In the development sector, degrees from the education sector like PhD, B.Ed etc. are also very important…
Nuriya Ansari- Chief Executive Officer, Bharti Airtel Foundation
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Birthplace: Belgium.
Education: Kodaikanal International School, Sacrifice Jesus and Mary College, Masters Delhi University.
Profession: CEO, Bharti Airtel Foundation.
Nuriya Ansari is the CEO of the Bharti Airtel Foundation, known for initiating and reforming the Indian education system through concrete changes. Today, in the University of Life segment of Grihashobha, we bring you a wealth of guidance and advice for students pursuing a career in the development sector, based on her career journey through her interview:
If you want to go into the development sector, which school subjects should you focus on?
Knowledge of maths is essential because a grasp of mathematics is useful in fields like data analysis, impact assessment, and evaluation. Knowledge of English or other languages is essential because if your language is fluent, you’ll be able to communicate well, present yourself, and put your point across. Furthermore, considering today’s world, the most important subject is technology and digital knowledge. Regardless of the field, technology and digital skills are the most critical factors today. Digital safety, cybersecurity, cyber awareness, and social media awareness have all become 100% life skills. So, learn as much as you can about these things, as technology is changing rapidly.
And another very important thing is a love for the social sector, when it’s for social work you’re in community work, you have to stand here in the sun for hours, and this isn’t a subject taught in school. It’s a love that comes from within.
What college degree aligns with this career?
In the development sector, a psychology degree, and degrees in the education sector such as a PhD, B.Ed., Master of Social Work, MA in Development Studies, Journalism, and B.Sc. are also essential so that if you are involved in medical aid at the primary or rural level in the development sector, you can understand medicines, their proper maintenance, etc. Those involved in the NGO sector should have some education or knowledge of law. Similarly, whichever sector or field of the development sector you are associated with or want to make a career in, education, knowledge, or specialization in that field is essential.
What should be the criteria for choosing the best college?
First, look at the faculty, because everything I learned in college has been applied to my career, thanks to my excellent faculty. They were very hardworking, possessed a wealth of knowledge, and invested their knowledge in us to help us succeed. We had question-and-answer sessions, and they encouraged us.
Also, consider the college’s transparency regarding its teachers, facilities, infrastructure, compliance, etc. Consider the college’s established reputation. Also, consider whether it’s keeping up with the times. Whether current academic facilities, programs, etc. are available, and its current performance.
What skills lead to success in this field?
Integrity skills, technology skills, communication skills, all these are very important.
Also, the most critical skills are stakeholdership, critical thinking and problem solving so that you can stand up in every difficulty and give answers. For example, if any labourer from an economically distressed family says in front of you that ‘why should we send our child to school? If he works in a shop or with a mechanic, he will get at least 500-600 rupees. So why should he come to school where there is no earning?’ Then you should be able to answer this question of his. Also, here resilience is very important so that you can adapt yourself to every situation, can handle yourself because if you work here for 360 days, then you will have to cry for 150 days.
You see, girls are married off at a young age, sold, boys are removed from school, boys run away—all of this is common news. Very little good news comes, and amidst all this, you have to keep working.
How to balance empathy, emotion and intelligence in the development sector?
Understand and then apply your intelligence to it. I would put it in an order: first empathy, then emotional intelligence, and then intelligence. First, have empathy for the other person, not sympathy. After that, tap into their emotions. Now, apply your critical thinking and problem-solving skills here. For example, if a farmer tells you that his child will not be attending school for 15 days because it is harvest time, you should understand the father’s needs instead of going to complain about him. Remember, in the development sector, you have to become a developer, not an activist; you have to become a professional so that you can change the situation, not complicate it.
What were the turning points in your education and career?
The first turning point in my life was my first psychology class at JMC College, which is the best class of my life today. After that, I fell in love with this subject. The second was when I entered the education sector as a teacher. When, at the age of 23, I taught psychology to 12th grade students and prepared them for the board exams. The third was working with Dr. Anjali Prakash at Learning Links Foundation, training 10 lakh teachers across the country with her. And then the turning point was Bharti Airtel Foundation, where I got everything – education as well as development.
How much scope do you see in the development sector? What impact will AI have on this sector?
There’s ample scope in both for-profit and non-profit sectors within the development sector. Today, every FMCG company is hiring development professionals because they know how to work in villages and tehsils, and understand the needs of people, from the local grocery store to the local market. Associate work is abundant in the development sector, so at the entry level, consider working in medical units, schools, agriculture, and healthcare, where there are fewer people and more opportunities.
AI and the development sector are closely linked. Today, AI machine learning is being implemented in the rural sector through the development sector. For example, the identification of weeds, pesticides, and insects, and their labeling, are all being done by development sector professionals for the AI sector. For example, the development sector is also collecting data for them and assisting them with data analysis. This is a strong collaboration.
CAREER TIPS
- It is important to know maths because a grasp of mathematics is useful in places like data analysis, impact assessment, evaluation etc.
- Whichever sector or field of development you are associated with or want to make a career in, it is necessary to study, have knowledge or specialization in that field.
– Rajni Prasad