Aspen is a place for leaders to lift their sights above the possessions which possess them. To confront their own nature as human beings, to regain control over their own humanity by becoming more self-aware, more self-correcting, and hence more self-fulfilling.

Walter P. Paepcke, Aspen Institute Co-Founder
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Fellows On Fellows: Answering the Call to Lead

A Conversation with Govindraj Ethiraj and Sameer Walia, Kamalnayan Bajaj Fellows and members of the Aspen Global Leadership Network

Govindraj Ethiraj and Sameer Walia, Kamalnayan Bajaj Fellows and members of the Aspen Global Leadership Network, built accomplished careers in the private sector before their Fellowship experience prompted a deeper call—that their leadership, shaped by experience and conviction, was meant to be exercised in service of broader societal challenges.

Govind spent more than 25 years in financial journalism, founding Bloomberg TV India before launching IndiaSpend and BOOM—nonprofit initiatives that strengthen public understanding through data-driven journalism and fact-checking. Sameer built and led a successful analytics company before founding the Ripples of Hope Foundation, which works alongside adolescent girls and their communities to address early and child marriage through education, sport, and legal support.

Though they live in different cities and rarely cross paths in daily life, their shared Fellowship and the AGLN brings them together in shared inquiry. In this conversation, Govind and Sameer reflect on the messy, complicated, and ultimately rewarding work of driving positive impact.

Fellows on Fellows

Fellows on Fellows is a five-episode dialogue series from the Aspen Global Leadership Network (AGLN). Spanning business, government, and the nonprofit sector, AGLN Fellows share a commitment to enlightened leadership and the drive to tackle the most pressing challenges of our times. Through transformative Fellowship programs and gatherings like the Resnick Aspen Action Forum, AGLN Fellows have the unique opportunity to connect, collaborate, and challenge each other to grow and commit to a lifelong journey of impact.

Fellows on Fellows puts two AGLN Fellows together in honest, heartfelt conversation as they share the real moments that shaped them as leaders: breakthroughs, setbacks, tough decisions, and the lessons that come from being fully “in the arena”. These conversations are a reminder of Fellowship in action. Watch the trailer and look out for weekly releases in January here on aspeninstitute.org and on the Aspen Institute’s YouTube channel.