Social entrepreneurship, for me, has never been about building an organisation but building people. My journey did not begin with a strategy deck or a polished model; it began with one simple truth. I understood very early in life: when you teach someone a skill, you do far more than give them a means to earn. You give them dignity. You give them courage. You give them the confidence to stand taller in their own lives.
This belief came from experience. At six, I was running a tiny comic book library out of sheer curiosity and enthusiasm. In my teenage years, I found myself designing stock market games. Later, I built my first company with nothing more than a swipe of a credit card. Each of these phases shaped me in ways I only understood much later. They showed me that skills can change your circumstances, your confidence, and your capacity to contribute. Skills give you the strength to step into the world with courage, even when you begin with almost nothing.
Perhaps that is why I am drawn to students, first-generation learners, and women who are trying to build something meaningful. They remind me of myself at various points in my life—full of talent, fire, and ambition, but often lacking direction or access. Many of them simply need someone to open a door, offer guidance, or show them what is possible. I feel a deep sense of responsibility to help bridge that gap.
My life has never been shaped by privilege—no influential networks, no abundant resources, no pedigree that guaranteed success. My life was shaped by skills. Skills taught me how to think, how to build, how to adapt, and how to dream beyond what I could see. They made me resilient when circumstances were rough, ambitious when opportunities were scarce, and hopeful even when the odds were not in my favour.
This is why I share everything I know freely. Knowledge loses its power when it is guarded, but it becomes transformative when it is passed on. I have seen this firsthand in volunteering sessions at colleges, in conversations with young people from smaller towns, in workshops with women who don’t realise how capable they truly are, and in mentoring those who are taking their very first steps into entrepreneurship or employment. Every time a student tells me, “I got my first job because of what you taught me,” or a young entrepreneur says, “I hired my fifth employee today,” I am reminded why this work matters so deeply.
Over the years, I have met incredibly talented people who lack structure, passionate individuals who lack direction, and hardworking students who lack mentorship. Often, what they need is not a miracle—it is a nudge, a roadmap, or simply someone who believes in them. Whenever I can, I try to be that person. Not for gain, not for applause, but because I genuinely believe in the transformative power of skilling.
To me, skills are the greatest social equaliser in India. They cut through background, privilege, geography, and circumstance. They allow people not just to survive but to grow, build, innovate, and lead. If we want an India where every young person has a fair chance to thrive, then accessible, high-quality skilling must be at the heart of our nation’s development story.
And if I can play even a small part in that journey—if I can help someone find their confidence, their opportunity, or their voice—then I consider that a duty well fulfilled.