Thursday, March 28, 2024
ADVT 
Newsmakers

DARPAN's Newsmaker of 2016: Umang Khandelwal

By Petrina D'Souza, 25 Jan, 2017 11:47 AM

    In the summer of 2016, Khandelwal represented Canadian youth at the G20 Youth Summit in China as part of a five-member delegation with the Young Diplomats of Canada. 

     

     

    Very few youngsters can picture their future. In today’s world, young adults are busy juggling academic and personal life, sharing their views on social media, and wondering what career option to choose. Yet there are a few who have already carved a path for themselves and have a 10-year goal in mind. One among these few is the smart and skillful Umang Khandelwal, a 21-year-old 2L law student at the University of Cambridge, with a Bachelor degree in International Relations from the University of British Columbia (UBC).
    This young lady has been playing a key role in highlighting the issues Canadian youth face in the country and has been working towards finding solutions to these issues. In the summer of 2016, Khandelwal represented Canadian youth at the G20 Youth Summit in China as part of a five-member delegation with the Young Diplomats of Canada. Describing the Summit, she says, “The Y20 is an incredible forum for young people from all over the world to discuss and negotiate diverse global issues to achieve fair, creative and representative solutions.”
     
     
    The highlight of this experience was the opportunity to have a Google hangout with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau following the conference to discuss the policy recommendations and to also advocate for the policies to be reflected in the G20 communiqué. “Having the Prime Minister as close as on the screen of my laptop, having him intently listen to my ideas and to my amazement, having him remember our previous meeting will be a memory that I will never forget,” expresses Khandelwal, who first met the Prime Minister in March 2015 at UBC, where she had the opportunity to introduce Trudeau before he addressed a crowd of 1,500 students.
     
    For her, this conversation was an empowering experience not only for the team, but for young people across the world who can take ownership of the future and actively engage in decision-making processes.
     
    Chatting with the Prime Minister might be one of Khandelwal’s top moments of 2016, but it isn’t the only one. Another moment that she cherishes was meeting Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Katherine, the Duchess of Cambridge at the Prime Minister’s reception for young leaders during the Royal Visit to Canada in September last year. “I spoke to the Duke and Duchess about my work encouraging world leaders at the G20 to act to eliminate poverty,” adds Khandelwal, who has also worked at the House of Lords in the United Kingdom, focusing on issues such as prison reform for women and increasing the participation and representation of women in politics, while taking courses at the London School of Economics as a Hansard Scholar.
     
     
    At Cambridge, the law student is an elected member of the university’s highest policy-making body, the University Council and serves as a Trustee of the university. She also has an interest in research, which she applies in her roles as the Senior Editor of the Cambridge Consulting Network and Director of Policy with The Wilberforce Society – the UK’s leading student-run think tank.
     
    Meeting renowned world leaders and having an inspiring academic life at such a young age is definitely an accomplishment for Khandelwal. Before we conclude, I ask her to describe the year 2016. She delightfully calls it “a bundle of opportunities and challenges.”
     
    For this year, Khandelwal plans on putting her best efforts towards academic excellence and supplement her learning with experiences in the private sector. “As 2016 brought unexpected experiences, I look forward to 2017 unravelling in all it has to offer,” sums up DARPAN’s 2016 Newsmaker.
     
     
     
    What inspires you to do better each day?
     
    We all have the chance to leave the world a slightly better place than when we inherited it. The tremendous prospect to leave behind a legacy motivates me to try harder and be the best at what I do. I have realized the crucial importance of overall well-being to success. While I have a strong work ethic and actively seek out opportunities, I balance this with time with my family and friends. I am lucky to be surrounded by people who care for me and understand the stresses of an intensive degree. This allows me to stay happy and continue to make contributions in my work.
     
    What’s your advice for those who wish to follow your path?
     
    Create your own path. Find things that drive you to go the extra mile. Think big, be proactive and work collaboratively.
     
    What does success mean to you?
     
    Success for me is having the inner strength to define ‘success’ subjectively. This means relying on my own personal and professional goals, taking pride in my accomplishments and moving past making unhealthy comparisons. Success is living a meaningful life – commitment to personal growth while staying true to my values, having rewarding relationships, making a difference and striving to be my best.

    MORE Newsmakers ARTICLES

    British Columbia’s Leading Lady: Christy Clark

    British Columbia’s Leading Lady: Christy Clark
    Learning more about the woman behind the title, Premier Christy Clark shares insight on a range of diverse topics from politics and the province to motherhood and mentors.

    British Columbia’s Leading Lady: Christy Clark

    Justin Trudeau: The Race is On

    Justin Trudeau: The Race is On
    Justin Trudeau supported his father’s party from a young age and when he decided to run for Member of Parliament in the Papineau riding for the 2008 federal election, it made headlines. Justin was not only elected MP, but he won the the 2011 election. Again in the spotlight  this young MP is now in the race for the Liberal leadership.

    Justin Trudeau: The Race is On

    An Afternoon with Jason Kenny

    An Afternoon with Jason Kenny
    Known as one of the most powerful men in Canada, Jason Kenny, the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism has been an integral member of Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Cabinet and is redefining Canada’s immigration policy. According to public perception and media experts, he is also a likely contender to lead the Conservative Party and perhaps, fill the role of Prime Minister one day.

    An Afternoon with Jason Kenny

    Success With Robin Sharma

    Success With Robin Sharma
    Robin Sharma is the globally celebrated author of ten bestselling books on leadership and personal development. His work has been published in over fifty countries and nearly seventy languages, making him one of the most widely read authors in the world.  He shot to fame with his international bestseller ‘The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari’.

    Success With Robin Sharma

    Padma Lakshmi More Than Just A Pretty Face

    Padma Lakshmi More Than Just A Pretty Face
    While her obvious beauty is easily noticeable Padma Lakshmi is an award-winning cookbook author, an internationally renowned actress and model, the host of Bravo’s highly acclaimed Top Chef, and an ambassador for the United Nations Development Fund.

    Padma Lakshmi More Than Just A Pretty Face

    Aravind Adiga: The Man Behind The Booker Prize

    Aravind Adiga: The Man Behind The Booker Prize
    Aravind Adiga, winner of 2008's Booker Prize for his debut novel The White Tiger says, “his novel highlights the brutal injustices of changing India, which is on the verge of inheriting the world from the West.” It is a story that is set in today’s India, and revolves around the great divide between those Indians who have made it and those who have not.

    Aravind Adiga: The Man Behind The Booker Prize