Aruna is India Program Director at Acara, an impact entrepreneurship program at the University of Minnesota. She helps set up internships and fellowships, works closely with students on their social innovation ideas and business plans, builds both classroom and experiential learning-based capacity building programs, performs culture-sensitive primary field research, and functions as Indian liaison, for logistics-related needs.
Aruna has close to 15 years of experience with social innovation, program management, coordination, capacity building, incubation, cross-cultural linkages, print and online journalism, marketing and corporate communications, and technical documentation, both in India and the USA.
She earned my Masters in International Development from the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh, and spent five years in the Southwestern Pennsylvania region, working with nonprofits focused on diaspora relations, cross-cultural competency, and economic development.
Tell us about yourself
Professionally, I am India Program Director at Acara, an impact entrepreneurship program at the University of Minnesota. I help set up internships and fellowships, work closely with students on their social innovation ideas and business plans, build both classroom and experiential learning-based capacity building programs, perform culture-sensitive primary field research, and function as Indian liaison, for logistics-related needs.
I have close to 15 years of experience with social innovation, program management, coordination, capacity building, incubation, cross-cultural linkages, print and online journalism, marketing and corporate communications, and technical documentation, both in India and the USA.
I earned my Masters in International Development from the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh, and spent five years in the Southwestern Pennsylvania region, working with nonprofits focused on diaspora relations, cross-cultural competency, and economic development.
Due to the good fortune of my bi-geographical experience, I’ve developed a love for learning and understanding different cultures. During graduate school, my friends’ circle was a simulation of the United Nations General Assembly – I had friends from Colombia, Brazil, Kosovo, Benin, Taiwan, and many such countries. My need to understand cultural similarities and differences need not be informed by erudition. I mostly have simple questions – how do people eat? How do they live? What are the family dynamics? How are people steered towards long-term relationships? What are their motivations, hopes, anxieties and fears? Sometimes, the questions even transcend into the mundane – how do people cross the street in Quito? How do they look upon facial hair in Bogota? Do men and women hold hands on the street in Taipei? What does the inside of a beauty salon look like in Cairo? Not the content of tomes, but important socioculturally, in my opinion!
I realise that we are as similar as we are different!
What is the story behind Acara?
The Acara Institute was founded in November, 2008 by a diverse team of experienced professionals with a passion for social ventures and nurturing future leaders: Erin Binder (3M), Julian Marshall (University of Minnesota) and Fred Rose (Honeywell). Acara Institute started as an independent 501c3 non-profit but since has become a program within the University of Minnesota. Acara is a joint effort of the Institute on the Environment (IonE) and the College of Science and Engineering. Acara has developed into an innovative and globally recognized university program that brings a unique and effective approach to the education and development of future leaders.
Much thought has been given to social issues such as food security, clean water and energy, proper sanitation, and other environmental and public health issues. Many non-profits work to alleviate suffering caused by these conditions. Acara believes that there are sustainable business ideas that can resolve or alleviate these seemingly impossible issues.
Acara’s vision is to tackle these significant challenges facing the globe, by connecting individuals and organizations with an interest in creating practical business solutions.
Acara’s mission is to educate and develop student leaders and to subsequently develop ventures focused on societal and environmental change. Acara achieves that by offering a series of courses directed toward developing a venture that is focused on solving an environmental challenge.
What are the challenges that you face?
Professional:
I work with a great group of colleagues and students, who are curiously empathetic about the problems of the developing world. We are fortunate that they approach these unique challenges with a mix of wonder and passion. I have not had one student who has turned her nose up at apathy and chaos that exists in Indian cities. My colleagues also lead by example – when they are here, they negotiate autorickshaw fares with aplomb, savour chai at the roadside tea shop, and jugaadify their way through everyday issues.
BUT, and I don’t classify this is a challenge – it is more of an opportunity to learn – I have to be very cognizant of how to prepare these students to value and respect a different systemic way of life, by being informative, relevant, and fun – without being overbearing, or falling prey to “squalor entitlement.” In addition, there is a delicate balance to be maintained, in explaining systemic discrepancies – holiday declared because of an actor’s death? Work not done due to the idiosyncrasies of a government official? No refunds- simply because? I am blessed that my colleagues have a gracious sense of humour, so I feel like we are navigating the challenges together, through a mix of gravitas and levity!
Personal:
I think we would be a much better country if we all learned to mind our own business, when our counsel is not needed. Of course, there is a way to positively capitalize on the community bond, but we, as a society, don’t want to leave people alone – especially if their choices go against the grain of what is “acceptable.” I’ve fallen prey (quite heavily) to the sneers and jeers of people who think that they have the boilerplate for the “perfect life.” Without saying too much, I’ve hurtled down the abyss and clawed my way back, due to two reasons – one, I decided to be both kind and hard on myself – I didn’t deserve the treatment that was meted out to me, by me. Two – I’ve had wonderful people (you know who you are) who made my recovery non-negotiable, while opening up their homes, hearts and Skype handles – unconditionally. I stand because of them.
I would say – channelize your healthy interests in speaking out against societal ills. There are enough demons to be felled, which will keep you from turning your gaze on the neighbour’s window!
Why did you choose the Frontier Market Scouts Program?
I had heard of the Frontier Market Scouts program in passing, while speaking with a professional acquaintance in the social enterprise space. My work over the past seven years has led me to the non-profit/social innovation sectors, and I was shaped as a professional due to my job-related decisions. I found myself donning several layers – mentor, coach, networking maven, idea evaluator, student entrepreneurship cheerleader – organically.
When I applied to the Frontier Market Scouts early his year, I was looking to “legitimize” my various roles, through a professional certification. FMS also has an optional field placements component, which opens many doors with regard to professional affiliations with marquee organizations across the world. Of course, a personal ulterior motive is to go back to the US, a country that I left three years ago, and admire for many reasons!
A message to all SHEROES out there.
I don’t want to sound like I am proselytizing, but the following thoughts have stemmed from what I have learnt:
1) Professionally, it is good to have an idea of what you don’t want to do (rather than a rigid plan for what you want to do). I for, one, had decidedly determined that I didn’t want to fall into the “conventional profession” trap. The path I have carved for myself attracts curiosity, admiration, sympathy, and befuddlement, but I’ve got to a point where I have decided not to be apologetic about who I am. The world is also veering towards inter-disciplinarity, which our education system is just beginning to accommodate. So, learn all you can. Don’t let certificates, pass/fail, numbers worry you. I have found that the learning experiences that have stayed with me are not the ones that have a rote-learn examination as the end goal.
2) Don’t be afraid to talk about yourself (professionally and personally). While we’ve been raised to be “seen and not heard,” one positive fallout of the professional development courses that I’ve had in the US is to talk about what you do – and you don’t have to be a glib talker to do this. Recognise your own personal style – mine is to present facts, (sometimes) in a self-deprecating way. People who matter, and have an interest, will listen. Since I am now crowdfunding, I have made the most preposterous requests of people to connect me to other people, feature my appeal, or simply spread the word. Worst case, I would have perhaps have them shaking with mirth – we all need more laughter in the world anyway!
3) We often forget this – everyone has their own way of handling crisis situations. I faced great personal crisis in the past few years, and was chided (often vehemently so), for being a “chicken.” It took me a long time, and an arduous personal journey, to realize that I am Aruna – I quail and disintegrate in the face of hardship, but I gather myself up. I realize that sometimes it is just okay to put a fence around yourself, and heavily edit your interactions with people who don’t know you for who you are. This is my most resounding message, because this will influence how you treat yourself – the rest will follow suit. Give yourself grace. Laugh (that is the most overrated piece of advice, but it is true) – with others, at yourself, just because. Accept your quirks – I have a bad memory for everyday things – passwords, tasks, mundane eventualities – but I acknowledge my “leaky-bucket” mind, and let people take their humour pickings. In short, don’t shy away from being you!
Here’s a link to my crowdfunding campaign, where I am raising funds to go to the Frontier Market Scouts program, a highly regarded and competitive two-week course for those in the social innovation space.