“Purpose Must Precede Progress”: Vandna Shahi on Careers, Education, and the Human Skills Students Truly Need

Careers, courses, colleges, and futures—everything seems urgent, everything seems permanent. Surrounded by rankings, viral success stories, social media advice, and endless comparisons, today’s students are not lacking options—they are lacking clarity. Through this edition of Edinbox’s Voices That Educate series, Pooja Khanna, Vertical Head – PR and Communications, Edinbox, engages in a reflective conversation with special interaction, Founder Principal of BCM School, Ludhiana, Vandna Shahi. She is a National Awardee (2022), and CBSE District Training Coordinators. Known for her deeply student-first approach, she blends leadership with compassion, realism, and wisdom.

Q.1 From your experience working closely with students and institutions, what do you think  is the biggest misconception students have about building a successful career today?

Many students believe that securing admission to a reputed institution or choosing a fashionable

stream is a guaranteed passport to success. The truth, however, is far more nuanced. Careers today are fluid, unpredictable, and relentlessly skill-driven. The world no longer rewards static

qualifications alone; it values agility of mind, depth of competence, emotional intelligence,

problem-solving ability, and an enduring hunger to learn. Employers today look beyond degrees and designations; they seek individuals who can think independently, adapt swiftly, collaborate meaningfully, and add value in real time. In this evolving landscape, success belongs to those who cultivate broad exposure with deep mastery in one chosen domain—professionals who connect ideas across disciplines while standing firmly on a foundation of expertise. Ultimately, a meaningful career is shaped not by early labels or linear paths, but by purpose, perseverance, ethical grounding, and the courage to evolve with change.

Q.2 Education is often described as “industry-driven,” yet many graduates still feel

unprepared. Where do you believe the real disconnect lies?

The real disconnect lies not in intention, but in execution. While education is increasingly

labelled as industry-driven, it often focuses on content alignment rather than capability

development. Curricula may reflect industry trends, but classrooms still prioritise rote learning,

right answers, and exam performance, whereas the workplace demands critical thinking,

collaboration, decision-making, adaptability, and ownership.

Education today frequently prepares students to clear assessments, not to navigate ambiguity.

Industry, on the other hand, operates in uncertainty, where problems are undefined, solutions are evolving, and accountability matters more than memorised knowledge. The rapid pace of change further widens this gap, as static syllabi struggle to keep up with dynamic professional realities.

True alignment will emerge when education shifts from being exam-centric to experience-

centric—when learning emphasises application, reflection, mentorship, ethical reasoning, and

emotional intelligence. Only then will graduates step into the world of work not feeling

underprepared, but empowered to learn, unlearn, and lead with confidence and purpose.

Q.3 You’ve seen education from multiple angles. What changes in the system are urgent,

not optional, if we truly want student outcomes to improve?

To genuinely improve student outcomes, the education system must embrace changes that are

urgent, not optional. First, we must move away from a marks-centric approach to a learning-

centric culture. When examinations dominate definitions of success, students prioritise grades

over understanding, creativity, curiosity, and real-world application. Assessment should support

growth and reflection, not merely rank performance.

 

Second, teacher empowerment and continuous professional development are critical. No reform

can succeed if educators are expected to deliver 21st-century learning outcomes with outdated

training. Teachers need time, trust, autonomy, and structured opportunities to learn, collaborate,

and innovate, as empowered teachers inspire deeper student engagement.

 

Finally, education must integrate experiential learning, interdisciplinary thinking, and essential

life skills into the core curriculum. Students should be prepared not only for examinations or

employment, but for complexity, uncertainty, and lifelong learning. These systemic shifts can

transform education from a rigid structure into a responsive ecosystem that nurtures confident,

capable, and future-ready learners.

1. 4 In a time when AI and digital tools are everywhere, what human skills do you believe

will matter more, not less, for students?

When intelligence can be automated, the true measure of education shifts from what students

know how they think and who they become. In an era dominated by AI and digital

acceleration, the skills that will matter more—not less—are profoundly human. Critical thinking

and ethical reasoning will be indispensable for discerning truth, questioning algorithms, and

making value-based decisions in a world of overwhelming information. Creativity and original

thought will define innovation, as machines can replicate patterns but not purpose.

Equally vital are emotional intelligence, empathy, and articulate communication, which sustain

leadership, collaboration, and trust beyond screens and systems. As disruption becomes the

norm, adaptability, resilience, and reflective self-awareness will determine long-term relevance.

Technology may amplify capability, but it is human judgment, conscience, and curiosity that will

ultimately guide progress and give direction to intelligence itself.

Q.5 How important is honest communication in education, and how can platforms like

Edinbox maintain credibility while working with institutions?

Honest communication in education is not optional; it is foundational to credibility, trust, and

meaningful learning. In an era of information overload and heightened expectations, students and institutions alike seek clarity over claims and truth over reassurance. Transparent communication builds confidence, encourages reflective dialogue, and aligns expectations with reality—without which education risks becoming transactional rather than transformational.

Platforms like Edinbox play a critical role in this ecosystem by acting as ethical intermediaries

between learners and institutions. Credibility is sustained when such platforms prioritise

accuracy, editorial integrity, and learner-centric narratives over promotional noise. By presenting

verified information, balanced perspectives, and purpose-driven content, Edinbox can maintain

trust while collaborating with institutions. Ultimately, when communication is honest, consistent,

and value-led, it elevates not just individual decisions, but the culture of education itself.

Q.6 Students are overwhelmed with choices, rankings, and advice. From your perspective, how should they filter what actually deserves their attention?

In an age of excess information and constant comparison, the greatest skill students must develop is discernment. Rankings, trends, and well-meaning advice can inform decisions, but they should never replace self-reflection and purpose. Students must learn to filter choices by asking not “What is popular?” but “What aligns with my strengths, values, and long-term growth?”

What truly deserves attention is that which builds depth over display—programs, mentors, and

experiences that cultivate thinking, resilience, ethical grounding, and transferable skills. Rankings measure reputation at a moment in time; they do not measure personal fit, curiosity, or

readiness for change. In a noisy educational marketplace, clarity comes from within. Students

who anchor their decisions in self-awareness, credible guidance, and a willingness to evolve will

navigate choices wisely—not by chasing certainty, but by committing to meaningful growth.

Q.7 As a professional woman in leadership, what challenges were subtle but impactful in

your journey, and how did you navigate them?

As a professional woman in leadership, some of the most impactful challenges I faced were not

overt barriers, but invisible expectations and silent trade-offs. There was an unspoken pressure to prove competence repeatedly, to balance empathy with authority, and to carry emotional labour without acknowledgement. At times, ambition in women was subtly misread as assertiveness, while composure was mistaken for compliance—nuances that quietly shape leadership journeys.

I navigated these realities by developing strategic self-awareness and inner resilience. I learned

when to speak firmly and when to let outcomes speak for themselves, how to set boundaries

without guilt, and how to sustain ambition without self-doubt. Mentorship, reflective practice,

and a strong value system became anchors. Ultimately, I learned that effective leadership is not

about fitting into inherited frameworks, but about reshaping the space—thoughtfully, ethically,

and with enduring purpose.

Q.8 What role do storytelling and real-world narratives play in helping students make

better academic and career decisions?

Storytelling and real-world narratives serve as cognitive bridges between abstraction and lived

reality. While data, rankings, and frameworks inform decisions, it is stories that humanise

choices and reveal the subtle complexities behind success, failure, and reinvention. Through

authentic narratives, students understand that careers rarely follow predictable or orderly

trajectories; they are shaped by context, courage, missteps, and sustained effort.

Stories cultivate emotional resonance and reflective insight, enabling students to imagine

possibilities beyond conventional benchmarks. They expose learners to complexity—ethical

dilemmas, uncertainty, and adaptation—that no syllabus can fully capture. When students engage with real journeys rather than idealised outcomes, they develop discernment, resilience, and self- awareness. In this sense, storytelling does not merely inspire; it educates the intuition,

empowering students to make academic and career decisions grounded not in illusion, but in

informed aspiration and purposeful realism.

Q.9 Looking ahead, what kind of conversations should education media portals lead to stay relevant and responsible?

Looking ahead, education media portals must move beyond information dissemination to

become curators of conscience and catalysts of thoughtful dialogue. To remain relevant and

responsible, they should lead conversations that interrogate not only what students learn, but why and to what end. This includes examining the evolving purpose of education in an age of

automation, inequality, and rapid social change. Such platforms should foreground discussions on ethical use of technology, mental well-being, equity of access, lifelong learning, and the future of work, while amplifying diverse, credible voices from classrooms, industry, and policy. Equally important is fostering evidence-based discourse rather than sensationalism or rankings-driven narratives. When education media encourages reflection, critical inquiry, and value-led perspectives, it does more than report trends—it shapes an informed, responsible, and forward-looking educational culture.

Q.10 If you had to offer one piece of advice that students rarely hear but truly need, what

would it be?

Amid constant noise about achievement and acceleration, students are seldom reminded that

purpose must precede progress. In a world driven by rankings, rapid decisions, and constant

In comparison, many move forward without fully understanding themselves.

Not everyone blooms early, and not every contribution is immediately visible. Growth matures

in silence, and purpose reveals itself through reflection, informed mistakes, and quiet perseverance. From a logical standpoint, sustainable success emerges when aptitude, values, and effort are aligned—not rushed.

True success is not only about personal achievement or global recognition, but about using one’s abilities to create meaning, impact, and good in the world. When students anchor their ambitions in compassion, integrity, and a desire to serve beyond themselves, growth becomes sustainable and success becomes significant. In nurturing both excellence and humanity, they don’t just build careers—they help shape a more thoughtful, responsible, and hopeful world.