As someone who has been working in the field of development for 5 years, Ashrina Ranjit has interacted with people from all walks of life. Her work revolved around helping people develop their skills so that they can unlock their full potential. Ranjit who used to work as a Recruitment Coordinator at Teach for Nepal, is currently working as a freelancer that delivers soft skill training to undergraduate students. Her time spent working in the field of development made her realize that there was a need for good management when it comes to leading organizations and creating an impact in communities.
To address these problems, Ranjit thinks that one needs to have a good balance of knowledge, skill, and mindset. After hearing about the Master of Development Management (MDM) program of the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) from her former mentor and alumnus of the school, Ranjit believed that this would be the program to take if she wanted to find a solution. Ranjit successfully applied and got accepted into the MDM program through the help of the Asian Development Bank – Japan Scholarship Program (ADB-JSP). The ADB-JSP aids graduates from the Asia-Pacific region by providing financial assistance to help strengthen human resource development as well as foster a network of partners within the region. [i]
While her journey in the program has not been easy, Ranjit says “the Impact Leadership Lab is bound to shape me as a Social Entrepreneur by providing me with real-life experiences where I can practically learn the required skills and attitude.” Based on the structure of the program and the diverse faculty present in AIM, Ranjit is confident that she and other students in the program are bound to capture every component of managing and leading development. Moreover, with faculty coming from different countries and fields, she trusts that students under the MDM program will be equipped with different lenses and insights when it comes to learning about development. Though the 11-month program has been fast-paced and keeping Ranjit on her toes, she says that all these experiences will give her the right knowledge, skills, and mindset to work towards her goals.
Through the MDM program, Ranjit says she will be able to address some of the problems present in the field of development. Ranjit dreams that one day, she can lead an organization that would invest in youth leadership and eliminates inequities that are present within communities. She hopes that students in the program, as well as future leaders, identify the right opportunities that would reinforce the development processes. She also wishes that one day people take the time to invest in themselves and others because “it is people who drive the development…it is important we invest in people” says Ranjit.
The Master of Development Management program develops future impact leaders and equips them with the knowledge and skills needed to drive social change. To know more about our program as well as the Asian Development Bank – Japan Scholarship program, you may visit our website https://go.aim.edu/aboutmdm or you may send us an email at mdm@aim.edu
[i] https://devatwork.aim.edu/master-in-development-management/adb-japan-scholarship-program/
