As I look back on the incredible 6-week PMSA journey, here are a few of my favourite personal and professional highlights from my last days in Mumbai…
Leading My First Roundtable
As part of my internship, I had the wonderful opportunity to organise and participate in a virtual roundtable on connecting academia with the real world. Organising the roundtable Bridging Academia and Industry: Equipping Students for the Workforce was a challenging but rewarding process that required careful coordination and preparation. From sending reminders to finalising speaker details, every step needed thoughtful planning. The event itself exceeded expectations, and with the support of my friends Jumana, Dylan, Karam, Naveen and Kate from GCC, along with some of our host supervisors—Rahul, Binaifer, Seema, and Nayreen—the session was a huge success!
Exploring Diverse Organisations Across Mumbai
In the days following the roundtable, I visited several host organisation offices to gather in-person feedback for the white paper I was writing. Visiting these offices initially stemmed from the idea of engaging in fieldwork—exploring different offices across Mumbai to learn firsthand how each organisation operates differently in India. This experience allowed me to see the diversity in approaches, challenges, and missions across various sectors, enhancing my understanding beyond the roundtable discussions. I met with Rahul from Mantraa Luminosity, Binaifer from MANAV, and Seema from Aastha Parivaar. Each meeting left me feeling inspired by the work they were doing.
A Birthday to Remember
The biggest highlight was celebrating my 21st at the Taj Mahal! Sharing this milestone with friends I had grown close to over six weeks made it all the more special. Delhi and Agra were nothing short of magical; seeing one of the 7 Wonders of the World with my own eyes was an unforgettable moment and walking through the gateway to the Taj still feels like a fever dream.
