Neil Pahuja

Change is everything

and in it’s chaos, I try to grow; not just go

Wow. No one clicks the about button. Thanks!

Change has shaped everything. From 104 kg to 70, from 70% in 9th grade to receiving academic awards, from a kid with big ideas to actually doing justice to them. Becoming Headboy wasn’t easy. I made mistakes, took hits, and figured things out the hard way. Growth isn’t perfect, but it’s always forward.

Leadership and Service

  1. Elected Head Boy, Nirmal Bhartia School
    • Leading a student body of over 1000 students. Putting systems in place focusing on specialisation and decentralisation.
      • The primary focus of my administration is to foster a culture of respect and empowerment for the support staff, while promoting discipline through compassion and addressing issues like substance abuse, depression, and bullying with empathetic, interpersonal leadership.
  2. Club Secretary, Interact: Rotary Sponsored Club
    • Founding member of The Interact Club of Nirmal Bhartia School.
    • Personally coordinated with MAX HEALTHCARE to organise a health checkup camp for the support staff of my school (70+ people checked.)
    • Led a stationary collection drive in which 150 sets of stationaries were collected and then dispersed to 80+ underprivileged Children in Qutub Vihar, celebrating the spirit of Christmas.
    • Conduct fundraising initiatives.
    • Co-Leading and designing a curriculum for a multi-week digital literacy workshop for my school’s support staff, enhancing their digital skills and streamlining processes through digital systems.
  3. Karyakarta, Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti
    Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti, led by Acharya Dr. Lokesh Muni Ji (Padma Shri and Global Ambassador of Peace), advances non-violence, peace, and social welfare through global initiatives.
    • Helped in the organisation and management of the Grand Health Checkup Camp, providing medical aid to underprivileged communities.
    • Contributed to the inauguration of the World Peace Centre in the presence of esteemed dignitaries.
  4. Head of Finance, NiBS X The DAIS MUN’24
    • First ever Head of Finance in a NiBS MUN event, a role created specifically for my skillset.
    • Managed all logistics and operations.
    • Personally, oversaw catering, venue staging and marketing.
    • Personally, designed all marketing materials; including delegate kits, posters, Instagram posts, and advertisements (using Photoshop), and coordinated directly with printers and prop vendors. 
  5. Intern, The Bajaj Foundation
    • Managed recycler data, compiled it, made finding proper channels for the recycling of e-waste more accessible for consumers and assisted in planning the annual Youth Eco Summit, focusing on sustainability and e-waste.
    • Contributed to decisions regarding competitions in writing, declamation, visual arts, and other event elements.
    • Wrote reports on e-waste and helped raise awareness about it.
  6. Worked as Associate Director & Compere at The Srishti Arts Festival 2024 (annual festival organised by Nirmal Bhartia School) under award-winning filmmaker Ritesh Sharma (Tokyo & New York Film Festivals).

Editorial Experience and Skillsets

  1. English Editor, The NiB’25
    • Directed the development of a comprehensive 200+ page magazine.
    • First Head Boy in school history to hold the position of English Editor and Head Boy simultaneously.
    • Initiated the magazine’s first-ever Featured Articles section and authored its highlight piece, “Myths and Misogyny,” analyzing soft, unconscious misogyny in contemporary media.
    • Led the first fully student-driven magazine, breaking away from uniformity to create a publication that was more opinionated, reflective, and distinct in character.
    • Conducted in-depth interviews with notable personalities, including Mr. Bijnan Sutar (Chief Editor, NCERT), Mr. Nitin Pahuja (Co-founder & CFO, Push Sports, featured on Shark Tank), Mr. Sundeep Bali (lens-based artist), Ms. Rashmi Anand (Nari Shakti Puruskar Recipient, 2015), and Ms. Anita Bokepalli (YouTuber with 650K+ subscribers).
  2. Courses Undertaken
    • Yale University’s “Financial Markets” online course by Professor Robert Shiller on Coursera; Honors Completion.
    • Duke University’s “Behavioural Finance” Online Course.
    • University of London’s “Finding Your Professional Voice: Confidence & Impact” Online Course.
    • IITM’s “Introduction to Data Science and AI” 8-Week School Connect Program – Online Course.
  3. Proficient in Video and Photo Editing (Adobe Software)
    • Through my role as The Head of Finance I edited all marketing and informational material, additionally I am the social-media in charge of the Interact Club (Instagram: @studentcouncil.nibs)
    • 2nd place at St. Marks School’s ‘Geek-a-hertz’ photoshop competition, 2-time consecutive podium finisher at The Shri Ram School Moulsari’s photoshop competition. 
  4. Grade Six Pianist, Trinity College London

Accomplishments

Worked on a heritage awareness initiative on the Dwarka Baoli, created a microsite and virtual tour, being published in partnership with the DOE and ASI (SEWA Project).

Part of the core team behind the Indian Pollution Control Association’s ‘Trashband Anthem.’

Quizzes: Placed in the top ten at Benquest International Quiz (out of 300), semifinalist at Fateh Education’s Quiz to Conquer and 3rd at Mind Over Matter Quiz, Comonomics Fest.

Business Competitions: Finalist at the Humanistic Design Summit at BML university. Ranked top 250 out of 155,000 in Youth Ideathon for an eco-friendly packaging solution and developed an AI-based electricity-saving module for the Study Australia Entrepreneurship Challenge.

Ranked 511th internationally in the International English Olympiad, winning a Gold Medal of Excellence

Earned Academic Merit Award for my performance in my 10th Grade Board Exams (CBSE).

Undertook a physical transformation from 110 kg to 70 kg (over the span of 11 months) through discipline and physical strengthening.