I grew up in a family where education and being of service were highly valued. Although my initial career aspirations were quite different—I dreamt of becoming a veterinarian—I eventually found my calling in a field that aligned with my parents' values of service, which have always been reflected in the work I have done.

My first job was teaching English and computer science to primary school students at a school for underprivileged children in India. Seeing the circumstances that the children came from, I realised the impact that financial inclusion could have on underserved and unbanked individuals, especially on women. This led me to pursue further studies and work on projects ensuring that government disbursements, like employment guarantee programs and government pensions, reached the right individual. I learned how research can influence policy change by analysing government budget data for the water sector in Karnataka, India, to ensure public expenditure accountability. Working on a UNICEF project, I estimated how much of the allocations for children in the state's budget actually trickled down per child; the results were eye-opening and further fueled my passion for research.