Akanksha, prefers to be called just by her first name. She carries a name without any title. A 30-year old from Rajasthan who broke the stereotype and did not give in to the pressure of wedding chimes, but is living a path-breaking life, aspirational to many.
“A traveller needs no introduction” she says, “They prefer being anonymous”. She believes that anonymity carries no belongingness and no fear of loss. Her pursuits sometimes end in silence or in conflict zones.
Born and brought up in Jaipur, Rajasthan, Akanksha is a CSR expert and a community worker. In her professional capacity while working with various corporates on CSR and Sustainability, she has driven sustainable social programs on Disaster Relief & Climate Change, Education, Poverty Alleviation through Skill Development and Farm-based income generation, Nutrition, Education, Health & Sanitation, etc.
She has now been selected to represent India on a global expedition to Antarctica “Leadership on the Edge Program” and to be among 80 leaders worldwide for the Antarctic Expedition IAE 2017!
The expedition aims to inform, engage and inspire the next generation of leaders to take responsibility and create sustainable communities. Post this, she will build a one of its kind program for educating children on Climate Change under the mentorship of none other than world renowned environmentalist Dr. Robert Swan himself who is also the expedition head.
At such a young age, professionally too Akanksha has many feathers added to her cap.
She is noted amongst '100 Most Impactful Social Leaders Globally' by World CSR Congress; Social Professional of the year (2016) by India CSR. She is also a National Social Expert empanelled by the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs, Ministry of Corporate Affairs. She has written several articles on social issues published at notable forums.
She is also the founder of “CHAIWALIS”- a community that she runs promoting women to come out of pseudo-protective environment and feel free and fear less at public places. She actively writes and speaks on various social development issues and features at various forums.
Akanksha is the eldest of the two sisters, raised in an unorthodox family where her parents ensured that the two girls stand for themselves and not just surrender to the society.
Her gypsy spirit is fuelled by her pursuits to meet new people, visit new places, create new memories and live a life filled with more stories. She also practices Buddhism and Reiki.
In a society that has seen women as the weaker and the subservient sex, here's a shout-out to the ones who decided to live the way they wanted to, no matter how crazy or rebellious.
Here's raising a toast to those who defied societal norms and set their own.