Introducing 2010 Inspire Fellow: Teja Padma
Name: Teja Padma
Hometown: Chino Hills, California
Organization: FHI (formerly known as Family Health International)
Former Employer: Mercer
What inspired you to make the switch into the nonprofit sector?
Working in the nonprofit sector has been my lifelong passion and I’ve always expected that it would be a matter of when, not if, I transition to the sector. I was inspired to make the switch because I value making a positive social impact on society. My personal mission is to promote self-sufficiency among the extreme poor by empowering them through education, health promotion and social entrepreneurship. I’m still trying to figure out which particular path to take, but that’s all part of the ProInspire/FHI journey 🙂
What is your current position, and a typical day like?
My current title at FHI is “Business Planning & Strategy Analyst”. I support the BPS team by helping to carry out a number of strategic initiatives, in particular identifying business opportunities in the global health and development field. A typical day in the office may start off with an 8 am conference call with one of our country offices in Africa to discuss a Memorandum of Understanding with a potential partner. After the call, I may work on managing a landscape analysis project that entails identifying trends, patterns and new areas of health and development for FHI to consider exploring. I may then wrap up the day by identifying and arranging meetings with funders and partners for our senior leadership team in Business Development to attend.
What is your professional background and areas of expertise?
I come from a consulting background, as I began my career at Mercer where I was involved in healthcare consulting, managed 8-10 client accounts, and conducted market research and financial analysis for employers in the retail, technology, and public sectors. I have learned to be a quick learner, interact with senior leadership, and adapt to an ever-changing and ambiguous environment as a result of my past experience in healthcare and handling multiple clients.
What are you involved in outside of work?
I recently moved to DC from Los Angeles, and I’m still exploring all that this city has to offer. In the past, I have been involved with mentoring kids, attending community service days, and volunteering my time with a startup international development NGO alongside my regular job. I am looking forward to networking in DC and learning more about development/volunteer work so any tips/advice are appreciated!
Tell us about your past leadership experiences and how they are helping you in your current role.
In my current role, I am tasked with multiple projects that require very different skill sets—from creating pitch presentations for senior leadership to conducting a research landscape analysis to creating a data collection system. Due to my varied past leadership experiences, I feel confident tackling these projects. As Director of Recruitment for a childhood obesity study in college, I had to create pitches to attract schools, associations, and parents to buy into our study. When I volunteered my time at a startup international development NGO while working at Mercer, I conducted a research analysis on the trends in microfinance. At my previous job, I regularly collected survey data to help clients make decisions that would lead to cost savings for their companies. All of these past experiences required a variety of skills and will help me in my current role at FHI.
If your friends and enemies had to describe you in three words, what would they be?
Friends would describe me as trustworthy, driven, and passionate. I try not to make enemies so I wouldn’t know and don’t want to find out 🙂
What is your dream career if money was not an option?
I would be a Chocolate Tester. Just kidding. My dream career would involve working in a developing country with the extreme poor, where I would be able to see the direct impact of my work on a daily basis.
What book are you reading right now or what is your favorite book?
I am currently reading “The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time” by Jeffrey Sachs.