Payal worked in Rajasthan and Bihar and has made a substantial contribution to empowering women. She conquered challenges such as language hurdles and raised awareness among women and adolescents about contraception and their rights to sexual and reproductive health.

Uttarakhand-born Payal Sharma attended the Tata Institute of Social Science to finish her education in women's studies. She started her gender professional journey with the Agha Khan Rural Support Programme in Muzaffarpur, Bihar. She worked there for two years in a programme that transformed the lives of 50 thousand women through better livelihood practices.

She holds the belief that providing training in attitude, skills, and learning can be beneficial for empowering teenage girls and women.

Payal has done internships to gain better knowledge of socio-cultural and economic aspects. She switched workplaces and shifted to Udaipur with more responsibilities. She worked there as a Professional Liaison with government departments and institutes. She also contributed to a UNFPA project called "Unleashing the Potential of Adolescent Girls through Action." She has been working on a women's entrepreneurship programme with a development firm in Hyderabad for the past eight months. She is in charge of the initiative, called Mini MBA, which is first being offered in Maharashtra and Karnataka and provides women with management training to launch their own enterprises.

Payal talks about her experience when asked about COVID. She says that using a virtual platform, she worked on life skills workshops and produced a compilation that is useful for women and development professionals alike. She collaborated with a range of experts to develop mini-MBA programmes that enable women to further their education.

Sharing about her struggles, she says that in Mushahari, the main challenge was the language barrier, but she got used to it over time. Understanding the minds of young teenage girls proved tricky for her. Adapting to the changing environment and societal shifts due to her work is a common occurrence. Striking a balance between long-standing traditions and evolving culture is tough, especially when teaching women about sex and reproductive rights in a scientifically balanced manner.

Reflecting on her triumphs, Payal proudly mentions that in Bihar and Rajasthan, people still remember her impactful work, and a Mini MBA participant even spoke at UNDP about creating her own identity. During the lockdown, Payal became an ideal choice for women and teens seeking help through a WhatsApp group, addressing everything from small fights to guidance on contraceptive pills. Emphasizing the importance of awareness about contraceptives for women's well-being, Payal modestly avoids discussing individual achievements, crediting her entire team.

Payal has many role models in her life: her mother, her sister, and her reporting officer, who was a woman. She also admires BR Ambedkar, Savitribai Phule, and Mahatma Gandhi as role models.

According to Payal, individuals who want to see real change in society ought to join the development space and gain knowledge from their experiences and education. Aspiring changemakers can start from the bottom by becoming members of non-governmental organizations. Payal continues by saying, "The youth can also work on UN initiatives and connect with government fellowships."

Payal's secret to success is to discover her real purpose in life by stepping away from the screen and maintaining relationships with the outside world.