Babar Afzal

Artist, Change Agent, Social entrepreneur, Writer/Editor

His journey is a one which is intertwine of several different threads. Of the community that has protected the Pashmina Goat from Centuries. Of a textile so pure that it rests atop everything the world calls luxury. Of a place that is being hit by the severe impact of Climate Change. Of a state that is known only for terrorism. It's about a man who quit his corporate career and took upon himself to guard the roots of the eco-system and gift the perfection that is Pashmina, to the world and became a shepherd. And in the process give back as much to the community that has selflessly given us the finest fabric known to man. A McKinsey Analyst now Herding Goats. A Hacker who quit his corporate career to become a Shepherd in High Himalayas to save the Pashmina Goats. Babar is a Pashmina Artist, Pashmina Activist and a "Pashmina Goat Shepherd". He is the founder of the Global Pashmina Goat Project www.pashminagoat.org Featured regularly in state, national and international media, he has been referred many a time as "the most credible voice on Pashmina in the world". He is a public speaker and is regularly invited at various Business Schools in India, Universities and Leadership Conferences including the prestigious IIM Ahmedabad and is a public speaker on topics of TIME, Culture, Sustainable Development, Leadership, Chaos, Project Management, e-commerce and Project Management. Babar believes that what Shepherds taught him in Himlayas are the lessons for Start-ups and Life at large. Babar is a proud recipient of the Shri. Rabindranath Tagore Award, Dr. B R Ambedkar Award, Rajiv Gandhi Excellence & Bharat Gaurav Awards. He also has a rich international experience of working as a professional for organizations including McKinsey & Company Inc. and Computer Associates in India, USA, UK, Middle East and Saudi Arabia as a Business Consultant, Information Security Architect and Project Manager. He is a graduate in Electronics and a Post Graduate in Business and hold over 25 High End International Business and Computer Certifications and is also a Certified PMP from PMI (USA). Babar quit his corporate career as a revered Hacker and an International Business Consultant six years back and turned into a Pashmina Activist highlighting the issues linked to climate change and injustice in the pashmina eco-system across Himalayas and has been travelling and living with Pashmina Goat Shepherds to understand the challenges faced by these communities. In the past 6 years, he has held several impactful press conferences, abstract art exhibitions, created deterrents for fake pashmina traders, dismantled pashmina nexus, hosted pashmina fair trade events, pashmina goat fashion shows, launched Global Pashmina Goat Goodwill Ambassador Program and has fought battles to safe guard the interest of this community. He has been quoted on many national and international platforms as the most credible man on Pashmina in the world. Babar was recently profiled by BBC and TIME Magazine in its "Genius Issue" where only 10 people have been profiled so far from around the world in the past decade for their brilliant work and ideas that can bring in positive social change. Interviewed by CNN and the Biggest Business News Channel Bloomberg Global is producing a documentary to be showcased globally on the impact of Babar's work. He is now a full time Pashmina Activist and Pashmina Abstract Artist and Shepherd and the only one who does abstract art with vegetable dyes and intricate sozni paintings on Pashmina to support his Foundation. Bloomberg Coverage http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-08-31/how-a-mckinsey-analyst-sought-a-fortune-as-a-himalayan-goatherd http://www.bloomberg.com/news/photo-essays/2015-08-31/from-goats-to-luxurious-wraps-pashmina-in-pictures BBC Coverage: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02dxgcf TIME Magazine Coverage: http://time.com/3607304/tending-the-flock/ MINT: McKinsey Analyst now herding goats YourStory: https://yourstory.com/2015/10/babar-afzal/ Asian Voice: https://www.asian-voice.com/News/India/Babar-Afzal,-the-disruptive-pashmina-shepherd-of-Leh Motivate Me: http://motivateme.in/meet-babar-afzal-a-man-responsible-for-protecting-pashmina-an-amazing-product/ WIRED UK Twitter: https://twitter.com/WIREDINSIDERUK/status/794132023568801792 KNOMO Interview London: https://www.knomobags.com/row/blog/knomo-trailblazers-babar-afzal-founder-pashmina-goat-project BBC World Service: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02dxgcf WIRED UK innovation Fellow and Speaker 2016: http://www.wired.co.uk/article/babar-afzal-mckinsey-himalayan-goatherd-goats TEDxMICA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvLcADkHCrw

Authetic Sustainable Pashmina Eco-System of Himalayas (Pashmina Goats, Shepherds, Pashmina Weavers, Carftsmen and Crafts Women) which needs to be saved at any cost.

One should never under estimate the power of their own emotions, especially LOVE.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvLcADkHCrw&t=41s