Welcome to the Loveworks dreamers and doers Podcast # 42. At Loveworks we believe you are NEVER too young to be a dreamer and NEVER too old to do your dream.
If this is your first time, thank you for joining us and giving us the thing that means the most to you – your time. If you’re returning, welcome back! We know you have lots of options out there in the Podcast universe.
Our hope with Dreamers & Doers podcast is that each week’s special guests will connect with you wherever you find yourself today and inspire you to become the best version of yourself for tomorrow.
Akash Patel: Founder & President of the Happy World Foundation
Akash Patel is the Founder & President of the Happy World Foundation, a nonprofit organization that has impacted thousands of educators and students in Oklahoma and abroad. Patel is a graduate research assistant at the University of Central Oklahoma, an international motivational speaker, diversity coach and educator.
In December 2015, Patel’s nonprofit received the 2015 Oklahoma Human Rights Award in the chamber of the Oklahoma House of Representatives for promoting global citizenship in Oklahoma communities and for fighting racism and bigotry with anti-bias global education. Patel has over 8 years of international public speaking & education consulting/training experience. Patel speaks six languages & has traveled to over 30 countries. In his free time, Patel likes to read, play golf or volunteer.
Akash believes that he is both a dreamer and a doer! He says that you need to first have a dream before you can do anything.
Growing up a People Person
Akash and his brother decided to study nuclear engineering in college to make their parents proud. He realized that this major was not right for him! He knew he was meant to work with people, and that was reinforced when he and his brother made the front page news working to share global knowledge.
Akash knew this was the right path for him because he liked doing it! It may take courage to stop doing something that the world wants you to do in order to do what you want to do.
Starting the Happy World Foundation
In order to rid the world of prejudices, Akash began the World Experiences Foundation to bring people from all over the world together through sharing cultures and experiences. When Akash’s twin brother, Happy, passed away unexpectedly, Akash named the Foundation the Happy World Foundation to honor him. Today, all the foundation does is to honor his brother, Happy.
Staying Motivated
When Akash started the Happy World Foundation, he looked for the gaps in society. He realized that students were not getting the international education they needed. Akash encourages students to find the gaps in the world in order to see what is needed. That way you can maximize your impact on the world around you!
Akash’s Advice
Stay true to yourself! There can be a lot of peer pressure and pressure from those around you, but if you stay true to yourself you will learn to find yourself.
Key Takeaways:
- Be courageous enough to do what you want to do instead of what the world wants you to do.
- Find the gaps in the world around you to work within.
- Stay true to yourself.
Connect with Akash:
Instagram: @speakerakash & @happyworldinc
LinkedIn: @Akash Patel
Loveworks Leadership Blog 