Breaking Barriers

“It is not at all a compulsion to stick to a particular career or job. You always have a choice to go for what your heart truly desires.”

Microsoft’s Bill Gates and Larry Page of Google are some of the famous examples of engineers who turned into influential entrepreneurs of our time. There are numerous other examples of engineers leading great organisations. Innovation and high intellectual capacities are pre-requisites in both the sectors, which is why engineers turn out to be entrepreneurs. The society conforms that if an individual has studied a particular subject then they must work in the same field. However, today there are individuals who are breaking the patterns and taking their passion and profession hand in hand and excelling at both.

Avash KC, a biomedical engineer at Kantipur Hospital also proved himself as a successful and passionate entrepreneur over the years. He had a great interest in the technical field and deep within he always knew that he was a people’s person. KC who is the Co-Founder of Sasto deal also has experience of working with media, social work and public outreach programmes. He enrolled in MBA program after the completion of his degree in Bio-medical engineering. In KC’s own words, “The study and practice of engineering and business management has been quite fruitful. This amalgamation has provided me with technical knowledge and interpersonal and networking skills”.  He further adds, “Entrepreneurship and engineering has provided me a platform where I can implement my ideas into concrete realities.”

In 2003, at the young age of 15 he represented Nepal as the youngest participant in the conference for “Young People advocating for the Prevention of HIV/AIDS” held at United Nations Headquarter in New York.   In the following year, he was awarded the Sagarmatha Badge in SCOUT, which is a top-level badge for any school student in Nepal. KC led a 9-member delegation team at Youth Camp for Asia’s Future held in Seoul, S.K organized by the National Council of Youth Organizations in Korea (NCYOK), Ministry for Health Welfare & Family Affairs and Ministry of Foreign Affair & Trade in 2009. Further, he received Young Achievers Award by Today’s Youth Asia. Talking about his remarkable achievements, he says, “I am grateful for all the awards I have received and the recognitions I have acquired. Recognitions signify that you have done something extra- ordinarily.” “However success should not make a person arrogant and proud,” he adds.

According to him as a young person, one must experiment and learn new things everyday. “Everyday is an opportunity to learn and grow. If you do not know what you exactly want in life then it is always a great idea to explore different fields.” KC has conducted several trainings, presentations, lectures and workshops on leadership, communication, development and empowerment of women and youth. Some of the major trainings that he conducted are on the Modules and Operations of Ventilator provided to the Doctors and Nurses, and Leadership Program “Communicating with Authority”, Women Lead Nepal. Moreover, he has presented on “Gender Equality and Empowerment” in the occasion of the World Population Day at sharing Program by Youth, organized by United Nations Population Fund  (UNFPA) and Reproductive Health Initiative for Youth in Asia( RHIYA) partners in the years 2005 and 2010. Additionally, he has been a guest speaker, judge, guest of honour at various school and college programmes, extempore, debate competitions, and television shows.

He has been a source of inspiration to many people in the society because of his contributions and extra-ordinary accomplishments. When asked about his source of inspiration, he says, “My family, teachers and mentors have always supported me and guided me in the right path. My mother always believed in me and never gave up on me.” “I am lucky to have a family that gives me the freedom chase my dreams and at the same time supports me in my journey,” he says.

Through his ideas, skills and with the help of technology he has been able to reach out to many people and change their lives. According to him, “It is not at all a compulsion to stick to a particular career or job. You always have a choice to go for what your heart truly desires.” Lastly, he says, “Life comes only once so live it to the fullest. Do not follow the crowd, be different, be yourself. Do whatever makes you happy and content.”

(This article was published on July, 2015 on The Himalayan Times- Perspectives)