Careers in International Affairs

As a part of its endeavor to encourage scholarship on international affairs and foreign policy, particularly among the youth, Gateway House has launched the ‘Careers in International Affairs’ video series. The series features videos with foreign policy experts ranging from diverse professional backgrounds as they discuss their career trajectory and experiences, lessons they have learnt and advice they have to share with today’s young generation interested in pursuing careers in international affairs. Click the link below to watch the series.


Ambassador Neelam Deo is Director and co-founder at Gateway House.

Ambassador Neelam Deo reflects on her time in the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and discusses the personal and professional experiences which shaped her career. She also offers some invaluable advice for students and professionals looking to work in the field of international relations in their careers.

You can read her full bio here.


Manjeet Kripalani is Executive Director and co-founder at Gateway House.

Manjeet Kripalani reflects on her career as a business journalist, and enumerates the challenges and rewards of setting up an independent think tank. She also discusses the importance that the youth plays in projecting the Indian narrative on the global stage.

You can read her full bio here.


Vice Admiral Anil Chopra is the former Commander-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command and the second senior most officer of the Indian Navy.

Vice Admiral Anil Chopra recollects how he made the decision to join the Indian Navy and recounts some of his most challenging experiences. He also discusses the major hurdles that the Indian Navy faces today and offers some words of advice for navy aspirants.


Sameer Patil is Fellow, National Security, Ethnic Conflict and Terrorism Studies at Gateway House.

Sameer Patil looks back on how he developed an interest in international affairs, and zeroed in on national security as his field of expertise. He describes his time at the National Security Council Secretariat, and highlights the key technical and soft skills he believes are important for a career like his. Finally, he offers some invaluable advice for students of international relations.


Kishore Mandhyan is former deputy director and political director of Peacekeeping, Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs in the Cabinet of the United Nation’s Secretary General.

Part One: Kishore Mandhyan discusses his duties and responsibilities as the Political Director and Deputy Director of Peacekeeping, Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs in the Cabinet of the Secretary General of the United Nations. He then elaborates on his experiences when he was stationed in some of the most turbulent regions of the world, including the former Yugoslavia, Cyprus, Kuwait, Jordan and Iraq.

Part Two: Kishore Mandhyan answers questions about how he began his career at the United Nations, and summarises the different ways in which one can join the organisation. He talks about his experiences teaching International Relations at different universities, and then shares his advice for students looking to work at the United Nations.


Rajrishi Singhal is Senior Fellow, Geoeconomics Studies at Gateway House.

Rajrishi Singhal looks back on his time as the Executive Editor of The Economic Times and discusses what, in his opinion, makes a good business journalist. He explains how he transitioned from journalism to banking, and then offers his advice for students hoping to have a similar career.


Rajni Bakshi is the Gandhi Peace Fellow at Gateway House.

Rajni Bakshi speaks about her journey so far, and discusses some of the books she has authored. She then breaks down her key areas of research, and finally offers advice to students envisioning a career like hers.


R. Andreas Kraemer is Founder and Director Emeritus of the Ecologic Institute in Berlin.

R. Andreas Kraemer, Founder and Director Emeritus of the Ecologic Institute in Berlin. He describes his career so far, and explains what inspired him to set up the institute. He then speaks about the work his organisation does and the skills required to be successful in this field, ending with some invaluable advice for students.