This has been a stressful week with many unpredictable issues cropping and unexpected surprises (obviously not all pleasant!!) springing up. And I have been up since 5 AM to do my bit as a judge on a panel with exceptional individuals across 5 geographical locations and 2 continents. We had the onerous task of identifying one business plan submitted by the contestants of the Acara Challenge, who are engineering students aiming to create a viable commercial business solution to a particular social issue that they think is crucial to address over a looong 4 hour web meeting. The topic was Water and I have to admit the grogginess I experienced when I woke up to log in to the call was gone in a matter of minutes!!

The marvel of technology connecting this motley group of individuals each of who in their own right is trying to initiate change, and the human enterprise made me realise that at the end, this is what really makes things happen; makes the world go around- This will to bring about change and the technology that will power it. And I am glad I got an opportunity to witness the optimism of youth combined with the maturity that can only come from experience this morning. The results will be out soon and I would love to see the project we chose, to see the light beyond the secure environs of the University it was created and make a difference to the lives of many with clean water and fresher air. In a manner that’s sustainable and scalable.

Life is good.