, meetings, etc. Senior management must be a part of the global community to exchange views and thoughts. 3. Interpersonal relationships, gender
sensitivity, international exposure, Public speaking skills are some of the regular skills that will help personal growth and self-validation. 4. More important of them all is
appropriate remuneration —-this will help continuity, commitment, and deep involvement !! All the above factors will help heads turn- to the non-profit’ organization ..
then it will find the place that it richly deserves!!! 5. The top management must take this as a part of its objectives to project their work to the outside world.

A highly acclaimed medical professional who believes in good analysis and research-based outcomes

Cyril Joseph

15 years experience as Team Leader. and Executive Director at Parish and Diocesan level.

The Gospels. Fr. Yvon Ambrose

By virtue of the Animation and Motivation program, the people at K. Mariammanahalli, lingsugur Taluk, Raichur District,
came to gather to stand United and elect a WOMAN as the first candidate to the Mandal panchayat. At the next election, they
managed to stand together and win a Majority in the Mandal Panchayat elections.

Dedication, Commitment, and Sincerity to people are key factors for development.

Leaders need to be basically interested and genuinely focussed on the amelioration of the poor and underprivileged. They
need to be all things to the poor.

A person who toiled to empower the rural and tribal youth and women.

Daisy Gangurde

Graduation in Science, Postgraduate qualifications in Personnel Management and Industrial
relations, Development Management, Counseling. 8 yrs in the Personnel and Administration
department in an Electronic and Engineering Industry in middle management level. 26 yrs in the
Development sector mostly in Health and Community development projects. Currently working as
Head of Health Programmes in a Non-profit organization.

What I have read, seen, and experienced around me. People and their life stories. Deprivation,
injustice, vulnerability, poverty, lack of opportunities have inspired me to do something to make a
difference for these people.

Hundreds of children from slums in Navi Mumbai were denied admission to Zilla Parishad schools as they did not possess a
birth certificate. Meetings with the Education officers gave no hope as they needed evidence that the child is at least 6 yrs old.
A chance meeting with an orthopedic consultant provided information that age can be determined by an X-ray of the
forearm. The Education officer agreed on considering this evidence if the Municipal Corporation Medical officials confirmed
the child to be over 6 yrs of age based on individual X-rays. The year 1995 saw hordes of children from Navi Mumbai slums
attending school. This was further simplified to a declaration about the age of his /her ward by the parent from 1996
onwards.

Innovation must be socio-economic and sustainable also using technology. Policy innovation is also called for, so the
alternative is easily available, accessible to the lowest common denominator. Innovators must have a clear goal, build plans,
develop skills, gather experience, set expectations, measurable deliverables.

Investment in developing leaders, a succession plan at the top, employees career plans based on appraisals of their
performance, provide opportunities to take responsibilities, and support employees to fulfill their aspirations. Training not
just on the job but other aspects of personality development.

A dedicated and committed development professional with a flair for counseling people

Dilip Arockia

I m working in Quest Alliance and working in skill development for more than 3 years as a
program Associate I m taking care of various ITI ( Industrial Training Institute) and Vocational
training centers in Tamil Nadu

I can't say from one person, I enriched my knowledge from various persons in my life. Indeed they all are my inspiration
example: my co-workers, my manager, and the people I met.

( when we get them a job ) they say you are the reason for my development. Each time it is a cherished moment for me ... Like
I have done something big

Bring out of a lot of strategies and making student-centric to give q fun-full learning

Recognition from CSR, Big platform to share view ideas and innovations. It will be good to exhibit to the world what we are
doing and how we are doing

A young man with a zeal for training and networking to promote the social cause.

Elizabeth Kurian

MSc, EPBM. 29 years of experience. CEO.

My mother - for her immense selfless generosity with her time and talent, non-judgemental
nature, inner sense, integrity, and firm faith in the Almighty.

Visiting impoverished communities in the Thar desert and seeing the impact of our work and the generosity and positive
spirit of communities despite having so little. Meeting Dr. APJ Kalam and other luminaries who seemed simple and humble
despite their huge accomplishments. Interactions with staff and partners for over 20 years.

Believe in yourself, develop a workable plan, and go for it. And work hard and honestly. The impact of what we do results
from a synergy between the head, heart, and hands.

Recruit talented people who have a passion for the sector. Do not lower expectations because our work does not directly
yield commercial outcomes. Support, mentor, and invest in training. Develop professionalism and accountability.

A person with high intellect, great strategy, and knowledge for development work especially in the field
of eye care.

Esther James

After graduation joined ChildFund India, a child development organization, and served in different positions
and also at the management level for over 3 decades. Groomed in this organization which enabled me to
complete my Masters in Public Administration and a Diploma in Project Management. Presently volunteering
for an organization "crossroads" counseling adolescents as well as spending time with special children
projects. Also, a member of the Lions Clubs International.

Mr. Thomas Adaikalam

Was instrumental in setting up an Area office at Daltonganj a Naxalite prone area in Bihar and as a woman staying in a
remote area for more than 15 days experiencing the summer heat of over 40+degrees. Recruiting staff for the area office,
meeting the challenges of the area with basic living conditions. Our focus was to reach out to the deserving communities and
gave much satisfaction once the office was set up and deserving families could be enrolled for support.

Social media reach the community level. Engage and empower the community on leadership responsibilities. Youth
engagement. Standard Operating procedures including HR in the local language.

Scholarships for adolescents and youth for short courses in leadership management skills, counseling, and soft skills.

A person with a strong commitment to the work and believer in God and people

Francis Adaikalam

Ph.D. Faculty Department of Social Work, Loyola College, Chennai. 17 years of Teaching. Have been
working closely with Migrants, Health, and policy. Also Member, Child Welfare Committee,
Chennai District, Tamil Nadu.

Nelson Mandela and Irene Fernandez ( Right to Livelihood Award)

The joy of reuniting children with their parents, especially the younger ones with their mother in the capacity.

Creative writing and art must be mainstreamed. Using technology on the lines of Digital Youth Work in Europe and work
with kids through gamification.

Community work must be part of the school education

A person who has a flair for teaching and research and truly cares for people.

Francis Xavier

I had completed my Master of Social Work specialization in the field of community development and I have got eighteen
years of working experience with UN, Funding Agencies, International, National, and Local NGOs for various
stakeholders. As well as I had completed my assignment as District Recovery Facilitator for Three Districts (Kanyakumari,
Tirunelveli, and Thoothukudi) with UN Team in Tamil Nadu And I had worked as a Monitoring Information system (MIS)
Officer for TB Project & acting Project Director along with Adventists Development Relief Agency (ADRA) - India in Tamil
Nadu. And I completed my assignment working as a Team Leader on the same project. And I worked as Project Director of
the People’s Welfare Society (PWS) as sponsored children Program & Women Livelihood program in Madurai District
supported by Emmaus- Swiss and worked as a Convenor of green. And I worked as DC- for Sivagangai and Virudhunagar
of Tamil Nadu in AXSHYA aloDngiswtriitchtsthe Catholic Health Association of India (CHAI) till 2017 December. And Worked as a Technical Consultant for
SEEDS Farmer Producer Company. And Recently I worked as a Relationship Manager with KALVI Institute. Now I am working as a Training Officer for
the Evin App project funded by UNDP

Mr. Prakash I.A.S.

Releasing Child Bonded labor is a very interesting Task from professional experience. More than 300 child bonded labor were released by me. But its the
tip of the iceberg only

A person with a wide range of expertise and exposure in the field of the development sector. A team worker with excellent training and analytical skills.
Have expertise in Planning, Organising, Monitoring, and delivering promotional activities., Have prior experience working in the field of human rights,
disaster management, environment conservation education, and health in South India. Highly competent in project design, project cycle management
using a logical framework approach

Nonprofit organizations depend on two resources to fulfill their missions. One, of course, is money. The other resource – just as vital but perhaps even
more scarce – is leadership. Today, many nonprofit organizations struggle to attract and retain talented senior executives they need to convert dollars
into social impact. Searches for chief executive, operating, and financial officers often turn up only one to three qualified candidates, compared with
four to six for comparable private-sector positions. The experience of a large nonprofit seeking a seasoned executive to guide its national expansion is
typical: Only a single qualified candidate even considered the position. Like many other organizations in the nonprofit realm, this agency was one person
away from a leadership crisis.

A person with multi-talents and a love for the grass roots people and their causes.

Gagandeep K. Bhullar

Current role: Founder & CEO, SuperHuman Race Previously served in leadership roles with The Boeing
Company in India and North America. I will email my formal bio to Thomas Adaikalam.

I find Johannes Gutenberg to be among the most inspiring historical figures for our development work. If
access to information had not been democratized by him through the invention of the printing press, many
people around the world would have continued to suffer from poverty, slavery, and other social evils. I do
believe that transformational technology is essential for advancement in any field and investment in
technology that democratizes access in any way is the first step towards development.

In Jan 2020, I had participated in a delegation led by the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth. The initiative was intended to
introduce dialogue and awareness about the sustainable development goals (SDGs) at the grassroots level. The multi-stakeholder nature
of the engagement, the vast numbers of people impacted, the intervention from political leadership to drive policy forward, and the
remoteness of the project locations, inspired an unprecedented level of humility in the delegation while also demonstrating hope.

It is an imperative need of the day to bring measurement discipline to the social sector. Finance, engineering, and data professionals
must work with subject matter experts and program managers to codify tribal knowledge in repeatable processes and best practices.

In the social sector, leadership is a function of autonomy. In order to develop the talent pool in the non-profit sector, it is essential to
structure modular programs that are built on a standard program management framework. Training and education on measurement
methodologies, national and international guidelines, best practices, and cost-benefit analysis should be provided regularly so discrete
centers of excellence within organizations emerge and leadership development is woven into the fabric of the organizational culture. For
the next generation of leaders, we will need people who are as effective behind the desk as they are on the field.

A person with a great passion for the work she does

Ganesh Raja

My tertiary degree is a Ph.D. in Management from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies. I have also completed the
Master’s program with a specialization in Marketing from JBIMS. For my Undergraduate education, I went to the Institute of
Hotel Management & Catering Technology in Mumbai and subsequently also completed the Bachelor’s in Commerce from
Osmania University, Hyderabad. In a career spanning three decades, I had the opportunity to work in Hospitality, Financial
Information Services, Country Marketing, and FDI Promotion, Higher Education, and Social Impact sectors.
Development sector work, in it's truest form, is characterized by an intuitive feel for empathy and a do-good motive as the sole

purpose in life's journey. My influences have been shaped by my mother, who put people first and shaped all her work towards empowering those who needed
that little nudge to embrace life with a purpose.
About four years ago I met these young siblings who had performed brilliantly in their school board examinations and had no clue on their education continuity
owing to extremely painful transitions in their lives. They lost their father, a cop, only to realize that they were born out of wedlock and therefore had no claim to
payouts. Socially ostracized, the family moved to the slums and their journey of grit and determination was scripted here. Studying under street lights and
surviving on a single meal a day, the siblings weaved their destinies by sheer hard work. Today, both are pursuing their bachelors in engineering, and in my last
meeting with their mother, I witnessed tears of joy, far removed from the tears of desperation and anguish a few years ago. That moment is etched in my memory.

The answer to innovation lies in crafting solutions from the lens of a beneficiary. Often, the dogma of continuing to serve in a limited or unidirectional way limits
lateral thinking. Blue ocean innovations stem from the following: 1. Giving up the path of 'being better' and relentlessly pursuing best fit local solutions to a
problem 2. Moving from a 'fail-safe' approach to accepting that periodic iterations based on ground realities is a given 3. Including the beneficiary in co-creating
outreaches; I would call this the convergence paradigm

The talent gap largely stems from the low visibility and credibility that this sector gets. My opinion on nurturing talent is that we have to address the demand side
and the supply side of the sector fairly early. Sector pull and continuity are also marked by choices that businesses need to make; while pure-play profit pursuits
are fine, a similarly aggressive approach towards the development sector opportunities is needed. Crafting talented leaders rests on the four pillars of passion
with purpose, relentless pursuit of the goal, carrying people on a larger than life mission, and remaining foolish and hungry in the journey.

A person who is a clear thinker and genuine in what he does for the poor and needy especially in the field of
education.

Govinda Raju

I am a Cost Accountant (ICWA) by profession in addition to my academic qualification of B.Com (Hons)
from Berhampur University, Odisha. I have a total of 25+ years of experience of which have an elaborate
career with the Development Sector for around 17 years.

Amitabha Sadangi

Although I am not directly involved in development work as I represent the support function of the sector, I have few
experiences to cherish. During a field visit during my first employment in the sector, I met a farmer who owned a small piece
of land to feed his family. His daughter used to ferry water from a nearby canal. This denied her right to education. I
managed to supply a Treadle Pump from IDE. This allowed his daughter to attend school and recently completed her
graduation. She is now employed as a teacher with a government school.

With the growing use of technology, I think technology should widely be used to innovate solutions for the sector. I believe
innovations should be carried out to bridge the gap between small scale farmers and producers to the consumers so that they
get the right price for their produce.

Awareness to be created for young professionals to join the sector as currently this sector is not seen as a career oriented
sector. Universities and premier institutes should honor their alumni’s highlighting their achievements and contributions to
the sector which will inspire the young talents to join the sector.

A person with simplicity yet very serious in his work that he undertakes

Harsh Shilpa

Total 18 years Of Experience Current Position CEO- at Indian Company of Training &
Development, Mumbai
Self- Inspired Role Model are- Brian Tracy, Shiv Khera, Tony Robbin, Dr. V Bindra

Young boy age 24 come from Chef Degrees, had thought to open up start-up Catering Service with Unique Idea, I highly
appreciated his deep learning, getting his homework strong and developing his mentality to run a startup

1) There is never end to the new invention and creativity 2) There is always a solution 3) There is someone somewhere doing
better than you, so never stop working

1) create more leaders 2) for that need consistency in awareness 3) to polish leaders, involve them in core meetings, allow
them to keep their points 4) listen to them and welcome their ideas 5) consistency in activity with leaders as an organization
6) have a strong process to replicate great leaders 7) have faith in them and delegate work/ responsibilities

A joyful and effective trainer that makes an impact on the participants with his winning ways.

Hemant Aldangadi

Got over 25yrs of experience working across all regions in India and international assignment with leading
MNC banks and finance organization. Following my successful corporate stint, joined Kotak Education
Foundation, this was my first step towards fulfilling my desire of contributing to society using my
experience and skill. Now, as CEO & Trustee of HEED India, trying to encourage sports at the grassroot
level.

I would name 2 people who saw some potential in me and allowed me to work with them. Mr. Srikar Baljekar and Shivaji
Dam, both hand holded me in the initial stages of my career, and was able to learn a lot from them.

I cherish every single day of my time in the development sector. To quote one of them, I will pick up the latest one, wherein
one of the boxers trained by us won the DSO championship and represented Mumbai at the nationals. Particularly this
boxer as I had handpicked him during my general rounds at BMC schools.

There are a huge scope and potential but we need to put ourselves in their shoes first and think from their side also. There
are a few basic economics which we take for granted and we push our ideas/projects onto them without checking on their
requirements.

Focus is slowly shifting towards the "non-profit" sector, which is mainly bcoz huge funding is now available. We need to
fine-tune, balance it properly as there is a vast difference between the mindset of people coming from the social background
and the now new Corporate people joining NGOs. Too much aggression may not work in most instances.

A lively and resourceful person who can bring change in the lives of people he works with and for.

Himanshu Shukla

I am Doctorate in philosophy, research primarily in the social sector along with MSW and M.Phil,
MA sociology, currently working as a consultant for Swasth Bharat mission with KPMG, total 17
years of experience
Anurag Sonwalkar, State Team Leader, KPMG

I was the lone consultant for Ujjain corporation for solid waste management, because of various initiatives and activities. we
were able to make it at 1st rank nationally under 10 lakh population

They should think about resources which are unused till now and how this can be utilities for the betterment of society

They should be exposed to various activities happening in the environment, there is a need to identify the skill gap and how
this can be improved upon for utilization of skill set.

A person with immense talent in reaching out to people with his multi-skills.

Jayashree Kumar

I have been in the development sector since 1989 after the completion of my masters in social work
& masters in Population studies. I have worked with national & international organizations.
Presently, working with an INGO as State Manager handling program development in Madhya
Pradesh

My Father Mr. Parmeshwaran Pillai, an ex retired employee of BHEL.

During my entire professional life, working with adolescent girls & boys on sexual & reproductive has been great learning &
inspiring. They are the future generations; Guiding & molding them with the right information at the right time leads them to
make the right decisions & become a good citizen.

Keep on inspiring others who are on the way to the development sectors. However, focus more on developing strategies on
reaching out to the most marginalized & vulnerable populations who require the urgent need of support & required help.

Strong leadership is critical to maximizing human talent. leading is much more than just letting people know their
responsibilities. The focus should be more on enhancing their skills on vision building, employee motivation & recognition,
exploring & providing opportunities, and building up clarity, commitment, compassion, and courage which are all unique
characteristics leaders have to demonstrate.

A person with genuine intentions and loves the work she does

Jayasree Ramesh

Fellowship in International Education Leadership U.S. A. Fulbright scholar. Master’s in English, Bachelor’s
in Science, Bachelor’s in Education 3 years in the Development sector, and experience of executing projects
Current position: Project Head at Kotak Education Foundation.
Your answer More than a person, it’s the Fulbright experience which was transformational. The comparative
study of various educational models, policies, and the socio-economic environment globally brought to light
the abysmal performance of India in the public education system. Inspired I was with some of the African
colleagues’ passion and determination to bring in quality education to the remotest part of western Africa.
With resources as limited as no electricity or classroom in place, these educators were determined to bring in
technology, creativity, reasoning, and thinking into their classrooms. Undoubtedly, this experience has been
the turning point in my career.

Would like to narrate a recent incident which moved all of us present in a virtual competition. We had organized at KEF a virtual English
elocution competition for grade 10 students and had shortlisted 11 finalists from 200 participating students. One of the finalists a chirpy,
smart girl who had successfully qualified at the quarterfinals and semifinals, was all set to set the stage on fire for the finals. She was
defending that virtual classrooms are the need of the hour. While it was her turn to wield the mike, it was also her turn to collect water
from the street tap which was a km away from her dwelling. Not wanting to invite the wrath of her mother, the young girl with a pot of
water on the one hand and in the other hand was holding her mobile and was participating in the competition with zeal and gusto. She
not only won everyone’s heart but also bagged the second prize in the competition. This incident has only strengthened my belief that
building the door of opportunity for these students will give them that edge to pursue their dreams and unleash their potential.

The fourth industrial revolution which is blurring the physical and digital world has taken the world by storm. If advancement in AI,
Machine learning, and IOT are the buzzwords for innovators across sectors, don’t see any reason why the development sector should be
left behind. Technology is one element of innovation, but successful innovation requires adoption and scale to experience the impact

With the number of NGOs and CSR activities steadily increasing in India and young India wanting to be a part of this development sector,
the need of the hour is to invest in capacity building, hone specific skill sets, and nurture talent. The focus should be on developing
leaders who will build a sustainable organization, drive change management, and who will be harbingers of innovation and technology
adoption.

A person who can be relied upon for a quality outcome in all that she undertakes

Jiji Bhattacharji

My very first experience with the development sector in India was in my early years in British Council as a
project assistant supporting the Rainfed Farming Project. I met stalwarts from Britain and was in awe of their
commitment and passion for this sector and of course their contribution. I was initiated to the book Farmers
First by Robert Chambers and met the author when he visited the Council and swept away by his intellectual
stamina and commitment. My career that started in 1987 with British Council till 1996 moved to DFID the
same year for the next 13 years, then tried a new and untested world of non-governmental org with ChildFund
International for two years, found the (American) org culture rather different from the world of British
Council and DFID and finally joined UNDP in 2010, where I am currently working.
Greatly inspired by the late Sue Unsworth the first head of DFID in India, her intellect, her analysis, her leadership including strong
relationship building with the government. And Sandra Pepera who I had the good fortune of working with, during my 3 years in
Rwanda, is a pucca development professional wearing a strong gender lens. A great leader and a good friend now. There are many others
to whom I owe my gratitude as a development professional.

My visit to the underground coal mines in Bihar in the late 1980s when working on the coal project. It was historical for me, never in my
wildest dreams did I ever think I would go down a shaft many hundreds of feet below ground and walk in complete darkness with no light
except a Davies Lamp on my forehead. It was a moment of exhilaration!

you must first believe in the eradication of poverty and be committed to this cause, bring home the lessons that you learn in office,
practice the corporate values in your personal life, network well, keep abreast in your learning and development. remain aspirational in
your thoughts. Learn from great managers and leaders.

there has been a paradigm shift in the talent pool in my view. There are more committed individuals with great intellectual stamina who
are attracted to jobs in the development sector. The big change that is happening as I write is in digitization, data processing, and data
analysis- evidence-based research. Data scientists will be a valuable resource shortly. The other new platform is resource mobilization
and partnership building- another great paradigm shift due to donor funding slowing down. A niche group of professionals growing in
this area.

A person with so much positivity and joy in her work and relationship

John Penney

40 years in Human Resources Development and Education. BA in Educational Psychology, Post
Grad Diploma in HR

There are many but Rutger Bregman is one.

When I was working at Childfund and became acquainted for the first time with their survey of children's thoughts and
dreams and saw how it influenced programming. I had never considered before how powerful it was to listen to children.

People know what they need better than the experts. Listen to them. Don't do things "for" people, or worse "to" them, do
things together with them.

It's the same problem as in the profit sector - a lot of the tools just don't work very well and we try to jam too much into a
short time in leadership development programs. Excellent insights are emerging from the contribution of neuroscience to
social psychology that can help leaders develop the right mindset and habits, and guide learning programs.

A person with a genuine love for the poor and ready to speak his mind with no fear or favor

Kavita Datta

19+ years of work experience within the Sales/Business Development domain in Services and
Solution Sales in India and EU for 3 years. Worked in IT companies like Cisco, Microsoft, Oracle
before joining Salesforce. Currently Dir-Consulting Services in Salesforce.

The passion of Elon Musk and the simplicity of Satya Nadela inspires me to work with passion and
stay Humble.

There were some incidences which helped improvise the customer's environment and the success of some big projects which
had been appreciated by our company and the customer. Every role that we individual play and maybe at a minuscule level
when gets appreciated, makes you feel special and good.

The focus should always be to bring innovation more than what ROI it can bring to the table. The focus of every innovation
should keep two important factors in mind that is the betterment of the Environment and the Humane race.

Unfortunately, many Non-profit sectors seem to have lost the trust and confidence of people since the administrative costs
take away the funds and people have started to realize that many Non-Profit Orgs do not stay compliant and have dubious
activities. If those are identified and audited and strict actions can be taken then it may revive back the trusts in NGOs and I
am sure many will come forward to support them. Also, there are more numbers of these NGOs which are all working
towards one goal but in their own method. There should be some way to bring these together then that may also strengthen
this sector.

A person who has shown keen interest and dedication for the cause of the underprivileged community

Kavita Chandak Bihani

I have completed my Bachelors in English followed by a diploma in Fashion Design from the National
Institute of Fashion Technology( NIFT, Kolkata), MDP in Entrepreneurship from IIM Udaipur and MSW. My
first step in the fashion industry was as an intern and later I started my professional career as a fashion
designer and had an opportunity of working with various eminent designers in Kolkata. Started my own
women's wear label in 2007 named Anukriti and continued the label till 2012. The label was stocked at
prominent stores in India and even was part of various exhibitions, fashion weeks and covered in various
publications. From 2012 I moved completely into training and started training TY design students in Retail,
Merchandising, and Entrepreneurship. I was fascinated by working in the social sector and voluntarily
worked for various NGOs like Aseema, Mumbai Smiles, UNICEF, Mentor Me India, and many more before
joining KEF in 2016. I have around 18 years of work experience and currently, I am working as a Cluster
Coordinator for Unnati Project- A livelihood program at KEF.

Right from designer Yohji Yamamoto, Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Mother Teresa, Jyotiba Phule, BK Birla to even my teachers and professors
in school and college to every person I meet all have inspired me in some way or other and helped me develop as an individual.

When one of the collections in the Fashion Week was widely appreciated by the fashion fraternity and covered widely it was one of my
creative high moments. Joining the training sector and seeing the accomplishments of the aspirants trained under my guidance gives me
the biggest satisfaction. From making people look beautiful to making the lives of people beautiful has been one of the most cherished and
beautiful transitions of my professional journey.

Innovation is the key to growth in any field. Along with innovation functionality and sustainability of any product or service is extremely
vital. It is important to keep in mind the audience to grow and constantly upgrade oneself.

It is important for people to consider the social sector as a profession and not just a hobby. As leaders, it is extremely crucial to constantly
upgrade one's skills and not just be dependent on textbook knowledge. Entrepreneurship has a lot of scope in the nonprofit sector. The
focus should be more on tapping the skills of youth, honing them, and not just make them job seekers but even job providers.

A person who works with dedication and perfection

Keerthana Suresh

Environmental engineer with a master's in Integrated Sustainable Design. Currently pursuing
advanced studies in sustainable water resources. I have consultancy and research experience in
water services for the built environment and environmental assessments. On occasions, I teach and
mentor.
It is really social inequality and the struggle for basic amenities by millions of people that inspire me
to work towards development. Along this journey, I learn from many and follow various ideologies
by successful people in this sector.

United Nations Sustainable Development goals to tackle global climate change, improve access to basic amenities, and the
quality of life (also women empowerment, social justice) especially in the developing countries inspired me to choose the
field of environment and development. An opportunity to teach underprivileged and school dropout kids during my
undergraduate education was an eye-opener. The rapport still exists with some of those kids and I try to do everything in my
capacity to motivate them to dream big and strive for it. Access to Education has been a topic close to my heart since then.

Funding and financial planning are the most important aspects to achieve the objectives underlined by organizations or
individuals in the development sector. Innovative financial schemes and conscious brand creation are needed to increase
collaboration with the industry players who are obliged to spend 2% of their average net profits on CSR. Efforts for
cooperation and support from developed nations are also imperative. (It is more than 50 words)

In India, we are seeing a changing landscape in the way NGOs function. There are options to take up social work and peace
studies as education, so there is a possibility that we will see more leaders and the right talent pool in this sector as we go – it
will stop to be pure volunteering work. It has become a profession with structured objectives and focused fund-raising.
However, to attract more talent and optimize its resources it is essential to define nearly certain outcomes for the individual
career growth and long-term realistic goals. (It is more than 50 words)

A person with a keen mind and a large heart to make effective change in whatever she does