Paul Kronenberg, Co-Founder & Director, Kanthari
Paul is a “Social-Changineer”, with a technical background. He focuses on the running and operational management of Kanthari.
Podcast
Overview
“Every organization needs to be organized”
The Brand Called You is back with another inspiring episode with guest Paul Kronenberg. Paul is the Co-Founder of Kanthari. He’s a social ‘changineer’. Paul has received a knighthood in the order of the orange Nassau from the Queen of Holland. He is a much-awarded and appreciated professional.
With host Ashutosh Garg, Paul is in conversation about his professional journey in the social sector. Paul’s organization works towards training people from diverse backgrounds and helps them start their own impact-making organizations. Paul has worked in a number of countries and helped a lot of people deal with adversities and come out stronger! Paul talks about the leadership that is needed for running NGOs and the importance of running specialized training.
Tune in to know more about the impactful work that Paul does!
About Kanthari:
The journey of establishing this organization started back in the year of 1977. Paul Kronenberg along with his partner Sabriel, started schools, vocational training centers, printing press, and self-integration programs for blind people in Tibet. After realizing that all these participants were in need of a custom leadership program, they started their own organization called Kanthari, in India. The name Kanthari comes from a pepper chili that is indigenous to the state of Kerala and known for its extreme hot flavor and medicinal values. Paul decided on this name as he believes that it is a symbol for people who want to make a change and possess that fire to challenge the status quo! Kanthari equips the participants with tools and leadership programs and encourages them to run NGOs, social ventures, and projects. Kanthari has worked with people from difficult backgrounds and helped them come up with innovative ideas and bring about positive change! Paul believes that providing hands-on experience is the best way to learn for the participants. He also encourages failure as it helps people to learn and figure out their mistakes. At Kanthari the curriculum is divided into 5 parts. Each part helps the participants to learn something new and work on their mistakes. In the last 11 years, Kanthari has trained 226 participants in 48 countries who run more than 130 organizations across the world and reach thousands of people who need help.
Profile
– A leader is someone who uses his/her talents to lead the way in creating a better and more ethical tomorrow, EVERY DAY! –
I am a “Social-Changineer”. With a technical background graduating in mechanical engineering, computer science, commercial technology, and data-communication system science, I focus on the running and operational management of Kanthari. I am passionate about eco-friendly and cost-effective “open hardware” technology and architecture. I am always on the lookout for answers that will help to build a better tomorrow; be it physical in terms of technical solutions, or be it mental, strengthening myself and the self of others. Together with Sabriye, I have started Kanthari. We offer a unique “Journey in five acts” Curriculum; an intense experiential and hand’s-on learning experience we provide social change makers with all necessary tools to start, run and sustain their own NGOs. In public talks, I like to address questions like “why?” and “why not?”, and I favor the use of wit and humor to mirror the true shape of the world that makes one think and reflect about what can/must be done differently to become part of solutions. My motto is simple: Life is what you are happy getting up for. And if you are not happy, then there is only one person that can do something about it, and that is… you. In my life, I learned that whenever if ‘i have to’ becomes ‘i want to’, that is where the magic begins! You are responsible for what you chose to do, but you are also responsible for what you chose NOT to do. And that, in my opinion, is where there is a huge opportunity to develop solutions to address many of the social issues we face today.
