Organized by Gandhi Fellowship Marketing Team in collaboration with the Centralised Career Guidance & Placement Cell (CCGPC), Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU)

The event brought together speakers from leading social impact organizations to engage with students from across disciplines on the theme — “Careers and Opportunities in the Social Development Sector.”

Panel of Visionaries: Voices from the Development Ecosystem

The session featured an inspiring panel of speakers who have each carved their own unique path in the social impact landscape:

Kshitij Gupta – Senior Program Manager, Piramal Foundation

Sanjana Kaushik – Outreach Consultant, Indian School of Development Management (ISDM)

Summaiya Afreen – Co-Founder & Director, Lakshya Jeevan Jagriti

Rahul Goswami – Co-Founder & CEO, Lakshya Jeevan Jagriti

Sayak Sarkar – Co-Founder & C.C.O, Social Action Mobilizer (Moderator)

The conversation, moderated by Sayak Sarkar, a dynamic young leader and Gandhi Fellow alumnus, flowed effortlessly between reflections, personal experiences, and thought-provoking insights about the changing face of India’s social sector.

Sayak guided the discussion by highlighting how the social development space has evolved over the past decade — with structured career paths, increased collaboration between corporates, nonprofits, and government bodies, and the emergence of professional opportunities in domains like education, climate action, healthcare, and livelihoods.

Exploring the Social Sector: Purpose, Profession, and Possibility

Kshitij Gupta, representing Piramal Foundation, spoke about the evolution of the development ecosystem and how organizations today are designing large-scale interventions in partnership with government bodies and donor agencies. He shared his journey of leading education initiatives across multiple states and encouraged students to explore roles that balance leadership with empathy.

He reflected, “Interacting with young minds on pursuing purpose-driven careers is always inspiring. The energy and curiosity students bring to these discussions remind us why this work matters.”

Sanjana Kaushik, from the Indian School of Development Management (ISDM), shared insights on the academic and managerial dimensions of the sector. She spoke about the Post Graduate Program in Development Management offered by ISDM, which equips young professionals to lead effectively within social purpose organizations.

“The session touched upon everything — from fellowships to courses to jobs — helping students

discover a wide range of opportunities to build their careers in the sector,” she shared later on social media, expressing her appreciation for the session.

Adding to the dialogue, Rahul Goswami and Summaiya Afreen, co-founders of Lakshya Jeevan Jagriti, shared their inspiring entrepreneurial journey. Both of them emphasized how their organization has worked to create equitable access to education and leadership for youth and women from underserved communities.

Summaiya highlighted the importance of self-belief and resilience in social entrepreneurship, drawing from her 15-year experience in the field. Rahul, reflecting on the impact of such sessions, shared that inspiring young minds to explore social change as a career is one of the most fulfilling aspects of his work.

The panel together unpacked the various entry points into the social sector — from fellowships and academic programs to entrepreneurship and consulting — while emphasizing that purpose and empathy remain at the heart of sustainable change.

A Session That Sparked Inspiration

The students’ response to the session was overwhelmingly positive. Many expressed excitement about the idea of combining professional growth with social impact, and several approached the speakers after the discussion to learn more about the organizations represented on the panel.

Some students even showed keen interest in exploring opportunities with Lakshya Jeevan Jagriti, reflecting the deep resonance the panel’s stories had created.

Sayak Sarkar, as moderator, weaved together the diverse experiences of the panel with his own journey, creating an environment that was both reflective and energizing. His engaging style ensured that the discussion remained accessible and interactive for students from all disciplines.

The event concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks to Ms. Hemani Yadav, Ms. Nasreen, and the entire CCGPC team for their outstanding coordination and support in making the event a success.

Continuing the Collaboration

Building on the success of this session, the Gandhi Fellowship team are exploring possibilities of conducting similar events at the East Delhi Campus and other affiliated colleges under GGSIPU in the coming months.

These sessions aim to further bridge the awareness gap about the development sector and inspire more young people to consider purpose-driven careers that contribute to nation-building.