Anand Singh: From Basdila to Global Leadership

Growing up in Basdila, a small village in Uttar Pradesh, Anand Singh had no roadmap to higher education—he was the first in his family to attend college. With determination, he pursued a B.Tech in Computer Science at Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU), carving out his own path through scholarships, internships, and self-guided learning.

Anand’s turning point came when he discovered the Aspire Leaders Program. More than academic excellence, Aspire offered him purpose-driven leadership training, a global peer network, and mentorship opportunities. A masterclass by Professor Jasjit Singh on empathetic leadership inspired Anand to step into leadership roles with confidence. He soon began hosting workshops as a Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador, ultimately leading over 30 online technical sessions for students.

Through Aspire, Anand found a community of first-generation learners worldwide who, like him, were building opportunities brick by brick. With this support, he advanced to internships at DRDO and IBM, applied AI to real-world challenges, and organized an Aspire Alumni Networking Meetup at Microsoft’s Noida office. He also founded Code Crafting, a student community that has already impacted over 1,600 learners through hackathons, quizzes, and workshops.

Today, Anand envisions combining technology with social impact—creating platforms that provide scholarships, mentorship, and quality learning to rural youth across India. For him, Aspire was more than a program; it was the bridge from being a learner to becoming a leader.

His message to other first-generation dreamers: “You don’t need to have it all figured out. Start where you are, use what you have, and never be afraid to reach beyond your boundaries