In conversation with Manisha Bothra, an economist by training, as she reflects on her transformative journey at Athena over the past year. Initially working across multiple sectors like climate resilience and water governance, she has now transitioned into Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives, where she finds the perfect intersection between her passion for impact-driven work and professional growth.

This is her journey of finding alignment in her professional space, combining her expertise with a deep sense of purpose.

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Q: Manisha, you've just completed a year at Athena! How has the experience been?

Manisha (M): It's been nothing short of a transformative journey, filled with wonderful, encouraging, and resilient experiences. At Athena, I feel like a curious kid again, always eager to learn, and yet as a seasoned professional, I find new avenues for growth. Every day feels like a fresh adventure!

Q: That's great to hear! Has your perspective on work changed in any way?

M: Absolutely! By nature, I used to dread failure. I focused too much on outcomes, always thinking 'what if I fail?' But working closely with both Vijay and Deepa has reshaped my perspective. They've made me see failure as a valuable opportunity to reboot, step back, learn, and grow. It's been incredibly liberating!

Q: Any standout moments from your time here?

M: There have been so many! A couple of standout moments include visiting Sushmita’s place and listening to her share her experiences. Another was reconnecting with colleagues on my work anniversary at Athena—those moments really stick with me.

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Q: You're working on ESG now. What draws you to this field?

M: ESG is that perfect fit which fuels both the Economist in me and the value-driven person who wants to work for a cause. It's like finding that sweet spot where my passions and professional aspirations align. Here, I get to do interesting work, plus I'm very cognizant about the impact it holds.

M: How does ESG align with your background?

M: It beautifully blends my experience in core research with advanced data analytics. ESG isn't very different from what Athena has been doing - we've worked on environment, social, and governance issues separately. Now, we're looking at it more holistically, understanding the entire ecosystem and how it's raised demand for impact even in the corporate sector.

Q: What excites you most about ESG at Athena?

M: It's exciting to learn new aspects and understand what's actually going on in the market. We're not just looking at ESG from a macro perspective anymore; we're deep diving into regulatory frameworks and structured approaches. It's a perfect blend of impact and data-driven research, which is exactly what I was looking for!

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To know more about ESG and its offerings, click here.