Some leaders are shaped by opportunity.
Others are shaped by the absence of it.
For Bhavika Dabur, leadership emerged from moments where voice was questioned, access was limited, and credibility had to be earned repeatedly. Instead of retreating, she chose to build platforms, systems, and spaces where young people are not treated as afterthoughts, but as co-creators of the future.
Today, Bhavika serves as the Chief Operating Officer at ECB Sustainable Youth Foundation, India, while also working as a brand strategist, public speaking mentor, and educator. Across sustainability, youth leadership, and education, her work is guided by a single principle: impact must move from intention to practice.
Below, Bhavika shares her journey in her own words.
Tell us a bit about your background
I currently serve as the Chief Operating Officer at ECB Sustainable Youth Foundation, India, where I work at the convergence of youth leadership, sustainability, and global development. ECB’s mission is to equip young people with the skills and frameworks needed to strengthen coherence across the five pillars of sustainable development—People, Planet, Prosperity, Partnerships, and Peace. In this role, I lead and support initiatives focused on social cohesion, climate action and just transition, mobilizing resources for impact, and advancing pathways that decouple economic growth from carbon emissions while actively nurturing peace-building and cross-sector partnerships.
Beyond institutional leadership, I am a brand strategist, advising purpose-driven businesses on how to grow responsibly by embedding sustainability, ethics, and long-term value creation into their brand and business strategies. I work closely with founders and teams to ensure that growth is not only scalable, but also conscious and future-ready.
I am also a public speaking mentor and guest speaker based in India, working closely with schools and academic institutions in alignment with SDG 4 – Quality Education. Through training programs and speaking engagements, I focus on building communication, confidence, and critical thinking among students, helping them find clarity in their voice and courage in their ideas.
At the core of my journey is a deep belief that youth are not just beneficiaries of development, they are co-creators of the future. Whether I am working in sustainability, strategy, or education, my purpose remains the same: to build people-centric systems, amplify responsible leadership, and contribute to narratives that move society from intention to impact.
What first inspired you to begin this journey or take on the role you are in today?
The spark for my journey came from two very different, yet deeply connected moments in my life.
Early on, a teacher once told me that I could never become a good public speaker. At the time, what hurt most was not the comment itself, but the absence of a platform—there was so much to say, yet nowhere to be heard. That experience stayed with me. Over time, it transformed into a quiet determination to not only find my own voice, but to create spaces where others are never told they are “not enough” before they even begin.
At the same time, I grew up watching my father’s work, committed to truth, stories, and social impact. I admired the integrity of his work deeply. While many of us grow up being recognized through our parents, I was driven by a different aspiration: to build a path where one day, my parents would be recognized through me. Not out of comparison, but out of contribution.
Together, these experiences shaped my purpose. They pushed me toward public speaking, youth leadership, and sustainability fields where voice, responsibility, and impact intersect. What began as a search for a platform has evolved into a commitment to use that platform meaningfully, so that others especially young people are seen, heard, and empowered to lead.
Along the way, what has been one of the most defining challenges you faced, and how did you navigate it?
One of the most defining challenges in my journey has been navigating spaces where women are often not given a fair chance, not due to lack of capability, but due to deeply ingrained perceptions. Early on, I found myself having to prove credibility repeatedly, sometimes even before being heard. That experience shaped my resilience and taught me to let consistency and results speak louder than resistance.
Alongside this external challenge, I also battled imposter syndrome, the quiet, persistent question of “Am I good enough?” Despite visible progress, that doubt often followed me into rooms where I had every right to belong. Learning to acknowledge that voice without letting it lead was a turning point. Mentorship, self-reflection, and showing up prepared every single time helped me replace self-doubt with self-trust.
Financial constraints added another layer of complexity. Limited resources meant that many opportunities had to be created rather than accessed. It forced me to be resourceful, strategic, and deeply intentional about where I invested my time and energy. What I lacked in privilege, I compensated for with persistence and purpose.
Together, these challenges shaped my leadership philosophy. They taught me that progress is rarely linear, confidence is built through action, and inclusion must be practiced, not just spoken about. Today, these lessons inform how I lead, mentor, and create pathways for others especially young women to step forward with confidence and claim the space they deserve.
What impact do you feel your work has created so far?
The impact of my work has been most visible in the way young people begin to see themselves differently with greater confidence, clarity, and a sense of responsibility toward the world they are inheriting.
Through my work in public speaking and education aligned with SDG 4, I have seen students who once hesitated to raise their hand grow into individuals who can articulate ideas, question systems, and speak with purpose. For many, communication has become not just a skill, but a tool for self-belief and leadership.
At a community and institutional level, my role at ECB Sustainable Youth Foundation has contributed to building stronger youth-led engagement around sustainability, climate action, and social cohesion.
Within the business and branding ecosystem, my work as a brand strategist has supported organizations in shifting from short-term visibility to long-term value creation.
Perhaps the most meaningful impact has been the creation of safe, credible spaces where young voices especially those of women are taken seriously.
Looking ahead, what is your vision or goal for the future?
Looking ahead, my vision is rooted in something very simple, yet deeply powerful: to be the person I once needed.
to be the senior I wanted.
to be the friend I wished for.
On a practical level, I want to ensure that anyone I meet especially those who have never been given a platform finds in me a listener, a guide, and a steady presence.
This matters to me because I know what it feels like to have ideas but no platform, ability but no access, and ambition without guidance.
Finally, what message would you share with others who want to create positive change but are unsure where to start?
Every meaningful arrival begins with a departure.
Positive change does not demand grand gestures; it begins with small, intentional steps taken consistently.
Change belongs to those who move quietly, steadily, and with purpose.
UPDEED Reflection
Bhavika Dabur’s story is not about accelerated success or polished leadership narratives. It is about earned confidence, deliberate consistency, and the quiet work of creating space for others while still finding your own.
Her leadership reminds us that youth are not waiting to inherit the future, they are already shaping it, often without permission, and often without recognition. What they need are systems that trust them early, mentors who listen before judging, and structures that turn potential into practice.
At UPDEED, we spotlight changemakers like Bhavika because impact is not only created through visibility, but through credibility, continuity, and care. By sharing journeys like hers, we aim to help others see that leadership is not defined by certainty, privilege, or loudness but by presence and purpose.
