A Leadership Reset: Reflections from IHERC 2025

Leadership is far less about authority and far more about responsibility, humility, and presence.

A Leadership Reset:
Reflections from IHERC 2025 

As I sat there, notebook open but mind fully present, a few leadership lessons stayed with me long after the sessions ended. I look forward to building on these insights as I continue my work in the higher education ecosystem—trying, in my own small ways, to lead with clarity, compassion, and purpose.

I returned from IHERC 2025 at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi feeling grateful, inspired, and quietly reflective. Two days immersed in conversations on higher education, research, and leadership have a way of slowing you down—in a good way—and nudging you to re-examine what truly matters in the work we do.

One of the most special moments for me was what I can only describe as a fanboy moment. Listening to Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao and Mr. Kiran Karnik—two leaders I’ve admired since the very beginning of my professional journey—was both grounding and energizing. Their words didn’t feel aspirational in a distant sense; they felt deeply real, shaped by lived experience, failures, and hard-earned wisdom.

As I sat there, notebook open but mind fully present, a few leadership lessons stayed with me long after the sessions ended.

✓ I was reminded that leadership begins with communicating the vision clearly, not just to the top few, but all the way to the bottom of the organization. A vision that isn’t understood widely rarely moves people meaningfully.

✓ Another powerful reminder was about ownership—taking charge of failures without hesitation, and generously attributing success to the team. That quiet shift in mindset says more about a leader than any title ever could.

✓ What also struck me deeply was the emphasis on choosing battles wisely. Not every fight deserves energy. Knowing which challenges to confront and which ones to let go of is an underrated leadership skill, especially in complex academic and institutional ecosystems.

✓ Leadership, I realized again, is also about translation—turning vision into values, and values into everyday behaviours. Big ideas only matter when they show up in small, consistent actions.

✓ There was also a strong emphasis on leading by example. Not by instruction or authority, but through conduct. People observe far more than they listen.

✓ Another takeaway that resonated with me was the importance of emotional connection, alongside rational clarity. Teams don’t just need direction; they need to feel seen, heard, and valued. Logic may guide decisions, but emotion sustains commitment.

✓ Leaders, I was reminded, must provide direction and actively remove obstacles, creating space for others to do their best work. And perhaps most importantly—even when people disagree with you, listen. Disagreement, when met with openness, often carries the seed of growth.

As I reflect on these lessons, one thought stands out clearly: leadership is far less about authority and far more about responsibility, humility, and presence.

I look forward to building on these insights as I continue my work in the higher education ecosystem—trying, in my own small ways, to lead with clarity, compassion, and purpose.

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Gratitude, Growth, and the Gift of Teaching

#gratefulthankfulblessed2025

Gratitude, Growth, and the Gift of Teaching

Today, I am grateful. Today, I am grounded. And today, more than ever, I am committed to the beautiful calling of teaching.

Today, my heart feels heavier—in the most beautiful way.

Not with burden, but with gratitude.

Receiving the #TeacherOfTheYearAward2025 from UCOST (Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology), ONGC Limited, and SRADSTA (Society for Research & Development in Science, Technology and Agriculture) under the 6th Dehradun International Science and Technology Festival is a moment I will cherish for a lifetime. 

But this recognition is not just an award; it’s a quiet whisper from the universe reminding me why I chose this path… and why this path chose me.

Teaching has always been more than a profession. It is the one thing that has consistently lit up my soul. Long before degrees, awards, or titles, there was just one simple truth—I love teaching because I love watching my students grow.

This award carries within it the weight of a journey:

the struggles no one saw,

the late nights of planning and preparing,

the constant learning, unlearning, and relearning,

and the unwavering belief that education can change the course of one's life.

Every classroom I’ve walked into, every student I’ve interacted with, every challenge I’ve stumbled through—they have shaped me in ways no textbook ever could.

I often tell my students that they are capable of greatness, but the truth is… they are the ones who taught me greatness. Their resilience, their curiosity, their dreams—those are my driving force. My students are not just learners; they are my purpose.

To my mentors and colleagues—your belief in me has held me steady on days when I doubted myself.

To my parents—your support is the home my spirit always returns to.

To everyone who has been part of my journey—thank you for standing with me, cheering for me, and reminding me of the power of sincere work.

Achievements like this don’t happen in isolation. They are built through countless hands, countless hearts, and countless moments of kindness, guidance, and faith.

As I hold this recognition close, I feel not pride— but responsibility. A deeper responsibility to keep showing up with sincerity, courage, and hope.

To continue shaping minds, touching lives, and creating learning spaces where every learner feels seen, heard, and valued.

Today, I am grateful. Today, I am grounded.

And today, more than ever, I am committed to the beautiful calling of teaching.

#gratefulthankfulblessed2025

From Dream to Reality: My Journey to the United Nations

#FromDreamToUN 

From Dream to Reality: 
My Journey to the United Nations

Being at the UN was more than just a personal achievement—it was a reminder of why I started this journey. It was about contributing to a larger cause, lending my voice to important conversations, and learning from others who are equally committed to making the world better.

As I stood there—surrounded by flags, history, and voices shaping the future—I couldn’t help but think back to my graduation days. Back then, the idea of visiting the UN felt so far away. It was a dream I carried quietly, never knowing how or when it would happen. At that time, all I could do was work hard, stay committed to my values, and make a difference wherever I could.

Life, I have learned, has its own way of rewarding quiet perseverance. Opportunities rarely come from chasing recognition; they come from chasing excellence. Every small project, every volunteer hour, every late night spent working on something meaningful—these were the stepping stones that eventually led me to this global platform.

Being at the UN was more than just a personal achievement—it was a reminder of why I started this journey. It was about contributing to a larger cause, lending my voice to important conversations, and learning from others who are equally committed to making the world better.

I carry with me a quote that has guided me for years:

"Do not wait for extraordinary circumstances to do good; try to use ordinary situations." — Charles Richter

You don’t need a big stage to start making an impact. Your everyday actions—helping a friend, mentoring someone, starting a small community project—matter more than you think.

To every young dreamer reading this: keep showing up. Keep doing the work. Even when no one is watching, you are growing. The seeds you plant today may take years to grow, but when they bloom, they will take you places you never thought possible.

And who knows? One day, you might find yourself standing at the United Nations—not just as a visitor, but as a representative of your dreams, your work, and your country.

 ******