Latest / Daily Influence / 584. Empowering with Purpose: Anusha Kalyanasundaram on Business, Philanthropy, and Uplifting Others

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584. Empowering with Purpose: Anusha Kalyanasundaram on Business, Philanthropy, and Uplifting Others · Daily Influence

• 0:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to the daily influence where our mission is to deliver a daily dose of positive influence that can uplift you personally or be shared within your sphere of influence.
• 0:20
  [SPEAKER_00]: While not every episode may directly apply to your unique circumstances, we strive to provide insights and inspiration relevant to most people's daily, weekly, and monthly lives.
• 0:30
  [SPEAKER_00]: Whether you are tuning in during the morning, noon or night, the daily influence is here for you.
• 0:36
  [SPEAKER_00]: Listen, share, and embrace the power of influence in your life.
• 0:40
  [SPEAKER_03]: Welcome to Daily Influence, I'm Greg Colino.
• 0:43
  [SPEAKER_03]: Today, I'm excited to welcome Anusha, Aliana Sundrum, a passionate business leader and changemaker who's making ways in both the corporate and non-profit worlds.
• 0:55
  [SPEAKER_03]: As a senior manager of business development, a blue ops partners, she tries growth with innovation and strategy.
• 1:02
  [SPEAKER_03]: She's also the founder of Veda for Education, a global non-profit providing education
• 1:11
  [SPEAKER_03]: Beyond her professional and philanthropic work, Anisha serves multiple boards of lifts voices in underserved communities in champions, women, and business.
• 1:22
  [SPEAKER_03]: She embodies a spirit of positive and responsible influence, and I can't wait to dive into her journey in sites.
• 1:28
  [SPEAKER_03]: Anisha, welcome to Daily Influence.
• 1:31
  [SPEAKER_01]: Thank you so much Greg, that was such a wonderful intro.
• 1:34
  [SPEAKER_01]: I appreciate it and I'm really happy to be here.
• 1:36
  [SPEAKER_01]: So thank you for having me.
• 1:38
  [SPEAKER_03]: You're welcome, I'm excited to jump in.
• 1:40
  [SPEAKER_01]: So can you share a bit about your background and what led you to where you are today?
• 1:44
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, of course.
• 1:45
  [SPEAKER_01]: So, like you mentioned in my intro, I'm currently senior manager of business development at Blue Ops partners.
• 1:51
  [SPEAKER_01]: And so I'm based out of Chicago, but I'm originally from Ohio.
• 1:55
  [SPEAKER_01]: And so kind of how I got here growing up, I was always very curious.
• 1:59
  [SPEAKER_01]: So as a child, those very curious in school, I loved learning.
• 2:03
  [SPEAKER_01]: I feel like I even remember I did a project about polar bears one time when I was an elementary school, just because I was curious,
• 2:13
  [SPEAKER_01]: So I feel like I was always doing things like that growing up and so in school I was very eager about finance and math and I actually saw my dad go through his exec MBA at Northwestern Wales and high school.
• 2:25
  [SPEAKER_01]: So I was always really interested in learning and through my dad's education and also, you know, my mom's background with her education.
• 2:32
  [SPEAKER_01]: I was always interested in the business world and so I started out at a consulting firm right out of college because that's what I found
• 2:43
  [SPEAKER_01]: So I went into a consulting firm.
• 2:45
  [SPEAKER_01]: I had such a great experience there.
• 2:47
  [SPEAKER_01]: I did financial services consulting strategic risk consulting.
• 2:51
  [SPEAKER_01]: So the main reason I was drawn to that was because of one of the people aspect and consulting you're always talking to clients, your building relationships, which I loved and getting to partner that with my love of just knowledge and learning and math.
• 3:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: It was great and so from there I got a little bit of
• 3:07
  [SPEAKER_01]: BD experience, so talking to clients, figuring out ways we can get more work through the door.
• 3:13
  [SPEAKER_01]: I really enjoyed that part of the process.
• 3:15
  [SPEAKER_01]: And so from there, I took a step back, reflected on what I wanted to do next.
• 3:21
  [SPEAKER_01]: And that's where I found this development as my next passion.
• 3:23
  [SPEAKER_01]: So now I'm here.
• 3:25
  [SPEAKER_01]: And so I'm really excited to create more changes here.
• 3:28
  [SPEAKER_01]: And that's how I landed here.
• 3:30
  [SPEAKER_03]: So growing up, your parents instilled the importance of giving back.
• 3:35
  [SPEAKER_03]: How is that early lessons shaped the way you influence others today?
• 3:38
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, of course.
• 3:40
  [SPEAKER_01]: So growing up, like you said, my parents were very, very gung-ho on helping others, giving back, volunteering.
• 3:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: I grew up watching my parents volunteer.
• 3:50
  [SPEAKER_01]: And their motto was always just, you know, the more you have, the more you should give back.
• 3:55
  [SPEAKER_01]: Like, even if you don't have anything, you should find a way to uplift someone else.
• 3:58
  [SPEAKER_01]: And so growing up, that was something really important to me, not just because they told me that, but because I felt like I resonated with that.
• 4:05
  [SPEAKER_01]: And so it's really shaped how I influenced others today through the various boards that I'm on.
• 4:11
  [SPEAKER_01]: And also even at work, I try to find ways to uplift others.
• 4:14
  [SPEAKER_01]: It really just brings me joy, but I also think that my bigger purpose is also to just give back to others.
• 4:21
  [SPEAKER_01]: So I just love doing that.
• 4:22
  [SPEAKER_01]: And I really have to think my parents, friends,
• 4:25
  [SPEAKER_02]: can you tell us about a moment or experience for you thought you made a positive impact on someone's life?
• 4:30
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, of course.
• 4:31
  [SPEAKER_01]: So this is one of my favorite stories to share ever.
• 4:33
  [SPEAKER_01]: In India, I volunteered with an organization called AID India during one of my summers several years ago in high school.
• 4:40
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think this was around 2014.
• 4:41
  [SPEAKER_01]: And so I was teaching children,
• 4:45
  [SPEAKER_01]: English and math and also how to use an iPad so that they could become, you know, up to par with knowing how to use technological devices.
• 4:55
  [SPEAKER_01]: And so the children there definitely came from an under-financed area, you know, some of them didn't even have shoes when they came into class, but they just had such a strong yearning for education.
• 5:06
  [SPEAKER_01]: And so I would teach them every day.
• 5:08
  [SPEAKER_01]: They would go to school from eight to five and then five to seven.
• 5:10
  [SPEAKER_01]: I would teach them.
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  [SPEAKER_01]: And I would tutor them.
• 5:12
  [SPEAKER_01]: And so one day after somebody answered a question correctly, I put my hand up for them to high five me.
• 5:19
  [SPEAKER_01]: And the little boy kind of looked at me, you know, all these students were about three to 12 years old.
• 5:23
  [SPEAKER_01]: And so they looked at me.
• 5:25
  [SPEAKER_01]: And they were kind of confused.
• 5:26
  [SPEAKER_01]: They were like, he didn't really know what to do.
• 5:28
  [SPEAKER_01]: And I said, well, like give me a high find.
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  [SPEAKER_01]: He's like, what's that?
• 5:30
  [SPEAKER_01]: And so he didn't know what a high five was.
• 5:32
  [SPEAKER_01]: And so I told him that, you know, in some part of
• 5:35
  [SPEAKER_01]: You're celebrating something you will just go like this and they all thought it was the coolest thing ever and so ever since that day We ended the class going around.
• 5:44
  [SPEAKER_01]: They were about the
• 5:46
  [SPEAKER_01]: pretty kids in the class every time we went around getting high-five to each other and it was such a small moment but it made me so happy that I was able to share something that we don't even think twice about but to them it was something so amazing and so that really helped reinforce my kind of purpose of getting to brighten even one person's day and after that trip I came back and that's actually when I started my nonprofit Vita for Education.
• 6:08
  [SPEAKER_03]: I love that.
• 6:09
  [SPEAKER_03]: In the IN team series, we talk about influence as both a responsibility and a privilege.
• 6:15
  [SPEAKER_03]: How do you ensure your influence whether in business or philanthropy remains positive and responsible?
• 6:22
  [SPEAKER_01]: And I think that's a really important point that you bring up.
• 6:24
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think that influence is definitely a privilege and of course responsibility.
• 6:29
  [SPEAKER_01]: So with influence comes a lot of privileges, but you also have your responsibility to give back and make sure that you are leading people in the right way.
• 6:37
  [SPEAKER_01]: And so I think that whether it's business or philanthropy or really any relationship that I have, I try to one uplift others and two remain positive.
• 6:47
  [SPEAKER_01]: So always kind of looking at the positive side of things,
• 6:51
  [SPEAKER_01]: as horrible as having like the worst day ever.
• 6:53
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'm sure there's something that you could look at and I'm sure there's some silver lining.
• 6:57
  [SPEAKER_01]: I like to believe that, you know, anything that happens, you're able to learn from it.
• 7:01
  [SPEAKER_01]: So I think it's not really a winner loss.
• 7:03
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's a win or lesson.
• 7:05
  [SPEAKER_01]: And so I try to instill that in others and also just making sure that
• 7:09
  [SPEAKER_01]: you know, when I see something that I think is important, making sure I relay that to others.
• 7:14
  [SPEAKER_01]: So, you know, especially when we have turmoil, whether that's in the economy or politics or anything like that, when I see something that I feel is ingest, I'll do my best to also, excuse me, share that with others.
• 7:26
  [SPEAKER_01]: And so, I think that's really important.
• 7:28
  [SPEAKER_01]: So, that's how I kind of move forward in my thought.
• 7:31
  [SPEAKER_03]: That's great.
• 7:31
  [SPEAKER_03]: You're thriving and male dominated industry.
• 7:34
  [SPEAKER_03]: What are some ways you work to empower other women in business and why is this mission so important to you?
• 7:40
  [SPEAKER_01]: First and foremost, yeah, I'm in a very male dominated industry, especially finance in the business world.
• 7:46
  [SPEAKER_01]: So I mean, one of the ways that I find support is having other women mentors.
• 7:51
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think that's incredible to have women role models to look up to and people that you can learn from.
• 8:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'm power other women always trying to make sure that they'll, excuse me, they're feeling heard, make sure they're feeling comfortable, taking up space.
• 8:08
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think that's really important.
• 8:10
  [SPEAKER_01]: And so giving them that platform, I think, especially when you, you know, get higher up in the ranks, making sure that women are able to speak their mind and giving them that space to do.
• 8:19
  [SPEAKER_01]: So, and then it's really important to me, you know, not just being a woman, but also being
• 8:24
  [SPEAKER_01]: an Asian woman and a woman of color, especially being Indian.
• 8:27
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think that growing up, I've definitely seen women being taught to just get whatever education they can up to a certain point and then after that you just have to raise a family and have children and I've seen that a lot but you know my grandma was very...
• 8:43
  [SPEAKER_01]: You know, very strict on that, the women should always get an education.
• 8:46
  [SPEAKER_01]: My parents have always said that too.
• 8:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: And so that's why it's important to me.
• 8:49
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think to uplift other women, you know, any women, but especially women of color and know that, you know, you should be able to get an education.
• 8:57
  [SPEAKER_01]: You should be able to choose what you want.
• 8:58
  [SPEAKER_01]: And if that's wanting to have a family great, but I don't think that that's your purpose.
• 9:03
  [SPEAKER_01]: Your purpose as a woman should be anything that you want it to be.
• 9:06
  [SPEAKER_03]: That's great.
• 9:07
  [SPEAKER_03]: Thank you for sharing that.
• 9:08
  [SPEAKER_03]: Are you using AI and work?
• 9:10
  [SPEAKER_03]: And if you are,
• 9:11
  [SPEAKER_03]: how are you leveraging it to innovate grow or create positive impact?
• 9:15
  [SPEAKER_01]: This, I know, is all the buzz nowadays AI.
• 9:18
  [SPEAKER_01]: So I have, you know, I have my thoughts about AI.
• 9:21
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think that AI can be used in a positive way.
• 9:25
  [SPEAKER_01]: For example, in medicine, I know artificial intelligence is making strides.
• 9:29
  [SPEAKER_01]: So we would not have been able to make otherwise, which is great.
• 9:31
  [SPEAKER_01]: And in terms of work too, we do have AI and it's been, you know, all the buzz.
• 9:37
  [SPEAKER_01]: I do use AI work for certain things, but my main kind of belief around AI is that you should only use it where you have to or you feel like it truly does, you know, save you a ton of time, money, et cetera, because I know AI does have a lot of bad impacts on the environment and I think sometimes people tend to replace critical thinking with AI, which I don't think
• 10:06
  [SPEAKER_01]: you know, uplift and create a positive impact.
• 10:09
  [SPEAKER_01]: And as much as we can, I think that we should focus on reducing the bad effects of it and not using it for any, you know, bad purposes.
• 10:16
  [SPEAKER_03]: Well, the message or words of encouragement, would you like to share with our listeners who aspire to make a positive difference in the world?
• 10:23
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think that first and foremost people should believe in themselves and believe in what they want to do and just do it.
• 10:29
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think that especially nowadays with social media, people are really hesitant to do what is right to them, like people are hesitant to do something they want to do because they think.
• 10:38
  [SPEAKER_01]: someone is going to say XYZ or they feel they'll be judged or they'll feel embarrassed.
• 10:43
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think that people are going to talk about you regardless of what you do.
• 10:46
  [SPEAKER_01]: And so you should just kind of put that on the back burner and ignore that and just do what feels right to you.
• 10:51
  [SPEAKER_01]: You know, always strive to help others be kind and also just at the end of the day do what you think.
• 10:58
  [SPEAKER_01]: you want to do because at the end of the day when you look back on your whole life, what's going to stand out is how you made yourself feel and how you made others feel.
• 11:06
  [SPEAKER_01]: And so if you take on every day, be sure yourself and doing what fills you up with purpose and what you're passionate about, I think you'll look back and have a very fulfilled life.
• 11:15
  [SPEAKER_01]: So that's what I would say to everyone to just ignore others and believe in yourself.
• 11:20
  [SPEAKER_03]: And you should thank you for sharing your journey and then many ways you're lifting up others, you know, through your work, your nonprofit, you're such an example of positive responsible influence.
• 11:30
  [SPEAKER_03]: And you remind us that influence begins with one person choosing to step forward and from there to create ripple effects.
• 11:38
  [SPEAKER_03]: If our listeners want to get in touch with you, what's the best way to do so?
• 11:41
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, you can reach out to me on LinkedIn or my email as well.
• 11:45
  [SPEAKER_01]: And then I can also send you the link so that people can reach out to me in that way.
• 11:50
  [SPEAKER_01]: But I'm always available and would love to chat, regardless of whatever it's about, always open.
• 11:55
  [SPEAKER_03]: Great.
• 11:55
  [SPEAKER_03]: We'll put that information in the show notes.
• 11:57
  [SPEAKER_03]: Thank you so much for joining us and sharing your stories and your advice.
• 12:01
  [SPEAKER_01]: Awesome.
• 12:01
  [SPEAKER_01]: Thank you so much for having me.
• 12:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: This was great.
• 12:03
  [SPEAKER_01]: And I am just so happy that I got to be a part of your daily dose of influence and positivity.
• 12:08
  [SPEAKER_03]: To our listeners, thank you for tuning in to daily influence.
• 12:11
  [SPEAKER_03]: I hope today's conversation brought you inside an inspiration.
• 12:14
  [SPEAKER_03]: If it's spoke to you, share it with someone who could use a little positivity today.
• 12:19
  [SPEAKER_03]: May this conversation inspire you to embody your own responsibility to influence whether in your workplace, your community, or your family?
• 12:27
  [SPEAKER_03]: Remember, every action you take is the power to empower someone else.
• 12:31
  [SPEAKER_03]: Until next time, stay inspired and keep having a positive, responsible influence.
• 12:36
  [SPEAKER_03]: Bye-bye.