At TEDxMDIGurgaon, Girish Aivalli reveals how an early rejection turned into a career-defining moment. What began as a twist of fate in FMCG sales evolved into leadership roles in banking, procurement, and impact investing - alongside a passion for writing. His story isn’t just about climbing the ladder, but about the courage to change paths, embrace regret, and reinvent oneself. This talk is for anyone who has faced setbacks and wondered if rejection might actually be the beginning of something greater. GIRISH AIVALLI is the Chief Executive Officer of Impact Investors Council (IIC), India’s preeminent industry body for impact investors. Girish brings with him a range of diversified experience having worked in Agri Supply Chain, Banking ( Agri-Advisory & Project Appraisal ) Start Up and Developmental roles with reputed Indian and multinational companies, in his close to three decades of work experience. Girish has been in leadership roles having headed Cargill's Indian Agri Supply Chain, ADM's Indian Grains , been MD & CEO for Yes Bank Family Office Company and Chairman & CEO for a USAID Project, prior to joining IIC.Girish was an active Member of the CII’s National Council on Agriculture, and member of sub-committees on Food Processing, Dairy, Cold Chain and Indo-Israeli Forum. He was also a Jury Member of CII’s NAVI ( a platform to accelerate agri-start-ups ) and Ag-Hackathon as well as of IIM-Ahmedabad’s Centre for Innovation, Incubation & Entrepreneurship for Agribusiness.Girish has authored six books - Yes Sir, Mehek, Courage to Continue, Char Chinar, The Spy Who Went Into The Cold and Our Man In Balochistan.Girish has an MBA from Management Development Institute, Gurgaon. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx