There are many accounts of O.P. Jindal Global University’s alumni who have transformed into thought leaders and change-makers. This is Paavani Pegatraju’s story, a youngster who has embraced innovation to make an impact in the social sector. She is currently pursuing her Masters in Economics and Business at Sciences Po, Paris, with a focus on CSR, Sustainability and Social Innovation.
For the Bengaluru girl, the passion to make a difference in the world took root while pursuing a B.A. (Hons.) in Liberal Arts and Humanities at the Jindal School of Liberal Arts & Humanities. In 2015, Paavani bagged the prestigious Savitri Jindal Scholarship offered by JGU and moved from the southern part of the country to Sonipat. The scholarship encouraged her to prove herself, which she did by winning the Best Researcher Award at JGU the following year. Through her coursework and research internships, she has developed a keen interest in Political Economy, Behavioural Economics, and Inclusive Business. “The research opportunities and the interdisciplinary courses at JSLH deeply influenced my interests and served as the launch pad for me to pursue a career in the social impact sector,” she says looking back on her journey. During this time, Paavani also attended a summer school at The London School of Economics and Political Science and a semester abroad at Trinity College Dublin.
At JGU, Paavani was continuously exposed to new learning experiences. She got the opportunity to work at the grassroots level and be in touch with the ground realities. Regarding the scope of experiential learning through various projects at JGU, she says, “The opportunity to engage in fieldwork with Anganwadis around Sonipat helped to enhance my understanding of the ground reality in these communities and the working conditions, infrastructure and the pre-school education offered at these centres.” Her understanding of the social sector was further enriched through internships with NALSAR University, Hyderabad and National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore.
Taking advantage of the work-experience year during her Master’s programme, Paavani returned to her hometown last year. She worked as a Student Fellow with Start Up! Pvt Ltd, an angel investor, impact incubator, and consultant for social entrepreneurs in Delhi. She then went on to work with Ashoka, the largest network of social entrepreneurs in the world, as an Ashoka Young Changemakers Intern in Bengaluru. It proved to be a valuable learning experience. “Ashoka has pioneered social entrepreneurship as a field, and has influenced key global players across sectors to recognise and nurture entrepreneurial talent to solve social problems,” she shares.
Paavani’s resolve to work towards social impact and sustainable development has matured over time. Her academic experiences helped broaden her horizon and introduced a plethora of possibilities for her future. Having recently completed an internship with the SDGs Department at NITI Aayog, she is currently engaged as a Research Intern with Outline India, a research and development consulting firm in Delhi. “Through my work in the social impact sector, I hope to help level the playing field and actively help improve the lives of the marginalised and the impoverished,” she says. Next year she will return to Paris to complete her Master’s programme and continue to work towards creating large-scale social change. Once she graduates, she aspires to build a career in research and development programmes, and development policy.
