Two Weeks into ISDM — Building My Nami Wave

25th July wasn’t just a date on my calendar.
It was the first day of a new chapter — joining the Indian School of Development Management (ISDM), Delhi NCR.

I’m now part of 106 changemakers from 21 states, speaking 54+ languages. It’s not just diversity — it’s a living network of perspectives, challenges, and possibilities.

What I’ve Experienced So Far

• The Context of Development in India with Amitabh Behar — a sharp reminder to look beyond symptoms and into the roots.

• PLOs, Curriculum & Systems with Naghma Abidi — proving that purpose still needs process.

• Social Entrepreneurship Experience with Anand Mistryand Ashish Agrawal — real stories of risk, resilience, and starting where you are.

• Wellbeing Workshop with Satjyot Gill — understanding that caring for community starts with caring for self.

• Insight Architect: Excel for Social Impact with Sajit Nair — data is empathy in numbers.

• Mathematics for Development with Maitrayee Mukerji — patterns explain people too.

• Case Study Masterclass with Prof. L. S. Murty — learning to listen to problems until they tell you their story.

• We The People by WTP Abhiyan — my first real connection to the Constitution’s values beyond a textbook.

• RLT Workshop — learning that leadership is less about being at the front and more about building the ground others can stand on.

• The Landscape of the Social Sector in India with Dr. Rajesh Tandon — understanding the scale, complexity, and untapped possibilities in India’s development ecosystem.

• Alumni Connect – Conversations that revealed the sector’s realities, career pathways, and the strength of community-driven change.

The Goonj Visit — Redefining “Help”
On 2nd August, our field visit to Goonj’s Centre of Circularity shifted something in me.
Cloth isn’t charity there. It’s currency earned through community work.
Surplus becomes school uniforms, reusable pads, disaster kits, even bridal sets — each with care and dignity woven in.
I left thinking: When we help, are we giving in a way that preserves someone’s self-worth?

The Cohort’s “We”
Already, we’re building:

• Development Musings — a podcast to share real stories of social change

• Entrepreneur Hangout — a sandbox for ideas, free from fear of being wrong

• Emergency Response: First Aid — because care should be as immediate as action

• Creating a music band - 404 Room No.

Here, I is my mission: to digitally transform social ventures, nurture climate-smart innovation, and one day build an NGO for dialysis patients in memory of my father.
We is the community that makes the mission stronger, faster, and deeper.

A Personal Lens — My ENFP Self-Reflection
During our MBTI self-reflection, I discovered I’m an ENFP — The Campaigner.
I dream big, draw energy from people, thrive in possibility, and resist boxes.
It explained why I feel most alive when connecting ideas to people and people to action.
And it reminded me: my work in the social sector isn’t just professional — it’s deeply personal.

Three Reminders I’m Carrying

1. Your story only has power if you’re willing to hear someone else’s.

2. The best ideas are born between sessions.

3. Change grows faster when you share it.

What I’m Asking You
If you’ve ever been in a space that shaped your vision,
If you’ve seen dignity change someone’s life,
If you’re building something that scares you just enough to make you grow

Tell me your story. Let’s see if our waves can meet. 🌊

What’s the one lesson your last two weeks have taught you?

#SocialImpact #GrassrootsLeadership #SocialEntrepreneurship #ISDM #Ikigai #MakeWaves #PurposeDriven #ClimateAction #CommunityEmpowerment #FounderLife

Disclaimer: These reflections are part of my personal journey and are shared to inspire dialogue, learning, and exchange of ideas. I welcome your feedback, stories, and perspectives. All views expressed are my own and do not represent the official position of ISDM or any other organization mentioned.