Authored by Sangita Palod– Core Team Member, Piramal Foundation
June 14, 2024, marked a significant milestone in my journey with the Piramal Foundation family. On this day, with immense gratitude, I celebrated ten years of what I can only describe as a “trekking expedition” — one of self-change to systems change. I am thankful to DBC Dhwani for allowing me the creative freedom to express this journey in my own words.
It was a moment to pause and reflect: What kept me in high spirits through stormy days, rocky terrains, and unexpected landslides?
Multiple answers surfaced, and staying true to my role as a member of the Centre for Digital Transformation team, I took a moment for some root cause analysis. I’m sharing my reflections here, and you may choose to see them as the musings of a grey-haired woman or dismiss them as the words of a pompous lady seeking self-importance!
Shifting to the social sector and joining the Piramal Foundation was a conscious decision, and I was determined to make it count. So, why am I still here, over a decade later?
With an entrepreneurial spirit, the freedom to experiment without fear of failure, and the authority to act decisively to drive outcomes, I found the environment that allowed me to thrive. So why am I still trekking, despite the landslides?
In a trekking expedition, conquering easier to moderate challenges motivates you to push for higher, more difficult peaks.
Similarly, my journey has been a series of shifts: from viewing the school as a unit of change to embracing the system as a whole, from operations to digital transformation, from Gujarat to Bihar, and from education to health. I am deeply grateful for these challenging opportunities, which have subtly shaped me into a better version of myself.
The AHA moment! It’s the stream of Meaning-LearningJoy-Pride that has fueled my journey for 10 years.
My expedition began with understanding public schools as a unit of change and seeing myself as a catalyst for that transformation. Along the way, I built “Knowledge” in areas like social sector, public education, public health, systems thinking, and digital transformation, with the most important being self-awareness. This journey has been deeply “Meaningful,” empowering me to take “Action” with integrity. Through continuous learning, reflection, and humility, I’ve deepened my sense of trusteeship — “Care.” In this cycle, moments of insight bring “Joy,” which build resilience and inspire a deeper commitment to creating “Impact,” evoking a sense of “Pride.”
And so, the inside-out journey continues…
About Sangita Palod
Sangita Palod is a lifelong learner and practitioner with a passion for solo travel and amateur photography. As the Lead at the Centre for Digital Transformation, she drives innovation and collaboration within Digital Bharat Collaborative. Outside of her professional life, Sangita is a fan of Tom & Jerry and admires the work of George Clooney.