We spoke to Sonam Angmo recently, asking her to reflect on her decade-long journey at Sattva. As someone who has seen it all – in the social impact space, as well as within Sattva, she shares her journey in this rich and heartfelt account:
How has your journey at Sattva evolved over the years?
When I decided to join Sattva almost a decade ago, I had very little idea of what ‘social impact consulting’ even means. But I followed my gut – something told me this was going to be a place that would challenge me deeply and shape me meaningfully. (Of course, now I have well-honed frameworks to explain that gut instinct – thanks to consulting 😄)
Looking back, I feel immense gratitude, as not everyone gets the chance to grow alongside an organisation so intimately. I have had the privilege of being part of Sattva when it was still a small team figuring things out, and watching it grow into a pioneering force in the social impact consulting across India and the Global South. That journey of growing with something, instead of just in it, is something I carry with a lot of pride and humility.
As Sattva grew from a close knit group of 15 to a dynamic organisation of over 500 people (at one point), my own growth mirrored that transformation. I moved from figuring out how to take meeting notes to leading efforts to productise our Advisory Services. From having to do it all, be the Analyst as well as the Engagement Manager (when you’re short on people, you become the people), to now working with sophisticated teams with verticals, horizontals, and a whole bunch of frameworks. From feeling overwhelmed by the complexity of the development sector to embracing a humbling truth that no one has it fully figured out and in fact, half the battle in addressing complex social challenges is simply taking the time to understand the problem better. And from holding tightly to the pride of “imaandaari ka ghamand” to developing a deeper, more nuanced empathy and recognising that every stakeholder, however different their motivations, plays a vital role in the development ecosystem.
And perhaps the most profound evolution has been an internal one. These nine years have shaped my worldview, my leadership style, and my core values. Today, what gives me the deepest sense of purpose and satisfaction is mentoring and shaping the bright, young minds who join Sattva from the best institutions across the country. My biggest wins are not project metrics or client feedback, but are those quiet moments, often unseen ones, the one-on-one conversations, the team huddles, the moments of uncertainty where I am called to lead with both clarity and care. It is in these spaces that I have come to believe that you can be a taskmaster and still be kind. That empathy and respect does not dilute effectiveness, in fact they deepen it.
Over these years, I have learned that what people remember is not how perfectly a task was executed, but how they felt in the room with you. Did they feel Seen? Heard? Respected? These moments may never make it to a slide deck, but they shape the culture, the trust, and the energy people carry forward. And often, that is the real work – not just getting the things done, but making others feel safe and strong enough to do their best work too.
Is there a project or moment that has particularly stayed with you?
It’s hard to pick just one as there have been so many moments and projects that have left a mark, but let me share an experience from one of my recent projects.
I was brought in to lead a long-running, large-scale initiative funded by one of the world’s largest philanthropic organisations. The project had a long history, a complex context, disconnected narrative, multiple tracks, and had changed many hands over the years. When our team stepped in, we honestly did not know where to begin. The project was scattered across timelines, folders, and conversations. But we knew we had to anchor ourselves and so we relied on five simple but powerful principles to do so:
- Write to think: We documented everything. Not just because it helped us stay organised, but it enabled us to break down this massive, overwhelming scope of work into micro problems that could be solved step by step.
- Win the day: Every time we zoomed out to look at the full scale and duration of the project, it felt crushing to say the least. So we made a conscious choice to focus on daily wins. We would meet every morning and evening, keep ourselves and each other focused, and stick to our micro plans. This rhythm also helped us set boundaries with the client in a rational manner, gave us momentum and protected our sanity.
- Over-communicate, always: We made it a habit to keep everyone in the loop, both within the team and with the client. Whether it was a two-line update, a status check-in, or governance meetings, we made communication clear, regular, and intentional. It built trust and eliminated confusion.
- Keep it simple, but steady: This was not a glamorous project with fancy decks or big launches. It was about showing up every day, doing the work, and keeping things simple. Over time, the client completely shifted from questioning every decision of ours to truly listening to every voice on the team.
- Respect fuels everything: This was a project where each and every team member treated one another with genuine respect. There were no solo heroes, just a strong team looking out for each other, stepping in for one another during personal breaks and backing each other up without being asked. The confidence and ownership I saw in every team member was the real success story.
This project did not come with big applause or headline moments, but it was a true masterclass in how quiet consistency, radical teamwork, and clear thinking can turn around anything.
What keeps me rooted at Sattva?
It’s hard to narrow it down to just one thing, because for me, it has been a constellation of experiences. But if I had to sum it up, it would come down to people, purpose, and the space to grow.
- The People: I have had the privilege of working with some of the sharpest minds in the ecosystem, people who combine intellectual depth with a deep sense of purpose. I have also been incredibly fortunate to be mentored by empathetic leaders, who have helped me understand the subtle but powerful difference between “being kind” and “being nice”, and who have instilled in me an “and” mindset, that I can be a taskmaster and an empathetic leader, be driven and grounded, set high standards and stay humble.
- Sattva Culture: The ever refreshing Sattva way of working where there is accountability and no tolerance for bad behaviour or entitlement. In my almost a decade-long journey here, I have witnessed and experienced a culture where people can thrive, not because of hierarchy, but because of merit and mutual respect.
- Autonomy and Open Conversations: One of the most empowering things at Sattva is the agency we are given, to make decisions, to experiment, and sometimes, even to fail. There is a genuine culture of open and honest conversations, without the fear of judgment. I still remember a moment when one of my project advisors said something that stayed with me: “You won’t really get good at facilitating workshops until you have messed up at least three.” That simple insight and the space to stumble while knowing someone has your back was incredibly liberating. It is this kind of freedom that has shaped my growth not just as a professional, but as a person.
- Diversity of Work – In my 9 years here, I can honestly say no two projects have been the same. Each engagement has challenged me in new ways, pushed me out of my comfort zone, and helped me build new muscles. The diversity of work has kept me on my toes and kept my curiosity alive.
- Purpose That Feeds the Soul – Above all, what truly anchors me is the impact we get to create. Working at the intersection of communities, government, civil society organisations, corporates and funders means we are solving real problems, often the messy, systemic ones. There is no feeling quite like seeing your work shift something on the ground, and knowing you were part of something meaningful.
Sonam Angmo is a Senior Engagement Manager with our Non-Profit Advisory Services team. She is responsible for the design and execution of both strategy and implementation engagements with key non-profits in the ecosystem. Read more, here.
