Interview with Prasantha Devulapalli: We have everything to gain by being open, humane and generous.
Meet Prasantha Devulapalli, global citizen. She has lived and traveled in over 50 countries and speak 4 languages fluently. She’s originally from India (born there) but left India only 5 years old. She has more than 25 years of working experience, of which 20 plus years were as a leader at various organizations. She has also been a mentor and coach, specially for young people, social entrepreneurs and leaders. Prasantha is multi skilled. And for the last few years she has had a burning desire to start her company.
“The idea of what I would like to do began rather suddenly. I met so many young and bright women who are trying to get jobs in their field of education (IT, teaching, other engineering areas and higher educational fields). I wanted to find a way where I can help create a space where they can actually start getting jobs of their wishes. I am a strong believer of diversity but it means very little if we cannot also be included in the decision making and team. I offer leadership training programs, workshops on how to do a job search, communication and applications in Norway. The idea is also to tap into other entrepreneurs who themselves need simple services for their own companies without costing an arm and a leg. So to start with, the main areas of my business are: 1: career and leadership building2: IT services (website building, content writing, designing, hosting etc etc). 3: Diversity and Inclusion programs for companies that are trying to move ahead of the game and go global. My website (under construction): www.pd-lifemanagement.com“. Read the inspiring interview I did with Prasantha.
Prasantha tell us about yourself and what you do?
I was born in India, but at the age of 5, my parents left India and we went along, first to Trinidad, then UK, Ireland, Denmark and finally settled in Norway ( a few other countries in between as well). So I feel that I am global really and have been lucky to have gotten the best of where ever I’ve lived. Career wise, I have worked mostly in Norway and in India as well. I have over 20 years experience as a leader in towns and organizations across India. I am also a public speaker and I have spoken in several countries and especially to young people.
Today I have started my own company and have high ambitions for it. It has three directions, the first one being a tech company but with a unique working style that I believe will be the future of work. The second is mentoring and coaching young people, startups, specially social entrepreneurs and those who are looking to bring about a major in their lives, like me :). The third service I would like to offer is for companies and how to draw advantage on their diversity and how to be more inclusive. This of course is so important for Norway, for I have seen that companies, including the public sector are unable to understand how best to avail of the diverse richness we have within our reach, by our doorstep. I am also an author of a soon to be published book, ‘Blaze the Trail’ on Essential Leadership skills and one of the editors of an Indo-Norwegian magazine called Pehchan.
What are you most passionate about?
Oh, I am passionate about a lot of things! I would however perhaps narrow it down to these, when talking about my business: intentional leadership, diversity and inclusion for every one, not just women but people of different color, religion and backgrounds and abilities. Everyone has a voice and it should be heard and taken seriously. I am a very creative person and I love people who are totally different from me and can challenge me and my way of thinking and being. I am passionate about good leadership and growth that good leadership brings. Good leadership is about essential skills (feminine leadership) such as understanding, empathy, observing and great communication skills along with traditional masculine skills such as facts, data, tangible and measurable qualities. Its knowing how to use these skills properly. So, basically I am passionate about being challenged and to challenge.
You are also a mentor and manager for the organization Actually I can. Tell us about what that is and who it is for.
Actually-ican.com is a newly started organization/company. It was started by my daughter who happens to be blind, an amputee and has alopecia (what we can see the moment we look at her), with underlying chronic illnesses. She has always felt that she has been underestimated while she has so much to offer to the world. Actually-ican works towards awareness about the contributions of disabled persons in our society. Ramya, the founder is herself a singer, an artist and motivational speaker. She started a foundation to help other disabled persons. Its for everyone who believe in diversity, inclusion and a more humane world. We are still in the establishment stage, so more will be coming up soon. To learn more and to join us, do check out the website www.actually-ican.com. In fact, our Oslo Mayor Marianne Borgen even bought one of Ramya’s digital art 🙂
Who do you look up to and why?
I take inspiration from women who dare to follow their dreams. I am inspired by women and men who are feminists and confident in their own skin. Strangely we follow and look up to those who are in the public eye, but I find my role models closer to home; my Paternal grandmother (who was so fair and just, she stood up to the British and made sure the villagers and local farmers had enough grain during the worst times of war), my father (an adventurer, traveler, writer and the first feminist I know) and mother (triple Masters and a PhD, she is traditional and yet proud of her heritage, she created a home filled with creativity, abundance and love) and in fact my own daughter (Ramya who has all these health issues, seems to have all the cards stacked against her, different color in a dominant white society, a woman, different religion and disabled. Yet she broke them down and continues to do so with her voice and her art, writing and blog). Looking out at the world however, I would say I look up to the new young female leaders of New Zealand and Finland, amongst others.
What do you feel is your big mission in life?
My mission is this journey that I have undertaken. It’s to follow my passions and to make our world a better place. And I want to play my part to the best of my abilities and give the best of me to this world. I want to bring out the message to the world that we have everything to gain by being open, humane and generous. I believe that we are all here and want to do our best, we create the world we want to live in. My mission is to help others also who want to make a difference for the good.
If you only could give one advice to women that dream about doing what you do, what would it be?
I would say – BE YOU! Nothing or no one can ever beat a person who is genuinely themselves, honest and unashamed of themselves, their past and the path they want to take. Be generous, bring others along with you and celebrate your wins with them all, be willing to share.
Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
Good question. There was a time I would have been able to give you a year by year, month by month plan for the next five years. But I have learnt that life is unpredictable. That I can plan but it may not be exactly what I had planned. However I would say this: I definitely see me having an impact on this world – micro and if lucky at a macro level. :). I am writing a few books and in 5 years time, I hope to be a bestselling author, at the very least. Of course, Actually-ican Foundation is fully established, up and running and my company and programs are filled with many aspiring and inspiring leaders.
Where can people follow you?
At the moment we are in the process of building a website, but you can follow me on Instagram at @pdmandc and @intentionalleaders. On our FB page PD Management and Consultancy.