About Course
Theme: Leadership with Purpose
Moderator: Shreedip Shah- 3rd Year Student of BBS at United College
Panelists:
Ms. Palesha Goverdhan- Paralympic Medalist, Architecture student in China
Mr. Pradip Pariyar- Founder of Dalit Lives Matter Global Alliance
Chef Santosh Shah- Founder of Mithila Thali, BBC Master Chef Finalist
Mr. Rajendra Khetan- Chairman of Khetan Group
This session explored leadership through lived experiences and personal challenges.
Moderator Shah opened the floor by addressing the unique challenges faced by high achievers at a young age, specifically questioning Ms. Palesha Goverdhan on the moments of self-doubt she encountered and the forces that propelled her forward.
Goverdhan shared a candid account of her journey, which began at the age of ten. She highlighted the pervasive skepticism she faced from a society that struggled to reconcile disability with athletic excellence. “Everybody believed that what can a girl with a disability do,” she noted, reflecting on an environment that initially offered more negativity than support. Her narrative highlighted a significant cultural hurdle: the tendency of the public to view para-athletes with “sympathy” rather than recognizing them as “high-performance athletes.”
Despite these systemic barriers, Goverdhan emphasized that her leadership is rooted in two pillars: the unwavering belief of her family and the strength of her professional team. She reframed her Paralympic success not as a personal accolade, but as a symbolic victory for inclusive representation in Nepal.
“After I won this medal, it was not just a medal moment for me; it was hope for all those Paleshas who are in their house thinking that they cannot do anything in their life.”
Her presence on the panel served as a reminder that purposeful leadership involves moving out of the “shadows” to become a role model for others. By proving her potential on the global stage, she has transformed her personal entire life’s work in Taekwondo into a beacon of hope, shifting the national mindset from one of limitation to one of boundless possibility.
Mr. Pradip Pariyar opened his address with a profound gesture of humility, stating that despite his experience in high-level meetings with heads of state, taking a selfie with junior satellite fellows Sajina Chepang and Sital Praja made the day the “most purposeful” of his life. This moment established his core philosophy: true leadership finds its greatest meaning in grassroots potential rather than elite titles. He addressed the psychological hurdles facing today’s youth, specifically the tendency to blame one’s background or limited resources for a lack of progress. Drawing from his own history of overcoming discrimination from teachers, he challenged the audience to shift their perspective from “What do I lack?” to “What can I do within my current situation?”
Pariyar further explored the concept of leadership as temporary stewardship, citing Nelson Mandela’s decision to step down after a single term as a masterclass in knowing when to relinquish control. He critiqued the current political landscape in Nepal, where a refusal to hand over power has fueled frustration and sparked youth-led movements. Using the metaphor of Mount Everest, he reminded the delegates that even at the highest summit, one cannot remain indefinitely; the descent is inevitable and necessary. By framing leadership as a journey rather than a permanent destination, he urged the veteran generation to facilitate transitions and encouraged the youth to view their future roles as purpose-bound tenures designed to pave the way for others.
In a thought-provoking exchange, Moderator Shreedip Shah addressed a common dilemma facing modern youth: the tendency to abandon true passions in favor of “safe” career paths due to societal expectations. When asked if he ever felt the weight of these pressures, Chef Santosh Shah, who famously placed Nepal on the global culinary map, offered a perspective rooted in competence and relentless preparation. He argued that the stress many young people experience is rarely an external force, but rather an internal reflection of a “knowledge barrier.”
Reflecting on his experience competing on the high-stakes global stage, Chef Santosh noted that he felt remarkably calm during his most intense moments. He attributed this composure to the years of rigorous practice and the expertise he had painstakingly cultivated. He offered a call for radical self-reflection, advising the delegates:
“If you feel pressured, you should reflect that you have a knowledge barrier. If you feel so, take a step back, relearn, do the practice, and come back.”
He urged the audience to view professional life as an iterative process, reminding them that “ups and downs” are not failures, but essential indicators of where more practice is required.
Addressing the challenges faced by Nepalese students abroad, Chef Santosh emphasized the importance of skill-market fit. He noted that the struggle to find employment in countries like Australia or the USA often stems from a lack of alignment with local demands. His strategic advice was simple yet profound: “Understand the specific needs and demands of the environment you are entering.” By equipping oneself with in-demand skills, a professional can transition from being an applicant under pressure to a sought-after expert.
Chef Santosh concluded by reinforcing that the difference between those who perform with ease and those who buckle under stress is simply the depth of their preparation. He urged the delegates to embrace the concept of “stepping back” to sharpen their tools, asserting that mastery is the only sustainable way to handle the pressures of a competitive world. He left the youth with a final encouraging thought:
“Professional life is not a straight line; it is about the courage to relearn until you are ready to lead.”
Mr. Rajendra Khetan addressed the modern pressure for immediate results by challenging delegates to look far beyond short-lived accolades. He argued that meaningful leadership is defined by a consistent commitment to a two-decade vision, urging students to perform a rigorous audit of their behaviors, knowledge, and inherent skills. By aligning these personal attributes with a definitive 20-year goal, he suggested that individuals could create a strategic roadmap capable of resisting the distractions of instant gratification. He framed this long-term perspective as a form of patriotic ambition, asserting, “Stop focusing on short-lived success. Where do you want to stand 20 years from now? Identify what skill you possess… and make a goal for yourself for the next 20 years from now and the positive impact you want to bring in this nation.” This emphasis on a 20-year horizon served as a vital counterbalance to the perceived lack of systemic opportunity, positioning long-term planning as the most effective tool for engineering a successful future within Nepal.
The discussion transitioned into the psychological shifts required for such leadership, with Ms. Palesha Goverdhan sharing that leadership often begins when others believe in you even before you believe in yourself. Recounting her early struggles in Taekwondo, she described overcoming a society that viewed her with “pity” and skepticism, citing her volunteer coach as the “supportive hand” that allowed her to persevere. For her, leadership has evolved into a responsibility of representation, not just winning medals, but “holding the door” open so future generations can enter the arena without facing the same systemic hurdles. Complementing this, Mr. Pradip Pariyar highlighted that Nepal’s most unutilized resource is its human capital, noting the imbalance of millions of youth building other nations while domestic potential remains untapped. Comparing the need for national adaptation to the decline of Nokia, he urged the youth to see themselves as the “present” of the nation rather than its future, calling for a spirit of innovation that empowers even the youngest students to address social issues through creative breakthroughs.
Chef Santosh Shah provided a pragmatic framework for sustaining passion in the face of uncertainty. He advised students to ensure their interest is deep enough to last, sharing how he purposefully avoided learning to drive a car in London to eliminate “Uber driving” as a safety net if his culinary career faltered. Shah emphasized the importance of aligning passion with unique innovation, citing his creation of the “Mithila Thali” as an attempt to represent a previously ignored part of Nepalese culture on the global stage. He encouraged youth to realize that the “movie is yet to come” and that staying committed to one’s expertise can eventually lead to having a driver rather than being one.
Finally, Mr. Rajendra Khetan shared his personal transition from a traditional family business background to the “thrilling” process of establishing Nepal’s first private-sector banks during a period of policy reform. He illustrated that leadership is fundamentally tied to embracing change and finding excitement in the rise of new national institutions. By combining Goverdhan’s resilience, Pariyar’s call for innovation, and Shah’s disciplined passion, the panel offered a comprehensive roadmap for the 81% of youth who believe leadership is a learnable skill, urging them to transform from passive observers into the architects of Nepal’s modern landscape.