How Curiosity and Courage shaped a WFP Career with Vaishnavi Pavithran

‘Pathway to WFP’ is the LinkedIn career series by the World Food Programme investigating the professional backgrounds and life choices that led our staff to the world’s largest humanitarian agency. Subscribe to the newsletter to receive new episodes directly in your inbox!

Sometimes, the most powerful careers are the ones that don’t follow a set path. That’s certainly true for Vaishnavi Pavithran, who started out studying commerce in southern India and ended up helping shape innovation and partnerships across some of WFP’s operations.

From her first internship at an advertising firm to working with state ministries in India, from grad school in Paris to her first field deployment in Nigeria during COVID, she’s taken unexpected turns—with purpose guiding each one. What began as an internship at WFP turned into a career rooted in humanitarian innovation, private sector collaboration, and a drive to make systems work better for the people we serve.

In this month’s spotlight, Vaishnavi shares how she found her way, the lessons she learned launching new initiatives, and why putting people first—whether in a team or a partnership—is the secret to overcoming even the toughest challenges.

Introduce yourself! What is your role at WFP? Where do you work and where are you from?

Hi! I’m Vaishnavi Pavithran - currently the Special Assistant in the Office of the Chief of Staff at WFP Headquarters in Rome. I’m originally from Mangalore, a beautiful coastal town in southern India. 

Tell us about your professional journey: how did you start your career? What is your academic and previous professional background.

I hold a bachelor's degree in commerce, with a focus on business and finance. My first internship was with an advertising firm, which was an exciting introduction to the professional world—but I quickly realized I wanted to work for something beyond profits. That led me to intern with the Law Ministry in the Government of India, and I absolutely loved the experience.

This shift in interest inspired me to pursue my master's in International Development at Sciences Po in Paris, with a specialization in Global Health and Project Management. Before starting my graduate studies, I also worked with the Minister of Information Technology, Biotechnology, and Tourism in the Government of Karnataka. Alongside all this, I had already spent six years volunteering with NGOs across India.

What brought you to WFP? Feel free to expand on how you joined the organization, and how your experience has been so far.

My journey to WFP was somewhat accidental. I never seriously considered working at the UN—I didn’t think it was within reach. But thanks to scholarships, I was able to study at Sciences Po, which opened up new opportunities, including an internship at WFP.

While looking for a third-semester internship, I stumbled upon a listing for WFP and applied with low expectations. Like many, I had preconceived notions about the United Nations. But once I joined, I was genuinely surprised—and inspired—by WFP’s impact. I loved the work and accepted a consulting offer, which led me to take a gap year from university.

During that year, I moved from Rome to Nigeria for my first field experience with WFP—right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. I also completed the final semester of my master’s while working full-time. My thesis was based on my experience in Nigeria and explored how WFP could support local start-ups in food systems to strengthen sustainable solutions to hunger.

That research turned into action. With support from an inspiring Country Director who gave me five minutes on WhatsApp to pitch the idea, I secured USD 50,000 and I got to actually run a pilot for WFP on this approach and it was a wonderful experience. The success of that pilot led to my next role as Regional Innovation Advisor for East Africa, where I managed a USD 3 million portfolio scaling the model in South Sudan, Rwanda, and Uganda.

After that, I worked with WFP’s Emergency Division in Rome before spending two years at UNICEF, focusing on standby partnerships in emergency response and deployed to Chad and Palestine.

In November 2024, I was delighted to return to WFP in my current role. This organization is where I’ve grown the most—personally and professionally. I started here as a 21-year-old intern and have since worked across divisions and operations, in multiple countries. WFP shaped who I am today, and it’s a privilege to be back.

What are some of your day-to-day responsibilities at work?

In my current role supporting the Chief of Staff’s office, I work across a wide range of tasks. These include preparing briefing documents and talking points to support the Chief of Staff as well as coordinating internal processes and supporting the Executive Director’s priorities. A key area I particularly enjoy working on is WFP’s private sector engagement efforts – especially given its growing importance in today’s funding environment. I collaborate closely with colleagues from the private sector and innovation teams to help strengthen WFP’s partnerships in this space.

What is the most rewarding part of working at WFP?

The most rewarding part is knowing the tangible difference we make in people’s lives. It’s easy to get lost in the day-to-day of documents, meetings, and challenges, but having worked in different operations—and even seeing WFP’s impact while I was with another agency in Palestine—I’ve seen firsthand how much our work matters. I feel incredibly proud to be part of an organization that shapes, saves, and changes lives every day.

What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in your career and how did you overcome them?

There have been different kinds and levels of challenges in these years from personal (often being the youngest and working against the bias that comes with it) to professional (launching new projects that do not have a set blueprint). As my mum might say, I am a bit of a rebel. I enjoy the challenge to prove a point and thrive in chaos. While there have been frustrating times of course, for the most part, I find you need to accept challenges if you are trying new things. The thrill of testing new ways of working makes most of these challenges worth it.

On the professional front, having a strong person-first approach with colleagues really helps – it is important people feel part of the team and valued. It will make the process a lot easier to manage (and enjoyable), and lead to a higher chance of success too.

At the personal level, grounding yourself is also important – there are subject matter experts to lean on, people who have done more than I have or who have been here longer. The wealth of knowledge that people with different experiences bring, while adding to the complexity of group management, ultimately provides a lot of value to the product you are looking to deliver.

From your experience, what is the role of innovation in humanitarian work?

I’ve always found the word “innovation” fascinating because, in many ways, it describes everything we do. Innovation is finding faster ways to deliver assistance, identifying people in need more efficiently, reducing duplication, improving systems, or building new types of partnerships.

Progress in the humanitarian sector has always depended on individuals who dared to ask difficult questions and try new approaches. To me, innovation isn’t just helpful—it’s essential. Especially now, in a more constrained funding environment, we must stretch every dollar and deliver maximum impact. That’s only possible if we continue to innovate.

In your experience, what’s the role of private-sector partners in scaling humanitarian innovation projects? What do these collaborations look like in practice?

A few years ago, private sector engagement might have been seen as a “nice to have.” Today, it’s a necessity. Traditional funding streams are shrinking, and the private sector brings not just financial support but also technology, expertise, and innovative solutions.

With the support of colleagues, I recently coordinated a cross-functional deep dive with private sector partners where we presented WFP’s five-year tech investment plan, including AI and digital ambitions. What stood out was how eager these partners were to help—because they share our mission and values. This is just one example of the growing momentum. It is clear the private sector is ready to collaborate— now the onus is on us to make the most of it.

What are some intiatives you are led and proud of?

One of my proudest moments was launching the Zero Hunger Sprint in Nigeria—WFP’s first programme focused on partnering with African conglomerates to support local start-ups. I pitched it cold, through LinkedIn messages and meetings with food and beverage associations. It was nerve-wracking—I was barely a year into my career, and this kind of project hadn’t been done before.

But within two months, we raised over USD 250,000 from five African companies and supported six start-ups. The project revealed new types of donors, new ways of working with youth and local economies, and the power of tapping into local solutions to food insecurity. 

That success led to my next role as Regional Innovation Advisor, where I adapted the model—now called IGNITE—for South Sudan, Rwanda, and Uganda. It’s humbling to know IGNITE has now scaled to 16 countries and become a key part of WFP’s innovation portfolio. These experiences showed me that with the right team, leadership, and environment, we truly can change how we work.

What keeps you going?

It’s rare to find the professional trifecta: doing work you love, that adds value, and that serves a greater purpose. I’ve found that at WFP. Most days, I wake up genuinely excited to go to work—and I can’t imagine doing something that doesn’t make me feel that way.

But it’s not just about the role. I’ve been lucky to work with amazing colleagues and supportive managers who’ve helped me grow. That collective energy, care, and dedication really does keep you going—strong, steady, and inspired.

Can you share 3 tips on how to pursue a similar career?

• Be authentic. Early on, it’s easy to try and fit a mold—especially with imposter syndrome in the mix. But authenticity is what helps you stand out and build meaningful connections.

• Get operational experience. WFP’s work happens in country offices. Understanding the realities on the ground will make you a better professional, no matter where you end up.

• Say yes to unexpected opportunities. Many of the most fulfilling projects I’ve worked on weren’t in my job description. Be open to going beyond your deliverables—you might just discover something that shapes your career.

Thank you Vaishnavi!

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