Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Gaura Jha. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Gaura, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
As a high school student, working with adults twice or thrice my age has been a constant challenge, primarily because they often don’t take me seriously. Initially, I struggled to make my voice heard and my ideas respected. However, through the meaningful work my nonprofit, Tech4Ed, has done, I’ve seen a transformation in how I’m perceived. Our mission at Tech4Ed is to empower underprivileged communities by providing them with the education and resources they need to succeed in the technology field. The impact we’ve had speaks for itself, and now, thanks to our success, all partnerships are on equal footing. People no longer see me as just a high school student; they see me as a capable leader and partner. This shift has been incredibly validating and has opened doors to more impactful collaborations.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am the President of an initiative within an existing nonprofit, and our mission is to spread basic technological literacy throughout underprivileged communities to promote access to education, which is key to making a positive change in our communities. The most exciting part of my job is interacting with children from all over the world. We have partnered with companies and organizations globally to distribute our curriculum. For oversight, before we release such a curriculum, I typically meet with the prospective students and teachers who will be using it, giving them a quick introduction to our community. All of the children come with different stories and different backgrounds, and it feels inspiring to be a part of their journey. Seeing their enthusiasm and potential drives my passion for this work, and it reinforces the importance of our mission. Every interaction is a reminder of why we do what we do and the profound impact that technological education can have on young lives.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
A very impactful experience of mine was when I began launching the initiative. I was extremely passionate and motivated to work toward a cause I cared so much about, but as time progressed, I began to get overwhelmed. I was bursting with ideas left and right, jotting them down on napkins, torn envelopes, and even in the margins of random documents I found around the house—ideas that were much bigger than I could manage at the time. I struggled to ground myself amidst the large volume of tasks I had to complete to get the initiative off the ground. I didn’t understand what to prioritize, and it was too easy to make mistakes or forget tasks. This made me irritable and caused me to lose sight of what really mattered.
It took me a while to understand, but soon I began to see how important it is to take a step back and appreciate the bigger picture. Instead of feeling disheartened, I sat down one day and asked myself what I was truly trying to accomplish. Was I trying to actually make a difference? After almost two months, I was able to finally bring our initiative together. I found the perfect group of individuals to supervise our initiative, and we managed to bring together a community of over 100 volunteers who were just as moved by the cause as I was.
This experience helped me realize that the one piece of advice I would give anyone is to understand your proper intention and motivation for anything you undertake. Without clarity of purpose, even simple tasks and accomplishments can feel virtually impossible. Developing patience, understanding, and resilience has not only helped me navigate the challenges but also allowed me to build a supportive and effective team dedicated to making a real difference.
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
In the past year, I’ve gotten much better at adapting to change and dealing with uncertainty. At first, I felt anxious and overwhelmed when unexpected challenges or changes came up. But with practice and reflection, I’ve learned to handle these situations with more flexibility and resilience. Now, I see change not as a barrier, but as a chance for growth and innovation. This new mindset has helped me face uncertainties with more confidence and creativity, leading to better problem-solving and decision-making.
One experience that really helped me grow was when our nonprofit faced a sudden loss of funding. We had secured a grant that was crucial to our operations, but at the last minute, it was redirected to another project. This unexpected change messed up our plans, and I initially felt overwhelmed. However, instead of getting frustrated, I took a step back to reassess our situation. I realized that this setback could be an opportunity to explore new funding options and improve our financial strategy.
Overall, learning to embrace change has opened up new possibilities and driven both personal and professional development. This growth has made me a better leader and empowered me to guide my team through uncertain times, promoting a culture of resilience and innovation within our initiative.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://technology4education.wixsite.com/tech4ed
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tech4ed_/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tech4ed8/
- Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/tech4ed_
Image Credits
The Village of Dreams
