Jiva Odedra was born in Uganda and spent his childhood in India. He came to England in 1980 and learnt English language. Subsequently, he went to Nottingham Trent University to study BEng in Electrical Engineering; holds MBA from Bradford University; and is a Chartered Engineer. Currently, Jiva works as Business Investment Manager with Leicester City Council and leads on Food and Drink sector. In his spare time, Jiva Odedra works with charities as volunteer helping these organisations to become efficient and improve sustainability. Jiva, studies the Bhagavad Gita daily and derives inspiration from its core message on – Action, Knowledge and Devotion – to serve others. Additionally, he has studied Vedas, Upanishads, Sufism, Zen, the Holy Koran, Sikhism as well as Bible. Based on lessons from the Bhagavad Gita, he wishes to inspire younger generations to recognise the divine in themselves and become self-confident.
1) What is your current position?
Currently, I am working as Business Investment Manager with Leicester City Council; I lead on the Food and Drink sector businesses in the City.
2) What are your proudest achievements?
As a Chartered Engineer specialising in Telecommunications technologies working for Marconi, I was part of a team responsible for bringing to market some technologies which revolutionised the industry. Now with Leicester City Council helping local Businesses to grow and create jobs continues to be a source of real joy.
3) What inspires you?
The ancient Bhagavad Gita inspires me and allows me to develop an ability to view the world without filters such as faith, gender, geographical and ethnic boundaries.
I see the divine in everyone and everywhere with utmost respect for Earth, Fire, Water, Air and Space.
4) What has been the biggest obstacle in your career? To be perfectly, honest I don’t recall any particular obstacles in my life’s journey or career; I feel every time I have an idea the world starts conspiring to make that a reality; only obstacle I fear is my possible inability to tap into offerings that come my way.
5) Who has been the biggest influence on your career to date?
My Parent. They suffered as Ugandan Asian and I recall both missing meals regularly to ensure children were fed during their struggle for survival. They continue to inspire me and others.I have never forgotten the fact that it took many generations hard work to make me successful today.
6) What is the best aspect about your current role?
Working with Leicester Food Park, a world class manufacturing facility for SMEs; helping Food and Drink businesses across the City to improve operations, develop new products and new markets continues to motivate me to do more. In short, helping to create local jobs is the best aspect of my current position.
7) And the worst?
There is no worst aspect to this job; each day brings new opportunity to make difference to lives of individuals in the city. The local Leicester Businesses continues to grow or survive despite at times very fast changing business environment.
8) What are your long term goals?
After studying Bhagavad Gita I sincerely believe that the real religion for me is to serve others. To inspire others to recognise the same divine within themselves and others; then to improve their self-confidence and therefore be better participant socially wherever they live.
9) If you were Prime Minister, what one aspect would you change?
The recent Brexit debate has created very unfair views around people from different cultures arriving in this country and I would proactively encourage people to continue to celebrate diversity; we must continue to create new knowledge and new opportunities for our people and we cannot do it in isolation.
10) If you were marooned on a desert island, which historical figure would you like to spend your time with and why?
Lord Krishna, since his teachings are beyond time, space and connections. For me Lord Krishna and Lord Jesus Christ are one and same. In the Bhagavad Gita, I learnt that I only have right to action and not the results of that action.
Karmanye vadhikaraste Ma Phaleshu Kadachana,
Ma Karmaphalaheturbhurma Te Sangostvakarmani (Ch.2, Verse 47)
