Laila Kasuri

(Forbes 30 Under 30)

6 December 2019 9 Min Read

Laila Kasuri: Driving Innovation in Healthcare and Science

Laila Kasuri is a water specialist and water analyst with Global Green Growth Institute, an intergovernmental organization focused on delivering green growth in its member countries.

Over the years, she has collaborated with major organizations such as the World Bank, the Harvard Water Federalism Project, the US Army Corps of Engineers, and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). Kasuri has also led significant research on climate-smart irrigation, flood risk reduction, and river basin planning. Forbes recognized her knowledge and experience, granting Laila a well-deserved place on their 30 Under 30 Asia 2019: Healthcare & Science list.

We can learn much from her story and essential mission – bringing water, the source of life, where needed. Her work is incredible and beyond generous, and her life has a great purpose. So, let’s see what happens when you decide to go for it and do what you love.

Laila Kasuri is a water specialist and water analyst with Global Green Growth Institute, an intergovernmental organization focused on delivering green growth in its member countries.

The Logician

Hi Laila, and welcome to this interview! Before anything else, I would like to thank you for taking the time to do this with me! Do you mind introducing yourself? Who is Laila Kasuri? What was the reason for choosing your current career?

Laila Kasuri

Thanks! I grew up in Pakistan — and as a kid, I wanted to be an explorer but unfortunately, we never traveled much growing up.

When I went to college, I chose my major — environmental sciences and engineering — mainly because there were lots of field trips!

But surprisingly, I ended up enjoying it so much and that’s when I started studying and learning about river basins and water management.

It was also in my first year of university, that I ended up spending my summer as a research associate, with the Asian Development Bank working on water allocation in Pakistan.

At the time, I was 19 only and had the opportunity to work very closely with the government agencies who were trying to look at optimal ways of distributing water across competing users.

I thought that this would be a one-off opportunity. Except I continued in this field for the next 10 years.

So ever since then, I’ve worked in countries like Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, where I’ve engaged in different capacities — as a consultant, project manager, professor, and startup advisor.

But in most cases, I’m usually trying to solve a simple problem: how can I increase access to water in an economically efficient and environmentally friendly way.

Needless to say, this has been a long 10-year journey and has certainly fulfilled my wish of exploring and traveling, while also living a fully interesting life!

I suppose that’s one of the reasons why I love my career. Unlike many other careers that may require long hours in an artificially lit up office, I’ve had the chance to have a balance between fieldwork and office work, and between analytical and technical work and using softer-skills.

And of course, it feels great to work alongside different people — from rural communities or local governments to CEOs and diplomats.

The Logician

Additionally, I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on being among Forbes 30 under 30! Was this a dream of yours? What do you believe most contributed to such a success?

Laila Kasuri

Thanks — I don’t think it was a dream per se, but it felt wonderful to be among such brilliant people!

One of the things is that I work in the development sector — not in a startup. Most of the people I engage with are government officials and policymakers, not young, hip start-up entrepreneurs.

So even though my work might not appear very “trendy” and cutting edge, I was quite happy that it was selected and there was such a diverse group of people on that list that it was humbling!

I also think it was great to see a field like water being recognized because there are so many people I work with, that are dedicating their lives to improving access to basic water for the poor but don’t often get as much attention as say the person who develops Candy Crush!

The Logician

Now, I would like to talk more about your work, which is incredible and beyond generous. I understand you are a water analyst and want to know precisely what that means. How critical is the issue of water scarcity on Earth? How can we all help in your mission?

Laila Kasuri

I am trained as a water resources engineer, but the kind of work I do is quite varied.

Broadly, I help devise and design solutions that can improve access to water for people and economies.

Some of my work has been to help in conducting assessments on the feasibility of reservoirs for hydropower or flood protection, on spatial planning to design floodways to protect cities from extreme flooding, and on developing projects to support and incentivize water conservation in economic sectors like agriculture.

In other projects, I’ve worked with federal government agencies as a consultant or advisor to help them draft their water strategies or review their water tariffs and related decrees.

I’ve also had the chance to work for organizations that support federal and municipal governments in helping them mobilizing finance for water projects or help them in project design and appraisal and monitoring and evaluation.

I’ve also worn an academic hat and done a lot of research and analytical work. I’ve researched with the United States Army Corps of Engineers, in Vicksburg, MS and written a thesis on flood risk management, which won the highest award for academic research — Hoopes Award.

I’ve also done research on flood bypasses in California. I’ve also worked at a liberal arts university, where I introduced and designed the curriculum for an undergraduate course “Water, Sustainability and Development”.

So, as you can see, my role is quite varied so I never get bored and am always learning!

The Logician

Given this, I think it is safe to say you have already found your calling and purpose in life. So, what do you think all people struggling to find theirs should do?

Laila Kasuri

I really think people worry too much about finding their calling. I would suggest that people should jump in anything that excites them at least momentarily and then build their skills in it.

If one spends some time — and shows perseverance in it– that activity will reap some rewards and will certainly become their calling.

There is a really good book called “So Good They Can’t ignore you” by Cal Newport!

It basically looks at a number of successful people and traces how they found their calling — and what he found was that when people dedicated time and effort to some activity and remained persistent — they developed a passion for it.

So passion tends to follow after you’ve gained some level of mastery or knowledge in a field, and have spent some time in it. It’s the same even for startups. Startups only succeed if one remains persistent and show grit!

The Logician

How do you push through tough times? How do you ensure that stressful situations in your personal life do not affect your work performance?

Laila Kasuri

That’s a tough question and one that I cannot say I am great at always. Like anyone else, I’m human and I get stressed as well.

In fact, once I had to go on a work-related mission in the field for 2 months where I had to travel to rural parts of South East Asia. During that time, I developed a strong stomach ache and I found out it was only due to stress!

So, since then, I’ve tried to make sure my work travel doesn’t exceed more than three weeks and is spread out over the year. I also try to work from home occasionally and try to do as much mindfulness activities to help me never feel stressed.

The Logician

I completely understand that education is necessary for success in your field. However, do you believe education is always the key to success? What is your definition of success and why?

Laila Kasuri

More than education, I would say grit and growth are the key to success (the two G’s!).

If you are persistent in something — and try to continue growing in it, then I’m quite certain success will follow.

Of course, grit and persistence require constantly growing and learning and for that, education is integral. But education doesn’t end once you’ve done your Bachelor’s or Master’s.

I think if you really want to be successful in something, you commit yourself to learn about it constantly.

The Logician

What motivates you to jump out of bed every morning? What are the best habits you believe we all should have that will help us significantly in life and work?

Laila Kasuri

I’m always trying to learn new habits, but right now, what works for me is exercise, which really helps me keep my mood and motivation up.

I’m not a fan of yoga personally since I get a little bored, no offense, but I like to run, bike and hit the gym. I try to incorporate 28 minutes of exercise three times a week and this has helped me immensely.

Another thing I like to do is read — and not useful books necessarily but purely fiction for my entertainment.

Lastly, I like exploring. This is an odd habit but I usually go to a new place at least twice a week.

This could be for example walking in a neighborhood I haven’t ever walked in, or visiting a museum or exhibit, or even trying out a new coffee shop. But it has to be somewhere I haven’t ever been to!

The Logician

What hard thing are you not doing enough? What easy thing are you doing too much?

Laila Kasuri

I’d probably like to spend more time writing, which I haven’t had a chance to do so as much in the past few years.

I regularly write fiction and non-fiction, run a travel blog and am currently working on finishing a science fiction novel. If you want to see some of my writing, you can check it out on Medium.

I’m currently a new mom so I think I am spending too much time catching up on sleep every few hours or watching Netflix (laughs).

The Logician

Where do you see yourself and your work ten years from now? Are there any milestones you want to reach by then?

Laila Kasuri

I’d like to, not surprisingly, travel more, learn a few other languages and work in Africa — which is a great place to work if you are interested in water and economic development.

I’d also like to publish my science fiction book (finally, since I’ve been working on it on the side for the last two years!).

I also have a baby girl who is adorable and I hope I can be a great mom and role model for her!

The Logician

At last, what can we all start doing today that will help this planet significantly?

Laila Kasuri

Everyone should try their best to live simpler lives. A lot of water isn’t wasted necessarily from showering or drinking.

A lot is wasted in activities we never think about. When we buy cotton shirts, we never realize how much water they use.

Other activities like gardening and washing the car are also heavy users of water and we pay next to nothing for it.

But generally, we have a lot of wasteful activities that we should cut down on. In my field, there are three options: reduce, reuse or recycle. Among these, the best option is to reduce!

The simpler we live our lives, the damage we cause to the environment and the more chances that future generations will be able to benefit from a cleaner environment!

The Logician

Thank you, Laila, for sharing your interesting takes on life, education, and career building. I loved your point on the two G’s, i.e., grit and growth, and the importance of commitment for success. You could not be more suitable. Thank you also for working hard to make the world a better place. I hope we can catch up with another interview, as I will keep tracking your excellent work and doings. Until then, I wish you to fulfill all your milestones and more!

The Logician

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