Stories of Impact: 3 Indians Who Quit Their Cushy Jobs to Work in The Social Sector!

In today's fast-paced corporate world, many individuals find themselves feeling unfulfilled and searching for a deeper sense of purpose in their work. For some, this search leads them to make a bold and often daunting decision: to leave behind their comfortable corporate jobs and pursue a career in the development sector.?

These individuals are driven by a desire to make a difference in the world, to work towards positive change, and to contribute to something greater than themselves. They are willing to trade in the security and stability of a corporate job for the opportunity to work on issues that they feel passionate about, and to make a meaningful impact on the lives of others.?

But what drives these individuals to take such a leap of faith? What challenges do they face, and what rewards do they reap? In this article, we will explore the journeys of five individuals who left their corporate jobs to work in the development sector.?

1. Bipin Dhane?

Bipin Dhane's story is particularly inspiring. In 2013, after graduating from IIT-Kharagpur in Naval Architecture, he landed a job in Singapore. However, he quickly realized that the corporate life wasn't for him and that he was seeking something more fulfilling. One day, while browsing social media, he connected with a friend who was teaching underprivileged children on a remote river island in Assam.?

After learning about the need for teachers, he immediately quit his job and made the decision to move to the island to help. After arriving on the island, Bipin discovered that the Mising Village of Kulamua had no functioning school within a 5-kilometer radius.?

Seeing the community's desire for their children to receive an education, he mobilized the support of community members from 19 different villages and helped build The Hummingbird School. It started operating in January 2017 with 70 children.?

Today, Bipin is the co-founder of Ayang Trust , an organization that works towards the transformation of marginalized communities in Northeast India through education, healthcare, and livelihood.

2. Suhani Mohan

Suhani Mohan's journey began in 2011 when she learned that only 12 percent of India's 355 million menstruating women use sanitary napkins. This report was published in a survey conducted by AC Nielson.?

Shocked by this statistic, the IIT-Powai graduate quit her cushy job and traveled the breadth of rural India to understand the issues faced by women. Many of them were using cheap alternatives sold in local supermarkets. These were unhygienic and uncomfortable for the women.?

She learned that they were willing to spend on pads if they were more durable than the low-cost variants available in the market.?

In 2015, Suhani, along with another IIT grad, launched Saral Designs . They wanted to bring a change in the menstrual hygiene industry and identified the need for high-speed compact sanitary pad making machines for low-income communities. Together they invented Swachh machines, which have produced over 17 million sanitary pads.

3. Kushal Chakravarthy

Kushal Chakravarthy, an engineer with an MBA from IIM Lucknow, spent 20 years in the corporate world before deciding to make a difference in the community.?

Children and education have always been subjects that occupied his thoughts, and Kushal believed that if a child is given adequate educational opportunities, only then can change be sustainable.?

That's where the Lotus Petal Foundation comes in.?

Founded in 2011, the organization works with the primary objective of creating equal opportunities for underprivileged children living in urban and semi-urban areas. They create interventions in education, healthcare, and nutrition by using innovative methodologies, scientific rigor, use of data, and analytics for the child and also for his/her community.

The foundation has directly impacted more than 12,000 students by providing education through their schools and another 12,000+ students through online classes.

By following their passion and dedicating themselves to a cause that they believe in, the above individuals have shown that it is possible to make a meaningful impact on society. Their courage and selflessness serve as a reminder that there is more to life than just personal success and material possessions.