Brief Biography:
Usha Khatiwada cares deeply about the welfare of Nepal and is dedicated to deploying capital to the sustainable development of the nation’s hydropower sector. She serves as CEO of NRN Infrastructure and Development Limited (NRNIDL), which is located in Kathmandu and was registered in September 2012 under the Company Act 2063 with the main motive of collecting investment in hydropower. To date, Khatiwada has secured investment for four national hydropower projects and has built a strong management-development pipeline as well as an excellent leadership team.
In addition to her work in the renewable-energy realm, Khatiwada has also set an example to young Nepali women who aspire to create a positive impact through business. “Nepal is a developing country where patriarchy is at its height,” says her nominator. “For women to be at the forefront [of a business] is normally a nightmare. Being from a very remote village of Nepal, Khatiwada’s struggles and dedication has brought her to the position of CEO at the very young age, which is very inspiring to younger generations.”
What is the role of business in making the world a better place?
“Creativity has always been at the heart of business, but until now it hasn’t been at the top of the management agenda. The ability to create something novel and appropriate, creativity is essential to the entrepreneurship that gets new businesses started and that sustains the best companies after they have reached global scale. Because creativity was considered unmanageable — too elusive and intangible to pin down — or because concentrating on it produced a less immediate payoff than improving execution, it has not been the focus of most managers’ attention.”
Interview Questions?
- What are you most passionate about professionally? Personally?
“Creativity has always been at the heart of business, but until now it hasn’t been at the top of the management agenda. The ability to create something novel and appropriate, creativity is essential to the entrepreneurship that gets new businesses started and that sustains the best companies after they have reached global scale. Because creativity was considered unmanageable — too elusive and intangible to pin down — or because concentrating on it produced a less immediate payoff than improving execution, it has not been the focus of most managers’ attention.” - What would you do even if you weren’t paid to do it?
In case, if not paid also as I was passionate on working with the community, society for the goals of Sustainable Development. Personally and Professionally, I have the positive attitude that I can at any cost with my passion and dedication. - What are you surprisingly good at?
Office Management
Teambuilding & Supervision
Staff Development & Training
Information and security
Event management Policies & Procedures Manuals
Report & Document Preparation
Meeting & Event Planning
Procurement
Business development
Conference and workshop arrangement
Records Management
Expense Reduction
Inventory Management
Investment planning, portfolio management, Investment Promotion, Private Investment, research and development
Strategic Planning and Management
- Can you share some of your life remembering moments?
I have come across many moments. The most remarkable was the one-the International Conference where Hydropower & Dams, Aqua Media International Ltd. 2015 as a speaker (26-28 October 2015) selected me as International speaker to represent my country and participate in the International conference on Participated in “Hydro-2015-Advancing Policy and Practice-Bordeaux”, France organized. In the Conference, I not only got an opportunity to represent my country but also an opportunity to encourage and motivate myself to empower others also to march ahead. - How long have you been working in your field?
I have been working in this filed since past 15 years. - How does your education connect to your professional career? What about personal experiences?
Education indeed do have prominent role but the real fact and scenario is quite different. In case of the country like ours more than educational, professional career and the learning attitude plays the governing role in my personal experience. Currently I am a Ph.D. scholar and education obviously connects the professional career. - Did you accidently join this career or you choose from childhood?
Somewhat yes but I had great interest in this filed and the hydro sector renewable sector. - What are your goals for next 10 years?
a. Develop Strong Communication
b. Enhance Good Listening Skills
c. Strengthen Passion & Commitment
d. Develop Positivity
e. Focus on Innovation
f. Developing Collaborative approach
g. Being Honest
h. Diplomacy as a learned skill
i. To be more empathetic
j. Effective, good strategic leaders are strong communicators, active listeners, passionate, positive, innovative, collaborative, honest, diplomatic, empathetic, and humble. By taking the steps to embody these qualities, my goal is to be a better leader and help move my team towards success!
“I’ve always subscribed to the belief that the best leader is not one who has the most followers, but one who creates the most leaders. I strive every day — and in every program and offering we have at Integrous Women — to create more conscious, confident, and soulful leaders who, in return, will build a better world for all.” - What was the biggest hurdle you faced when working for your career and how you overcame it?
• The multiplication of responsibilities that become the exclusive responsibility of women and that become simply too much for individual women to bear. For instance, their need to juggle child bearing and rearing duties along with professional work opportunities and other social obligations.
• The behavioral, social differences recognized by the society due to patriarchal beliefs, cultural norms and tradition, or the psychological traits associated with.
• The invisible barrier that prevents women from reaching higher-level and higher-paying positions.
With the strong belief of, I can and with support from the family, I was able to overcome it. - Your biggest failure?
- Whom do you give all the credit for your success?
• My parents who always inspired me to march ahead in every difficult situation, my entire family and my seniors, both my well-wishers and ill-wishers even. - What things build you? What are the qualities that all should have to be successful in their career?
• Determination, commitment, motivation and passion. All should have ambition, courage, commitment, willpower, integrity, drive, patience, optimism; resilience is required to be successful in career. - What is the biggest dream you have?
• “I believe that our deepest problem sets represent our greatest opportunities; we have the potential to build a better world.” I always dream of being in a happy, prosperous and peaceful world to live in. - What is your biggest accomplishment, which you can tell us till now?
• To be CEO of Public limited Company, which has been investing, in the sustainable and renewable sector of Nepal –hydro sector;NRN Infrastructure & Development Limited and lead the company represented by NRNs globally.
• Awarded with World Changing Women as top 3rd finalist organized by Conscious Company-USA- https://consciouscompanymedia.com/social-entrepreneurship/43-world-changing-women-in-conscious-business-2020/.
Proud to represent and recognize Nepal abroad by presenting in various hydropower conferences as mentioned:
• Participated in “Hydro Hydro-vision Conference”, organized by Pen Well Corporation, Denver, Colorado, USA as a Speaker -Hydro Vision International 2016 Conference, June 26 – 28, 2018, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.
• Participated as Speaker in ASIA 2018 –Seventh International Conference on Water Resources and Renewable Energy Development in Asia, Danang – Vietnam ~ 13 – 15 March 2018.
• Awarded with Nuffic scholarship and participated in Short course on “Managing Water Organizations” from 06-03-2017 until 24-03-2017 at UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education in Delft, The Netherlands.
• Participated in “Hydro Hydro-vision Conference”, organized by Pen Well Corporation, Denver, Colorado, USA as a Speaker -Hydro Vision International 2016 Conference ,July 26 – 29, 2016, Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
• Participated in “Hydro-2015-Advancing Policy and Practice-Bordeaux”, France organized by Hydropower & Dams, Aqua Media International Ltd. 2015 as a speaker (26-28 October, 2015).
• Participated in “ASIA 2014 Conference”, organized by Hydropower and Dams, Colombo, Srilanka as a speaker (09-14 March, 2014).
• Participated in “Hydro Hydro-vision Conference”, organized by Pen Well Corporation, Denver, Colorado, USA as a Speaker with presentation title “Baseline Methodology for Hydro Power- CDM in Nepal” (23-26 July,2013).
www.hydroevent.com/http://s36.a2zinc.net/clients/pennwell/hvi2013/Public/mainhall.aspx?ID=28252
• Participated in “Electric Power Conference”, organized by The Trade Fair Group -11000 Richmond, Suite 690, Houstan ,TX 77042 as a FNCCI (Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry [FNCCI] delegation team ,USA.(12-26 May, 2012).
• Participated in “Contractual and Legal Framework in Hydropower Development 2012”, course organized by International Centre for Hydropower at Trondheim, Norway (12.03- 16-03.2012).
• Participated in 2nd National HR Conference 2012 organized by NBTI (National Banking Training Institute) –Innovate, Evolve, Empower held on 1st and 2nd March 2012 at Radisson Hotel, Kathmandu.
• Workshop on water and energy Nexus organized by UNESCO, DOED & IHA. (05 -07 September, 2011)
• Productivity Facilitator Development Programme-Organized by FNCCI (29 June,2009 to 07 July,2009)
• Participated in 3rd Regional Conference of NRNA (Non Resident Nepali Association) organized at Bangkok, Thailand (24-25 May, 2008) - What you suggest to youths who want to join in similar career as you?
Lots and lots of young generation are interested in the field of management. So chose your career as per your interest, ambition, courage, commitment, willpower, integrity, drive, patience, optimism, resilience to be successful in career. The field is broad and you can widen your horizon.