From the Himalayas to Harvard to the World Bank: A CID Alum Shares Her Story

A Childhood Between Worlds

I grew up moving between India and the United States, an experience that profoundly shaped how I view the world. I spent over a decade in graduate housing at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, surrounded by families from more than 45 countries. From making brigadeiros with Brazilian neighbors to learning Balinese dance from Indonesian friends, I was immersed in cross-cultural exchange from an early age.

Equally formative was my time in northern India, in the Himalayan foothills of Himachal Pradesh. The region’s cultural richness—home to Tibetan, Himachali, and Kashmiri communities—stood alongside stark inequalities. I saw how corruption, caste politics, and poor infrastructure disproportionately affected marginalized groups, especially scheduled castes.

These experiences grounded my belief that development must be both equitable and culturally informed. Guided by the principle of vasudhaiva kutumbakam—“the world is one family”—I aim to approach this work with empathy and a commitment to inclusion.

A Dream That Took Root Early

I knew I wanted to work at the World Bank from a young age. When I was 14, my father took me along to a meeting he had with a friend at the Bank's headquarters. I remember sitting in the dining hall and asking a few Indian staff members how they got there. Their kindness and encouragement planted a seed. Seven years later, I feel incredibly grateful to now work within the same institution that once felt so distant.

Growing up in Shimla, India and Urbana, Illinois, I was struck by the disparities around me—from children working on the streets in India to neighborhoods in the U.S. grappling with food insecurity. I often found myself wrestling with the same question: Why do I have so much, and they so little? One quote that continues to guide me is: “The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much, it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.” I hope to dedicate my life to institutions that help support this ideal.

Overcoming Barriers, Building Resilience

I was incredibly grateful to be accepted to Harvard—and even more so to attend on a full scholarship. But getting in was only the beginning; adjusting to life at such an elite institution tested me in new ways, and I relied on the support of my loved ones to push through. These experiences taught me that success isn’t linear—it’s earned step by step through resilience and quiet perseverance.

Harvard was also a mirror and a catalyst. Being at a university with an endowment larger than the GDP of some countries made stark how deeply access to resources shapes people’s life outcomes. It pushed me to confront questions of power and privilege, and to examine the systems that open doors for some while keeping them closed for others.

Surrounded by peers from vastly different socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds, I was challenged to rethink my assumptions and broaden my perspective. I came to see education not just as a personal achievement, but as a responsibility—to use my opportunities to expand access for others and to remain grounded in where I come from.

Rooted in the CID Community

My journey in international development was deeply shaped by the Harvard Center for International Development (CID), which I was part of since my freshman year. From the very beginning, CID felt like a space where my interests found both direction and community. I participated in two student seminars that introduced me to key frameworks in global development, and those early experiences helped me begin thinking about development as a career—not just a passion.

One of the most formative experiences I had was through CID’s Global Internship Program. I spent three months in Bangkok, Thailand, working at PIER, the research arm of the Central Bank of Thailand, where I contributed to initiatives aimed at improving microfinance models for Thai farmers through the use of big data. That summer gave me hands-on exposure to how policy and innovation can intersect to support rural communities. More importantly, it cemented my interest in international development as a lifelong pursuit.

Beyond the academic and professional opportunities, CID gave me a community. I loved walking over to the Harvard Kennedy School campus from Harvard College—whether it was for a seminar, a speaker event, or just to meet others who shared the same sense of purpose. The people I met through CID—friends, mentors, and peers—have been invaluable. They’ve challenged me, supported me, and inspired me to think bigger about the kind of impact I want to have.

Bridging Ideas and Action

The summer after my junior year, I worked at the World Bank Treasury and was fortunate to receive an offer to return after graduation. Now, I am part of the Market Solutions and Structured Finance team where I work on structuring outcome bonds and catastrophe bonds. This role allows me to design innovative financial instruments that channel private capital toward development goals—whether it’s building resilience against climate shocks or incentivizing outcomes in education and health.

In many ways, this work feels like a natural extension of my time at Harvard and with CID. The frameworks I first encountered in CID seminars—thinking critically about policy trade-offs, measuring impact, and centering equity—now guide how I approach structuring financial solutions. The sense of community I found at CID, surrounded by peers and mentors committed to solving urgent global challenges, is something I’ve carried with me to the World Bank. Here too, I work alongside colleagues from around the world who share a deep commitment to creating lasting change.

For me, the World Bank is where bold ideas are turned into tangible change. The skills I honed at Harvard—using data to drive strategy, analyzing systemic barriers, and approaching development with empathy—now fuel my work designing financial instruments that unlock capital for impact. Each project is a reminder that development isn’t just theory; it’s about delivering solutions that reach people and reshape futures.

Words That Still Guide Me

Last summer, I had the privilege of meeting World Bank President Ajay Banga. When I asked him what advice he’d offer someone early in their development career, he said something that stuck with me: “Young people are not only wanted—they’re needed. If you know this is your purpose, go after it fully.” His words reminded me that conviction matters, that purpose should be pursued boldly, and that meaningful change happens when people within institutions lead with both courage and compassion.