Here’s a dynamo. Shaheen Mistry is young, brilliant and very articulate. She is also fearless and a natural leader. Akanksha is her brainchild and it is a rare pleasure to watch her in action with the team of dedicated and creative teachers who have been drawn to her vision of bringing education to children from the slums and bastis of our cities.

Here are some of the very practical things I learned watching her lead the meeting on Monday:

• Don’t be afraid to take charge! It was a participatory and energized gathering, but she was clearly the leader. She came across sure and confident and we all responded to that.
• Move! So often when I am in charge of a meeting, I allow people to meander, repeat themselves and waste time – their own and that of the group. Shaheen helped people stick to the point by carrying the mike to the person who wanted to speak, and then holding on to it while they did. It’s a human characteristic with many of us – once we’ve got the mike in our hands, we feel like rock stars and we think everyone’s been waiting just to hear what we have to say.
• Get people to think. Some of the comments people made stopped just short of coherence, or wandered around, seeking their point but not nailing it. She listened well and pushed people to go further. to analyze and understand.

It’s what leadership is all about.