There’s something deeply powerful about human connection. That feeling you get when you meet someone for the first time, yet feel like you can connect with them instantly. That sense of connection still lights me up.
I remember feeling this most strongly while working on a gender equity project while I was working in the corporate. You can read more about it here. The cause was so close to my heart that it felt like a personal mission. Although there were no external milestones that I had to chase, it felt like a once in a lifetime opportunity to me, one that I had to make the most out of.
So I sent countless cold emails, walked into meetings in the most unexpected places, introduced myself and started the conversation by saying, “I’m working on this and would love to explore how we can collaborate.” It felt like an open playing field, where I could be creative, try new things, experiment, fail fast and keep moving. Work was hop, skip and jump and an amusing adventure. That was the time when I decided to make it more than a side project. Since then, I’ve worked closely with the government and many people in the sector. But one thing that continues to anchor me is that same sense of human connection.
Last week, during a conversation, Ajay from Inqui-Lab Foundation mentioned that I could visit a training centre he is deeply involved with, one where he also teaches, alongside many others who come together to collaboratively train and mentor students. They run a training centre where they onboard a batch of around 50 women every year, train them in data science and support them in getting jobs. They have been running it since the last 5 years and have been able to place 3,000+ women who are from rural backgrounds. They have also been able to stop many early marriages by enabling these women to get jobs. It reminded me of the gender equity initiative I had worked on earlier and I was so excited to visit.
This wasn’t directly linked to my current work. I just wanted to go, explore what was happening on the ground, and feel inspired. During the visit, I was accompanied by my partner, Siddhartha Das, who is a faculty member at IIIT Hyderabad and has interest in public health and gender equity.
The training centre selected 50 women from nearly 500 applicants this year. These are graduates and postgraduates across streams from Telangana and Andhra region who have been actively looking for jobs but haven’t been able to break through. They are to attend a two-month residential program, completely free of cost, where they’re trained in data analytics, English, philosophy, and the basics of AI and machine learning to make them job-ready.
The campus itself is beautiful and thoughtfully designed. There are classrooms, a library, open green spaces, a gym, a cowshed, a temple, and a large hall where students study together. It’s well-run, well-maintained, and powered entirely by a philanthropic trust. Mentors come in regularly to teach and guide the students.
What stood out most, was the energy of the women there. Their curiosity, confidence, and engagement were inspiring. They seemed genuinely happy to be on campus. The alumni network was strong and active, supporting students not just during the program but throughout their careers. One thing the visit re-affirmed is that stepping out to truly connect with people is deeply inspiring.
