Megan McKinley And Her Inspiring Path Through the Banyan Impact Fellowship

The Banyan Impact Fellowship, formerly known as the William J. Clinton Fellowship, is a dynamic 10-month program by the American India Foundation (AIF) that connects young professionals from the US and India with grassroots organizations across India. With a focus on capacity building, cultural exchange, and social impact, the fellowship equips participants to tackle pressing community challenges while fostering a “living bridge” between the two nations.

In this interview, we spoke with Megan McKinley, a social impact professional passionate about education and equity. With her unique background in international studies, project management, and organizational leadership, she earned the opportunity to join the Banyan Impact Fellowship. This experience took her to India, where she worked with grassroots organizations to develop gender-focused programs in rural communities. Megan reflects on her academic journey, the challenges of pursuing the fellowship, and the rewarding highlights of her time in India.

Can you tell us about your educational background for undergrad and your master’s?

During high school, I had the opportunity to study at two different universities through a dual-enrollment program. At the time, I thought I wanted to become an architect, but these experiences showed me that perhaps I would be better suited for a different career path. As I researched universities, I came across LIU Global, an experiential learning program that takes students around the world, and I immediately knew it was the choice for me. However, it was a school that neither my parents nor anyone I knew had ever heard of, so it took some convincing. I was drawn to the program because it offered a curriculum unlike any other and the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and immerse myself in different cultures. The program exceeded my expectations, and my undergraduate studies took me to ten countries where I focused my studies on comparative education, social entrepreneurship, and gender studies.

During my time working at Guild Education, I had the opportunity to utilize an education benefit to pursue a Master’s degree from a curated list of schools and programs. The Organizational Leadership curriculum spoke to me because it offers applicable skills across industries and positions. Organizational Leadership focuses on human behavior, communication, and team dynamics, which aligns with my interest in working with people and building strong relationships within a team.

You also received a project management certificate, a PMP! Why did you decide to pursue this certificate?

After working as a Program Manager with Global Leadership Adventures, I realized my passion for working in Project Management. I wanted to pursue the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification in an effort to learn the theory and technical skills of Project Management while showcasing my hands-on experience within the field after learning about it from a colleague.

The process of obtaining the PMP certification was daunting. It required three years of work experience, 35 hours of education, a lengthy application, and a 180-question exam. It took me about nine months to complete the education, application, and exam preparation. I had a lot of support and accountability from friends and online communities who were studying at the same time. It was one of my proudest achievements when I finally received the “congratulations!” message after the exam.

Before the William J. Clinton Fellowship, can you speak about any experiences or jobs you were involved in?

My most relevant experiences in preparing for the fellowship were my undergraduate studies with LIU Global and my work as a Program Manager with Global Leadership Adventures, where I really learned to embody the approach of “think global, act local.”

During my senior year at LIU Global, I spent a semester conducting independent research in Varanasi, India. There, I immersed myself in the community and worked alongside individuals in the development field. I conducted this research to answer the question, “Is Hindu female renunciation ideology present in underprivileged educational institutions in Varanasi, India? If so, how?” Like the AIF Fellowship, I partnered with the community and studied the intersection of gender and education within the Indian context.

At Global Leadership Adventures, I gained a deep understanding of program management and operational excellence. As Program Manager, I worked closely with community leaders and grassroots organizations to create meaningful experiences for students and lasting impact within the communities in which we worked. Both of these experiences taught me the importance of capacity building, intercultural management, and innovation, which I could utilize during my fellowship.

Then, you became a fellow for the program, now known as the Banyan Impact Fellowship! How did you come across this fellowship, and why did you apply?

During my freshman year at LIU Global, I traveled l to India for the first time. I learned quickly that India is unlike any other country in the world and offers a unique backdrop to discuss intersectional issues. While there, our professors arranged a meeting with an LIU Global alumni who was serving as a Clinton Fellow in New Delhi at the time. She spoke to us about her time as a fellow, the project she was working on, and how it tied back to her Global College education. Upon learning about the program, I was enthralled by her experience and knew I wanted to work in the social sector in India at some point in the future.

Perhaps my tenacity made me a standout candidate for the program, as I went through the application process not once but twice! I first applied in 2017 and was ultimately not selected. I was determined to come back as a stronger candidate next time and reapplied at the onset of COVID-19. My second application process lasted nearly two years due to the pandemic, and throughout the process, I was repeatedly faced with the question (both from AIF and myself), “Is this really what I want to do?” Ultimately, the answer was, for me, a yes. But, I think it is important to mention that this fellowship is not for everyone, as it requires high independence, resilience, and determination.

As a Fellow, what was your role and day-to-day life like? Do you have any particular highlights?

During my time as a Fellow, I worked with a community development organization called Pudiyador, based in Chennai. I was tasked with helping to scale their newest program, Playquity (Play + Equity), a gender-focused equity program in rural areas. Playquity leverages the sport of ultimate frisbee to build confidence, leadership, and resilience among women, helping them become spirited athletes, strong leaders, and agents of change in their communities. The program’s three-phase model includes coaching girls to be athletes, providing them with life skills training to build confidence, and ultimately putting them in leadership positions by having them coach boys.

My days were spent working closely with the operations team and our partner organizations to implement programming and measure impact. At the time, the team was geographically dispersed across India and the world, so we collaborated virtually.

One of my primary roles was to help establish a sustainable operational framework for Playquity, ensuring it could be scaled across communities. This involved creating an implementation handbook, developing a day-to-day operations manual, and designing an impact assessment framework to measure Playquity’s success. I worked closely with Pudiyador’s operations team and partner organizations to integrate their 20 years of learning into Playquity’s structure, which would help scale the program to 50 communities by 2025. As the program was in its early stages, I spent a lot of time focusing on monitoring and evaluation, logistics planning for the coaches, and ensuring that systems were in place to support Playquity’s staff as they took on more communities.

Because I worked virtually, it was imperative that I had various field visits across India and had the chance to meet our partners. One of the year’s biggest highlights was traveling to the Northeast region and the states of Assam, Manipur, and Meghalaya. I had never traveled to the Northeast region before, but I got to experience and remember how vast and diverse India is once again. Connecting with and learning from grassroots leaders opened my eyes to their realities – memories that will continue to inspire my commitment to this field of work.

And finally, what’s next for you? Can you share any advice with our readers about pursuing such opportunities?

After my fellowship, I took a much-needed break for reflection and traveled around Asia for a few months! Since then, I have moved back to Ohio to be closer to family after being away for so long. Now, I am working as a Program Director for a B-Corporation! I am always looking to expand my horizons and get involved with socially conscious initiatives and organizations. The beauty of the Banyan Impact Fellowship is that individuals are able to go in many different directions – some of my batch mates have gone on to graduate school, full-time employment with their host organizations, switching sectors, and everything in between!

For those interested in pursuing similar opportunities, my advice is to reach out to individuals who have already completed the program(s) you are interested in. It brings me so much joy to reflect on my experience and share their journey with others. Every fellowship has unique criteria and complexities, so it helps to learn firsthand from those who have already gone through the process. Additionally, don’t be afraid of rejection! As I mentioned, I didn’t receive my fellowship on my first application, but I didn’t let that deter me from re-applying. Trust in your own timing!

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Megan McKinley is a social impact practitioner focusing on education, gender, and empowerment. She grew up in Ohio and has lived internationally for nearly 10 years. Megan holds a BA in Global Studies from Long Island University’s Global College and a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute. She is pursuing an MA in Organizational Leadership from the University of Massachusetts. Her professional experience spans B-Corporations, non-profit organizations, and educational institutions. Megan believes that the best education is through experience and thus has made it her mission to work in organizations that break down barriers and provide alternative education opportunities to marginalized communities.

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