Journeying from Thought to Action: A Special Edition celebrating The Kamalnayan Bajaj Fellowship (KBF)
Visionary. Powerful. Charismatic. Words you would associate with leaders. The Kamalnayan Bajaj Fellowship (KBF), a flagship initiative of the Ananta Aspen Centre, reframes the very notion of leadership, building a unique convergence of personal values and a good society. This special edition of our newsletter celebrates the ten remarkable cohorts of Bajaj Fellows, young leaders who embraced the transformative journey offered by KBF. Their stories and the impact they are creating are inspiring. Join us as we explore their experiences and the meaningful impact they continue to create.
Amitav Virmani
Founder CEO, The Education Alliance,
Kamalnayan Bajaj Fellow, Class 3
• How has the Kamalnayan Bajaj Fellowship transformed your effective leadership understanding?
The Kamalnayan Bajaj Fellowship has deepened my understanding of effective leadership by emphasising values-driven decision-making and the importance of self-awareness. Through reflective dialogues and engagement with diverse peers, I’ve learned to navigate complexity with empathy and adaptability. The program illuminated the balance between individual goals and collective responsibility, helping me recognise leadership as a journey of service, not just achievement. This transformative perspective reshaped how I approach challenges, fostering collaboration and trust. By aligning my actions with a larger purpose, I’ve developed a leadership style that prioritises sustainable outcomes over short-term gains.
• How has the fellowship enhanced your capacity to lead purposefully and create lasting impact?
The fellowship has sharpened my ability to lead with clarity of purpose by encouraging introspection and aligning personal values with professional goals. Its emphasis on ethical leadership has inspired me to focus on initiatives that drive social impact while remaining financially sustainable. Engaging with like-minded fellows across classes has expanded my perspective, empowering me to think systemically and act with greater conviction. This purpose-driven approach has enabled me to address challenges holistically, mobilize diverse stakeholders effectively, and build initiatives that not only succeed but also create enduring value for communities and stakeholders I serve.
• What valuable insight from the fellowship have you integrated into your entrepreneurial journey, and how has it helped you overcome the challenges of launching and sustaining your venture?
A key insight from the fellowship has been the importance of resilience and adaptability in entrepreneurship. The discussions on navigating ambiguity and failure have been instrumental in helping me view challenges as opportunities for growth. This mindset allowed me to pivot effectively 6 years ago, innovate amidst constraints, and maintain a focus on long-term objectives. Additionally, the fellowship’s emphasis on stakeholder engagement taught me to build trust-based relationships, ensuring both alignment and accountability in the work I do (which is also my venture!). By anchoring my entrepreneurial journey in core values and purpose, I’ve been able to sustain momentum, inspire teams, and create meaningful, lasting impact.
Anuj Poddar
Managing Director, Co-Head of Global Portfolio Solutions for Asia, The
Carlyle Group
Kamalnayan Bajaj Fellow, Class 1
• How has the Kamalnayan Bajaj Fellowship transformed your effective leadership understanding?
The unique Socratic text-based dialogue format is what distinguishes this Fellowship from most other programs. The multiple readings that covered various leaders (Gandhi, Mandela, Lee Kuan Yew and many others) and leadership principles (from ancient philosophy to contemporary thinking) provide a holistic approach to enhancing one’s leadership understanding. Personally, I joined the Fellowship very early, but the learnings stayed with me sub-consciously and came into play as I went forward — it grounded me early on effective and conscious leadership. In a fast-growing society/world where one is often thrust rapidly into leadership, this grounding in more conscious leadership has helped me command greater respect as a deserving and mature leader.
• How has the fellowship enhanced your capacity to lead purposefully and create lasting impact?
The diversity of each cohort is the most powerful aspect of the Fellowship. It draws Fellows outside their echo chamber and challenges our perspectives — often, in a very dramatic manner through highly intense dialogues. That has driven Fellows, including me, to revisit our self-purpose and re-balance and re-orient our journey. I am far more aware of all the stakeholders in the society around me and my power and responsibility to create the right impact for them. Today, I find myself coming across as a Capitalist when amongst Socialists, but a Socialist when amongst Capitalists. I consider that as a sign of being more balanced in my perspectives, thanks to the Fellowship.
• What valuable insight from the fellowship have you integrated into your entrepreneurial journey, and how has it helped you overcome the challenges of launching and sustaining your venture?
The Fellowship has accelerated my wisdom by gaining from the experience and perspectives of others. Entrepreneurial journeys are about having clarity of goals — the Fellowship has sharpened the instinct to being more purpose-conscious. Equally important is the ability to overcome challenges in that journey. Often, the ability to do so comes from being able to better understand and align people along that journey. The Fellowship hones one’s ability to leverage a more holistic perspective and conscious leadership style to co-opt people along one’s own journey, whatever that may be.
Shannon Massar
Co-founder and Director, Faith Foundation
Kamalnayan Bajaj Fellow, Class 10
• How has the Kamalnayan Bajaj Fellowship transformed your effective leadership understanding?
Attending the first seminar was surprisingly an eye-opening experience for me. Because it challenged me to focus on understanding my “self” first. I felt uncomfortable, even rattled but I believe that discomfort is a key part of effective leadership. It is a sign of growth. This fellowship has shifted my perspective. It showed me that effective leadership starts with self-introspection and to be an effective leader I must first understand my own values, strengths, and limitations. This will guide my actions and the impact that I have on others.
• How has the fellowship enhanced your capacity to lead purposefully and create lasting impact?
I often find myself battling self-doubt questioning whether I am doing enough or not. Confronting my own fears, insecurities, biases and limitations is a constant challenge. As a leader, this struggle is difficult, as I am tested on my integrity daily. However, the quiet transformation I’m experiencing is self-awareness. I’m learning to pause and reflect on my actions — not just in terms of what I’ve done, but how my decisions impact those around me. I understand that this is how they shape the people I am around with. I am able to reflect and stay grounded in my values. I try not to make quick decisions or respond to external pressure but to make informed choices that align with the values I hold most dear. When I am faced with difficult decisions, I now remind myself to reflect on these values first to be able to lead with integrity, courage and purpose.
• What valuable insight from the fellowship have you integrated into your entrepreneurial journey, and how has it helped you overcome the challenges of launching and sustaining your venture?
My experiences have shown me the importance of working intensively with teachers to help them gain a deeper understanding of the children they serve and identify the ways to safeguard and protect them. To achieve this, there is an urgent need on building leadership within schools—leaders who lead with heart, soul, passion, and purpose with the belief that every child matters and the well-being of each child is important. It is essential to support teachers reflect on their own values, beliefs, and attitudes towards children. By understanding how these factors shape their responses to children’s needs, educators can understand the risks and concerns that children may face. This self-awareness will empower teachers to take meaningful, proactive actions to support and protect children, ensuring their safety and well-being
⚫ MILESTONES
Parmesh Shahani
Head, Godrej DEI Lab (Diversity Equity Inclusion)
Kamalnayan Bajaj Fellow, Class 10
Work highlights and accomplishments: Godrej DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) Lab which I founded just celebrated one year of completion – with many successes, including the very first Godrej DEI annual report, building of public resources like a public DEI directory that anyone interested in workplace inclusion can use, our videos like Pride@Godrej (about the LGBTQIA inclusion efforts across Godrej) crossing a million views, our factory interventions creating more pathways for women in manufacturing and our group companies doubling down on accessibility in offices as well as factories.
Our lab’s presence has inspired many other companies in India to further their own DEI efforts meaningfully, and we are also doing some very exciting collaborations in the months to come with India’s leading academic institutions to produce world class research, as well as with media houses, for positive storytelling around inclusion. We have also been spreading the message of inclusive workplaces at many public events across India, such as the Great Manager’s League, Advertising Standards Council of India, UN Women, and more. On a personal note, I have received two awards, including the HER Award from Barkha Dutt for Women’s Empowerment and the Golden Jalebi Award from Gaysi for queer inclusion in workplaces.
Through the lens
Class 1: Inaugural class
Class 1: Inaugural class
Class 1: Inaugural class
Class 2: Second Wave
Class 3: 3rd Generation
Class 4: 4sight
Class 5: Famous V
Class 6: WhatTheHex
Class 7: Shaken Not Stirred
Class 8: Elev8
Class 9: The Whole Nine Yards
Class 10: The Xtremists
⚫ UPCOMING EVENTS
Emerging Leaders Fellowship
6–11 January 2025, Bagar, Rajasthan
Ananta Value Based Leadership Program, Class 5 Seminar 2
6–10 January 2025, Virtual
Emerging Leaders Fellowship
Bagar, 3–8 March 2025, Bagar, Rajasthan
Kamalnayan Bajaj Fellowship, Class 10 Seminar 3
10–14 March 2025, Jodhpur
Ananta Value Based Leadership Program, Class 5 Seminar 3
17–21 March 2025, Virtual
Ananta Youth Leadership Initiative (Rising Generation)
5–12 April 2025, Yercaud, Tamil Nadu
GP Birla Fellowship For Women Leaders, Class 5 Seminar 1
8–13 April 2025, New Delhi
Kamalnayan Bajaj Fellowship, Class 10 Seminar 4
12–17 August 2025
Ananta Godrej Ideas India
September 2025
Emerging Leaders Fellowship
6–11 October 2025, Wardha
GP Birla Fellowship For Women Leaders, Class 5 Seminar 2
18–23 November 2025, New Delhi
