Monsoon Academy Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Mr. Pankaj Sekhsaria has has worked on environmental issues and with local communities in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, has documented climate news through journalism, and now as a professor, he teaches engineering students about the environment, society and technology.  Mr. Pankaj Sekhsaria’s career in climate began at a time when climate careers were not even a thing, and he...

Send us Fan Mail What is it like to bridge research and practice in addressing critical global challenges on the ground?  In this episode of MAP, Dr. Chandni Singh, Lead-Practice at, Indian Institute for Human Settlements, shares her journey from studying botany to becoming a leading climate adaptation researcher. She discusses applying multidisciplinary knowledge, working on the ground to assess...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Monsoon Academy Podcast, Communications Specialist Milan Jacob shares  how he channeled his passion for visuals into a successful career in communications. With experience working on award-winning documentaries and unique creative projects, he offers insights on workplace learning, finding the right job, balancing interests with financial security and acquir...

Send us Fan Mail After a successful 20-year career in the corporate world, Nitisha Agrawal discovered her true passion in the clean energy sector by chance. She is now dedicated to addressing the pressing issue of indoor pollution in rural Indian kitchens. She founded the Smokeless Cookstove Foundation to understand and remove the barriers to the uptake of this safer and greener technology. She al...

Send us Fan Mail Back in the early 2000s, very few people in the world were working on carbon markets. Mahua Acharya, a graduate of Yale's Class of 2002, was one of them. She now works in renewable energy and electric mobility. Throughout her evolving career, she has carved out a significant place for herself in the field of sustainability. In addition to her role as CEO and Managing Director...

Send us Fan Mail From a career that started in aviation, a leap to working in clean energy might seem quite stark. However, a passion for addressing the energy deficit in India motivated Karthik Ganesan to make the shift. So, how can one start a career in sustainability? What skills should one focus on? What redeemable qualities can impress recruiters? Listen to the latest episode of MAP to find o...

Send us Fan Mail Growing up with asthma, improving India’s air quality became a personal mission for Sidhant Pai. He started working in the climate space fairly early, when he was in the 11th standard, with his first internship in Pune. As an intern, he mapped air quality. From there, he embarked on an exciting career in the climate sector, spanning non-profits, for-profits, and academia.  Current...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Monsoon Academy podcast, host Shantha Venugopal welcomes Ms. Anuja Malhotra, who works at the science-policy practice interface in India. Although she studied Economics and didn’t initially specialise in science, inspiring professors, a passion for conservation, and a thirst for on-the-job learning shaped her career path. Tune in to learn more about the life...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Monsoon Academy podcast, host Shantha Venugopal welcomes Mr. Shailendra Yashwant, a seasoned climate communications and policy advocacy expert. From the start of his career as a journalist covering significant environmental challenges like the Narmada Bachao Andolan to his impactful role as Campaigns Director at Greenpeace, his journey showcases the importan...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, our host, Shantha Venugopal, speaks to Dr. Aditya Bahadur as he discusses his role in research, thought leadership, capacity building, and organizational management. He emphasizes the importance of mentorship, internships, and opportunities in shaping his career. Mr. Bahadur also provides valuable advice for young professionals entering the sustainability field, h...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, our host Shantha Venugopal engages in a conversation with Sayesha Dogra, founder of The Climate Party. They discuss Sayesha's journey from being a CA to starting a career in climate, the challenges she faces as a climate entrepreneur, the skills that are transferable to climate jobs, and towards the end, Sayesha shares some advice for the newer generations in...