Published: 7 May 2021
For over 30 years, Dr Gowri Shankar has worked for the Indian Government in everything from Civil Aviation to Food Processing.
He’s currently the Director of Media in the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change, a role he’s been in since 2014.
But it was during his time as Deputy Director of Culture at the High Commission of India in London that he decided to study for his MBA with the University of Sunderland in London.
Dr Shankar says he didn’t always want to go into politics, but got experience working as the private secretary for different politicians, learning about their lives and getting a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of government.
He joined our community in 2013, eventually writing a dissertation on tribal tourism in his home country.
“I wanted to do a systematic study of the subject, looking at the balance between conservation of culture and development.
When I started the MBA, I was a bit nervous. But the lecturers gave me the guidance and support I needed to complete my degree.”
He says the study techniques he learned on the course can be transferred to his work in government.
“You learn how to approach a subject, looking at its key areas and narrowing it down to deal with it more effectively.”
When asked what advice he would give to people wanting to follow in his footsteps, Dr Gowri said:
“I don’t claim to have achieved anything so great that people should use me as an example. The advice I always give my colleagues and friends is to be simple, practical, transparent, proactive and expressive.”
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