Stories of Alma Mater - Shreyas Aaditya's Journey from Corporate to Community Leadership

His current work involves upskilling active citizens in rural areas, enabling them to extend their impact and assist more people in accessing essential government services. Reflecting on his journey, Shreyas credits the Bhumi Fellowship for providing him with the skills, experiences, and confidence to pursue his passion for social work on a larger scale.

Navigating the journey from a corporate career to the social sector isn’t a path many would consider, but for Shreyas Aaditya, it was a calling. Born and raised in Chennai, Shreyas completed his BBA and MBA from Loyola College and initially stepped into the corporate world with Amazon.

However, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic opened his eyes to the stark realities faced by daily wage laborers and other vulnerable communities. As he began volunteering with Bhumi, organizing fundraising campaigns and providing essential support to those in need, Shreyas realized that his true passion lay in creating social impact.

In 2021, Shreyas took a leap of faith and joined the Bhumi Fellowship. This decision marked the beginning of an inspiring journey, one that would reshape his understanding of education, community engagement, and leadership. His first placement was at Bala Mandir School, where he spent six months adjusting to the new environment, building relationships with students, and navigating the challenges of teaching. “You can easily converse with a hundred adults, but having the same conversation with ten kids is a whole different ball game,” he shares with a laugh.

As he settled into his role, Shreyas began to thrive. One of the highlights of Shreyas’s time in the fellowship was the creation of a School Management Committee (SMC) at Balamander School. Understanding the crucial role of parents in the educational ecosystem, he empowered them to participate in decision-making processes, from organizing sports events to rethinking homework policies. This initiative not only increased parental involvement but also fostered a stronger sense of community within the school, ensuring that the education system better reflected the needs and aspirations of the families it served.

In his second year, Shreyas took on a leadership role in organizing Bhumi’s “Teachers Express”, an event that brought together over 160 teachers from 25 schools for a day of learning, celebration, and community building. Leading such a large-scale event was both challenging and rewarding, offering Shreyas a unique opportunity to hone his organizational and leadership skills. Along with fellow Bhumi member Manasa, it was a memorable experience for everyone involved.

When he is not making waves in the social sector, Shreyas enjoys a life of simple pleasures. He is an avid runner and spends much of his week pounding the pavements of Chennai. He is also a voracious reader, delving into non-fiction books on economics, politics, and philosophy. Despite his love for intellectual pursuits, Shreyas is down-to-earth, often found hanging out with friends at a local chai shop, indulging in conversations that flow as freely as the tea.

Interestingly, Shreyas isn’t much of a traveler, a trait that sets him apart in today’s travel-obsessed world. “I prefer the field visits as part of my work, where I can connect with communities. But traveling for leisure? That’s not really my thing,” he admits with a chuckle.

In a light-hearted moment, Shreyas recalls an incident during his fellowship that still makes him smile. He once grew a beard for eight months, and during a school event, a district officer didn’t recognize him after he had shaved. “The district officer was praising the guy with the long beard who had done such good work. When he realized it was me, clean-shaven, the whole auditorium burst out laughing.” - Shreyas recalls.

Currently, Shreyas is working with Indus Action, pursuing another fellowship focused on community leadership development. His role involves identifying and upskilling active citizens in rural and urban areas, empowering them to extend their impact within their communities.

In recent months, Shreyas has been particularly proud of his work with people with disabilities. “We’ve managed to secure over 175 government-issued disability ID cards and applied for schemes worth around 20 lakh rupees,” he beams. This tangible impact fuels his passion and keeps him motivated. Reflecting on his journey, Shreyas credits the Bhumi Fellowship for providing him with the skills, experiences, and confidence to pursue his passion for social work on a larger scale.