Meet Jagriti Yadav, the 20-year-old who became the British High Commissioner for a day

We are reminded, time and again, that age is no bar when it comes to turning your dreams into reality. And Jagriti Yadav—a 20-year-old STEM student hailing from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh—is one such reminder. 

The recent graduate assumed the role of UK’s top diplomat to India for 24 hours, as part of the sixth edition of the #DayOfTheGirl contest hosted by the British High Commission in the capital. 

During a tête-à-tête with Cosmo on the International Day of the Girl Child, Jagriti opened up about her once-in-a-lifetime experience, women in leadership, her aspirations, and more. 

Cosmo: Congratulations on becoming the British High Commissioner to India for a day! Tell us how you feel. 

Jagriti Yadav: Thank you so much. It's surreal. It has been nothing short of wonderful. Through the day, I got the opportunity to understand the wide range of UK-India network. 

Cosmo: When entering the contest, what was your answer to the question, ‘Which women in public life inspire you the most, and why?’ 

Jagriti Yadav: I spoke about Arunima Sinha; the world’s first female amputee to scale Mount Everest. Her inspirational journey taught me, ‘where there is a will, there is a way’, and the day your inner self is awakened, nothing can stop you from achieving your goals and aspirations.

Cosmo: Walk us through your day—what did you do, who are the notable people you met etc. 

Jagriti Yadav: The day kicked off with a meeting with the senior leadership team of the British High Commission. This was followed by a meet up with Delhi University professors, where the focus of conversation revolved around gender equality in research and education. Reportedly, a mere 16 per cent of Indian women from the field of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), actually end up pursuing research, innovation, and science. Hence, the discussion was a deep dive into the plethora of reasons why the gap may exist. 

We met up with SheLeads project beneficiaries, and enjoyed a delicious meal with the Wipro Chairman, Rishad Premji. Getting acquainted with the Mayor of West Yorkshire was a memorable experience, too. An inspiration to all young women, she told me to believe in myself—and become one’s own role model. “Do not look up to anybody; focus, have a goal in mind, and work to achieve it,” she said. Last but not the least, I had the privilege to be a part of the book launch to commemorate 75 years of independence, with 75 women in STEM. It’s been an absolute honour, and words are falling short.

Cosmo: Can you share with us the roles and responsibilities you assumed as the British High Commissioner for the day?

Jagriti Yadav: Besides all that I have mentioned previously, I was part of a meeting where we discussed Indo-Britain trade relations. I also got an opportunity to meet with Meenakshi Lekhi, the Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture of India. She's a fabulous woman, and urged me to rise above my fears and reach out for my goals.

Cosmo: The theme for this year's competition was Women in Leadership. Tell us about a woman leader that has inspired you. 

Jagriti Yadav: The first woman that comes to mind is Nirmala Sitharaman, the Minister of Finance. She is truly inspiring, and I look up to her. The way she presents and carries herself, it’s commendable. 

Cosmo: What’s next in store for you? What are your plans for the future? 

Jagriti Yadav: This year, I completed my graduation in computer science, physics, and mathematics. While I aspire to work in the field of artificial intelligence, after today's experience, diplomacy seems to be on the cards as well. I'm open to all possibilities, and will consider all future career prospects.

Cosmo: Alex, can you tell us how Britain and India working to strengthen their relationship?

Alex Ellis (Deputy High Commissioner for the Day): We are, hopefully, weeks away from finalising a free-trade agreement. Britain and India are also working together on matters of research and education. This year, UK has received a hefty influx of Indian students—contributing to the impressive talent pool going to and fro, across both countries. Since India is, pretty much, a topper in terms of getting girls to pursue STEM, perhaps UK can follow suit. 

Cosmo: The future is female, they say. Do you think we will get to see a lot more women shattering the glass ceiling, globally?

Jagriti Yadav: No doubt. Women are unstoppable. Women are emerging leaders, and are doing wonders in all walks of life. Pick any field—technology, politics, science, arts—women are slated to rule in the coming years! 

Cosmo: That said, why do you think there are such few women in leadership positions today? And how can we change that?

Jagriti Yadav: More participation and awareness, to begin with. This must be followed with greater awareness and access to opportunities. Alex’s words will stay with me; he said, “There are four things you need to excel in life—networking, ambition, talent, and opportunity. All combined, it makes for the ideal recipe for success.

Cosmo: Today is International Day of the Girl Child. How do you think we as a community can extend our support towards women and empower them?

Jagriti Yadav: Women empowerment has been a buzzword for the past many years. However, a lot more is yet to be done in this direction. We can get the ball rolling by making our daughters, sisters, and friends aware, by giving them proper exposure, lending them support, and offering a certain degree of freedom—freedom of expression, choice, and more. An amalgamation of this is sure to pave the way for women empowerment.