Interviewer: Mahmoud Mansi
“Leadership is no longer just about leading, like how it used to be in past. Today, being a leader demands that one has a purpose, a cause and a reason to lead, with a potential to truly impact the masses. Today, being a leader means that one understands how the world right now is, and work in accordance to it…”
Yash Tiwari
1-HR Revolution Middle East: Hello Yash, it’s impressive the achievements you have done at such stage of your career life. Can you tell us more about your achievements?
Yash Tiwari: I’m Yash, a 4 Times TEDx Speaker by the age of 18, Josh Talk Speaker, Young Published Novelist from Kanpur, Youth Mentor, with my internationally acclaimed Debut Novel “A Celebration In Tribulation” written at the age of 16. As a Young Public Speaker and Youth Mentor, I’m frequently invited to deliver talks and sessions in various schools, colleges, events and seminars. I’ve delivered talks in various states all around the nation like Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, etc. I’ve delivered four TEDx Talks within this year itself, all by the age of 18. I’ve delivered Josh Talk, which has amassed more than 100,000 Views. I am working at MyCaptain as a Mentor, a TheClimbers and IIM Bangalore incubated and United Nations recognized company, where I teach students from all walks of life about how to write their Debut Novel. I have been awarded among the “Top 100 Inspiring Authors of India by T.I.A”, and recipient of “Bal Ratna Samman” by Maple Bear Canadian School, awarded with “Author Of The Year” award by NE8x, nominated for “Best Debut Author” award by ICMDR, and also awarded with Global Young Leader Fellowship and Karamveer Chakra Award by iCOGNO in association with United Nations. As reported on various Reputed media platforms, I wrote my Novel within a record time of just 22 days. It is the first time when someone has authored a fictional book on the unspoken “Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease”, let alone at such a young age.
2- HR Revolution Middle East: How do you believe your current job or role in life is contributing to humanity?
Yash Tiwari: Working as a youth mentor and young motivational speaker has truly made me realize how contributory and significantly impacting the voice of a person can be on the masses, to bring about a positive change in the world. When I get to address a gathering of hundreds (or sometimes, even thousands) and then get so many positive feedbacks about how very beneficial or thought provoking the individual found my words to be, it really makes me understand how much necessary it is for me to use my passion; my voice – for the good of the world. That’s the motto I live by.
3- HR Revolution Middle East: From your personal observation, what do you believe are the common challenges in today’s workplace in India? How to overcome such challenges from your personal perspective?
Yash Tiwari: I’ll be giving the answer to this question from the perspective of a youngster that I am. I believe that challenge we’re yet to tackle in common workplaces is the unspoken aspects of Ageism or Reverse-Ageism that are yet to be dealt with. And to be honest, I think this is common for workplaces all around the world. “Age is just a number” is an old saying, but practically, I don’t feel its been implemented as such. The best way to deal with a concern like this is, according to me, by conversing more about it. Discrimination, on any grounds, shouldn’t be tolerated or hidden away. And I believe that in order to break the stigma, we need to converse more openly and freely about it.
4- HR Revolution Middle East: Recently you were a speaker at a TEDx conference (name of conference/s), what was your talk about? How do you believe this topic can be applied on an individual and social level?
Yash Tiwari: I’ve delivered four TEDx talks so far. Here’s a list of them with topics I talked on –
- TEDxHBTU – Overthinking Can Become Your Pathway To Success
- TEDxGSLM – Why We Need More Youngsters Who Are Willing To Start A Conversation
- TEDxNitteDU – Significance Of Self Starters In The World Of Tomorrow
- TEDxSIUKirkee – Unique Ways In Which Youngsters Are Shaping Our Global Future
All of these talks were based on topics that general society could truly relate with, and get to learn a lot from. The reason why I mostly go for youth-centred talks is because I truly believe that the youngsters are the drivers of change and betterment for tomorrow; for our global future.
5- HR Revolution Middle East: Tell us about one activity you like doing, and why do you believe this activity is special?
Yash Tiwari: The activities that I am most passionate about are Public Speaking, Writing, Mentoring/Teaching. All of these activities of passion, as you see, are the ones that give me a platform to make a positive and good impact on the world. I believe that is what draws me the most towards these activities.
6- HR Revolution Middle East: From your point of view, what makes a TEDx talk so special?
Yash Tiwari: I think it’s the concept behind TEDx that makes it so special. The motto – “ideas worth sharing” sums it all up. It is not just about delivering inspiring talks, it is about truly bringing forth a narrative, an idea that has the potential of making a positive effect on the world and its people. The diversity of topics and themes that are given a platform to be talked about, is what makes it even more special.
7- HR Revolution Middle East: Can you share with us a situation you have been through, where it was a learning experience, perhaps learnt a new wisdom or inspired you to think differently?
Yash Tiwari: When I was 12 years old, and was in class 7th, I remember that we had this half-yearly examination (not the finals) in our school. I scored about 30% in that exam. Yes, failed in almost all the subjects in that particular exam. I distraught by that result. It was also the time when I joined back the school after a year-long hiatus because of this ailment that I suffered from for a while. Part of it was because of the fact that a lot was going on or had happened around that time in my own life and family, and the other part of it was because I was not even focused on the studies or what I was doing at that time. Some of you might feel that citing an example from the time when I was just 12 isn’t quite relatable, but trust me, it is that phase in a child’s life where they are essentially developing their personality that will last even till their 70s or 80s. I, being a natural over-thinker, did my level best to use all the negative or distressing thoughts as a driving force for my own self. It was my habit of overthinking and over analyzing things because of which I started to pressurize myself to improve how I was back then. Not to exaggerate, but the thinking process that I am talking about in my case was a ‘24/7 constant reminder’ of telling myself that “You HAVE to do it Yash. You HAVE to work harder and harder, and never get discouraged”. And from that point in life in past, to today, where I work on mentoring thousands of others about how to empower their own selves, this journey has been one that’s worth telling.
8- HR Revolution Middle East: The meaning of leadership can change from one era to the other, how would you define the meaning of leadership today?
Yash Tiwari: From what I see and feel, today, leadership is no longer just about leading, like how it used to be in past. Today, being a leader demands that one has a purpose, a cause and a reason to lead, with a potential to truly impact the masses. Today, being a leader means that one understands how the world right now is, and work in accordance to it and not lead others based on the stereotypical societal norms of the past.
9- HR Revolution Middle East: Can you share with us a challenge you have been through at your work, and how you overcame this challenge?
Yash Tiwari: As I’ve mentioned earlier, youthism or reverse ageism is truly a real challenge that is still faced in the workplaces, even though the world and societies have modernized and advanced so much. This is in fact what I’ve faced an issue relating to, too. There have been instances in certain workplaces where the questions like “But he’s too young, isn’t he?” or “aren’t you too young to be doing this?” had been raised. But every time I faced a challenge pertaining to this, I did my level best to work based on my potential, knowledge, and capabilities to prove that it’s not the age that determines my work, it’s my passion and dedication towards it.
10- HR Revolution Middle East: What do you think are the main threats that could be facing India’s economy? What would be your strategic suggestions to mitigate such threats?
Yash Tiwari: Citing one threat in particular as the biggest one to the Indian economy wouldn’t be right, from what I feel. But I think it’s safe to say that population explosion even in the past few years has had quite an alarmingly adverse effect on the economy that is still growing.
11- HR Revolution Middle East: What is your advice to other people who are enthusiastic to become TEDx speakers?
Yash Tiwari: Well, my piece of advice would be to be authentic. As much as possible. Perhaps the topic that you’re willing to talk about has been discussed a lot many times in past. But it’s your unique approach towards it, your authenticity and your different viewpoint that’ll appeal to the audience out there.
THANK YOU