By: WE Today Research Desk
She trained as a physicist and built a career in AI research in Germany. Then she came home to work with children, families and communities. In conversation with WE Today, Tanvi talks about non-linear lives, neurodiversity, and why resilience is never a solo act.
Some careers are planned. Others are discovered along the way. Tanvi’s journey runs from physics labs to AI research in Germany, and from there to the Leap of Love Foundation, where her work centres on mental health and children, including those who are neurodivergent. Her story fits this edition’s theme perfectly, because by her own account it never made sense on paper.
Our theme this issue is “The Age of Imperfection.” What is one imperfect moment or setback that unexpectedly taught you your greatest lesson?
One of the biggest lessons in my life came from realising that my career did not have to make sense on paper. I began as a physicist and went into AI research in Germany. It was intellectually exciting and, in many ways, looked like the career you are expected to build after investing years in science and research. But at some point I realised I wanted my work to be closer to people and communities. Coming back to India and moving into social impact meant stepping away from a path I had worked hard to build. At the time it felt less like a planned transition and more like admitting that the life I had imagined for myself wasn’t necessarily the life I wanted. Looking back, that uncertainty was one of the most important things that happened to me. It taught me that a life doesn’t have to look linear to be meaningful. Sometimes what feels like a deviation is actually the beginning of something much more aligned with who you are.
We put a lot of pressure on ourselves to get everything right the first time. But some of the most meaningful work in my life has come from the moments when I didn’t.Through your work with children, including those who are neurodivergent, what have you learnt about leadership, inclusion and valuing different needs and perspectives?
Working with children has taught me that inclusion cannot simply mean bringing everyone into the same environment and expecting everyone to function in the same way.Children communicate differently, learn differently and respond differently to the world around them. Once you understand that, leadership starts to look different too. You become less focused on asking, “Why isn’t this person responding the way I expect?” and more interested in asking,
“What do they need in order to participate, communicate and thrive?”
That has shaped how I lead my own team. Good leadership isn’t about getting everyone to think alike. It is about creating enough safety for people to bring different perspectives, question things, make mistakes and contribute in ways that may not look identical. It has also made me conscious that the environment can either create a barrier or remove one.
Sometimes the person doesn’t need to change. The environment needs to change around them.
What would you say to the misfits and big dreamers who feel they don’t fit the “standard” mould?
Stop treating not fitting in as evidence that something is wrong with you. Much of the world is designed around fixed definitions of what a successful life, career or personality should look like. If you don’t fit that template, it is tempting to spend years trying to make yourself fit. I have learnt that you don’t have to. You can have a scientific background and end up in social impact. You can change careers. You can build something that didn’t exist before. You can have many interests and still have a coherent sense of purpose. The world needs people willing to ask, “Why does it have to be done this way?” So if you feel like a misfit, don’t rush to fix it. The very thing that makes you feel out of place may be what lets you see possibilities others have stopped questioning.
Through your mental health work, what is the most inspiring thing you have learnt about human resilience?
That resilience doesn’t always look strong. We imagine a resilient person as someone who keeps going, stays positive and somehow manages everything. Through our work, I’ve seen it look very different. Sometimes resilience is a child finding the courage to speak about something that happened to them. Sometimes it is a parent asking for help. Sometimes it is someone returning to school, rebuilding a routine, or simply allowing themselves to trust another person again. Resilience is also not purely an individual quality. People become more resilient when they have safe relationships, supportive communities and environments where they feel seen and heard. That is why I believe so strongly in building ecosystems of care. We cannot keep telling individuals to be more resilient while ignoring the environments they are expected to survive in.
How does your way of thinking shape the culture and creativity within your team?
Creativity isn’t only about producing something visually interesting or unconventional. It is also about being willing to question the problem itself. Sometimes the most creative solution comes from realising we were asking the wrong question. I also want my team to feel free to disagree with me. If everyone in the room agrees with the person leading it, we probably aren’t getting the full range of ideas. The culture I try to build is one where people can be curious, question things, experiment, make mistakes and learn from them. Perfection can make people afraid to try. Curiosity gives them permission to explore. My background in science and research probably plays a bigger role in my leadership than I realise. I tend to question assumptions. I like to understand why something is done a certain way before accepting it as the only way. And because I have moved across very different fields, I’m comfortable carrying ideas from one discipline into another. I try to encourage the same curiosity in my team.
Creativity isn’t only about producing something visually interesting or unconventional. It is also about being willing to question the problem itself. Sometimes the most creative solution comes from realising we were asking the wrong question. I also want my team to feel free to disagree with me. If everyone in the room agrees with the person leading it, we probably aren’t getting the full range of ideas. The culture I try to build is one where people can be curious, question things, experiment, make mistakes and learn from them. Perfection can make people afraid to try. Curiosity gives them permission to explore.
Leap of Love Foundation
ABOUT US
Leap of Love Foundation is a nonprofit organisation dedicated to creating a safe, inclusive and compassionate ecosystem where every individual feels valued, supported and empowered. Founded in 2022, we work at the intersection of mental health, social welfare and community development. Led by a team of psychologists, we design and implement initiatives that promote mental well-being, child and youth development, neurodiversity inclusion, and community empowerment.
OUR IMPACT
Through mental health initiatives, community engagement and inclusive interventions, we continue to build spaces where individuals feel supported, valued and empowered.
FOUNDER’S VISION
“A world where mental health is not a privilege, inclusion is not an afterthought, and care is accessible to everyone, regardless of their circumstances. At Leap of Love, the vision is to go beyond awareness and build communities and systems that truly support people. Because no one should have to navigate life’s hardest moments alone, and compassion must translate into action.”
OUR INITIATIVES
We work across the lifespan, supporting children, adolescents, adults and older persons. Through mental health initiatives, inclusive programmes, educational support and community welfare, we strive to create a world where everyone feels safe, accepted and cared for.