In December 2022, Kumud made a bold career move. He hit pause on a successful 16 year stint in financial services to explore the world of societal impact through the Indian Administrative Fellowship program.
What started as a tentative dip into the social sector soon turned into a remarkable opportunity to become a change-maker within the government’s framework. Assigned to the Higher Education department in the Government of Punjab, Kumud’s mission encompasses a multifaceted approach to the advancement of higher education, with a key focus on implementing the National Education Policy 2020. He authored a comprehensive roadmap for NEP 2020’s implementation in the state’s higher education sector and played a pivotal role in thematic implementations to ensure the policy’s success, alongside strategic planning to secure funding from the Government of India.
Furthermore, Kumud has conducted district-level field assessments to gauge the effectiveness of the government’s employment and skill development initiatives in Punjab. These assessments have provided valuable data-driven insights, instrumental in the formulation of the state’s policies on skill development and employment generation.
Kumud stresses that while technical expertise is not mandatory for day-to-day contributions, the corporate background skills prove invaluable in the advanced stages of a project. His own analytical skills from a finance career proved to be a vital asset in his role as a Fellow in the Higher Education department. But the Fellowship isn’t without its challenges. Kumud navigates limited resources, officer transfers, shifts in government priorities, and stakeholder resistance. Despite these hurdles, overcoming them has made the journey incredibly rewarding.
For Kumud, the Fellowship isn’t just about navigating bureaucracy; it’s about offering support and tackling systemic issues within government operations. Kumud found fulfillment in contributing to incremental changes and gaining valuable insights into the workings of the system.
In his own words, “Good intentions, prudence/common sense, and humility are pivotal to feeling successful in this unique setup – despite working closely with the administration, Fellows may need to actively build trust and equity with colleagues in the government system.” He also highlights the bidirectional relationship between one’s work and their value system. “Opting to work towards social good becomes a pathway to personal growth. Embracing humility, consciously cultivated throughout the Fellowship, has a positive impact on one’s own value system.”
While training sessions provided by the government and The/Nudge are crucial, Kumud believes that success in the IAF ultimately depends on the Fellow’s skill set and more importantly, intrinsic motivation. The journey varies for each individual, but it typically involves self-learning, diligent work with limited resources, navigating moments of stagnation, building trust, leveraging peer networks, and ultimately executing projects.
For Kumud, the Fellowship isn’t just a job; it’s an entrepreneurial venture—one that requires resilience, self-motivation, and a commitment to driving positive change within the system
