Shubhi Kesarwani: Studying sustainable development management to advance water solutions in India
In Spring 2021, Sustainability Management student Shubhi Kesarwani arrived in New York City as an Indian international student looking to network with like-minded individuals, seize new opportunities, and develop new sustainability-related skills.
Shubhi Kesarwani is a student in Columbia University’s Sustainability Management Program and founder of GuruJal Gurugram, which designs water management solutions in India.
Before she joined the SUMA program, Kesarwani launched Gurujar, a public-private partnership based in Gurugram, India. Its purpose is to address water scarcity and flooding by designing water governance solutions.
Kesarwani comes to Colombia “to learn how to make sustainable investing more viable for investors I will be asking to invest in GuruJal.”
She is now in her final semester at Columbia University and in addition to being the founder and program director of GuruJal Gurugram, she is also the president of the Columbia Indian Student Association. She recently shared her experience on the show.
As an international student, what drew you to Columbia’s Sustainability Management program?
Admission to Columbia University Sustainability Management The (SUMA) program was a very easy decision for me. First and foremost, I am impressed and intrigued by the legacy and brand of Columbia University. Since joining the SUMA program, I am proud to be part of an international organization like the Earth Institute, which has over 800 research scholars who are all practicing or researching statements about life’s problems. SUMA also offers a beautifully designed curriculum that integrates science, policy, management, finance and economics. Being immersed in these topics allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of my interests.
What did you enjoy most about this experience?
I love Colombia and everything about this project! Just to name a few, I was delighted to have the opportunity to meet and get to know these senior practitioners and professors in Columbia.I’ve been taught by outstanding professors like Vance Moreira, Upmanu Laland Celine Thorsken Ruben-Salama. I recommend taking their course. I also like the direct relevance of the SUMA courses, where the topics taught are industry trends. Since coming to Colombia, I’ve also made an amazing network of friends, all from different cultural and professional backgrounds.
I really want to name the amazing student engagement opportunities such as SUMA Net Impact and the Indian Association of Colombia. These are amazing opportunities for me to connect and network with other people.
How do you foresee that your sustainability skills will be part of your career at GuruJal and beyond?
Three years ago, I created Gurujar, a public-private partnership based in Gurugram, India. The idea is to design water governance solutions to address the periodic water scarcity and flooding in the region. We are also preventing desertification in the Gurgaon region by making its water resources more secure.
While at Columbia, I was able to use my new sustainability skills to raise funds for GuruJal, create meaningful collaborations, and gain new perspectives on the world. For example, SUMA courses such as sustainable forests and sustainable agriculture have helped me understand how water connects and profoundly impacts other sectors. Corporate Sustainability Reporting is another skill I have developed. At GuruJal, we have over 35 corporate clients that I am able to work with, so it is beneficial to understand the nuances of business operations and corporate sustainability reporting. I found the decision modeling course very useful. Through the decision model, I am able to make better-informed decisions within the local government in an ongoing, quantitative, data-based manner.
Do you have any helpful tips or advice you can offer incoming or prospective students? This can include any extracurricular activities, favorite classes or favorite campus/lunch locations.
I entered the SUMA program during the height of COVID, so I encountered some limitations in connecting with other peers. I recommend contacting your student association, especially if you are an international student traveling to New York City for the first time. As a freshman, I provided logistical support such as food assistance, Columbia Health Services, student benefits, and more.
I also look for internship opportunities in advance. However, make sure you know what experience you want from these internships! Also, get involved in as many student clubs as possible during the first semester. Once you enter your third term, you will most likely be looking for full-time job opportunities. Also, take advantage of the summer term – this is a great time to catch up and finish classes early or find interesting opportunities.
My favorite class so far is the Sustainable Operations class taught by Vance Merolla. Sustainable Operations is a complete course that gives you a 360-degree view of the industry, from greenhouse gas emissions to water management, waste management, to the different parts of sustainability in real life, and how to actually report it.
One thing Columbia University doesn’t take advantage of is the independent study program, which is a creative way to introduce the problem statement you want to study and have other students be a part of it. I ended up doing one in my final semester and it was a great experience for me.
Our changing climate is one of the most complex issues we face today. It touches many aspects – scientific, economic, social, political, and moral and ethical issues. This is a global problem, felt on a local scale, that will persist for decades and centuries. What simple changes can SUMA and other students make to get involved in tackling climate change?
An easy way to get directly involved in sustainability is to take action on campus. Becoming a part of the campus sustainability team can be an important first step in learning how to manage a 250-year-old institution with more than 32,000 students that promotes sustainability to the world. Another thing is for students to learn more and join Columbia’s Resource Center. There is a great introductory program called the Earth Institute Internship that introduces you to different research scholars.
Get as many internships as possible, get involved and get hands-on. Once you enter the industry and have a full-time job, you may not be able to take advantage of the opportunity, so volunteer as much as you can or be part of the student union.
Tackling climate change is an incremental approach. Development takes time, but we must strengthen our options to make sustainable change on campus, in our city, in our country, and in future organizations.
