Anand Priya Deo’s story connects his ancestral village in Bihar with professional experiences across continents and international institutions. Through Follow Your Heart, the author shares how a career that began in the corporate sector developed into a commitment to international development and grassroots social change.
An important milestone in this journey came in 2024, when Deo was invited to speak as a panellist at the United Nations Social Forum. In October 2026, he is scheduled to bring his memoir to the United Nations premises in Geneva for a special launch on 13 October. The event follows a planned appearance at the Frankfurt International Book Fair on 11 October and precedes a Book Talk in Venice on 16 October.
Deo spent nearly a decade with Airtel and PepsiCo before undertaking two Master’s degrees in the UK and Europe. He later interned with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and worked with Medic Mobile, Grameen Foundation and Karya.
His professional work across Africa and Southeast Asia and his travels to more than 70 countries broadened his exposure to international development.
In 2022, Deo brought that experience closer to home by founding the Ananda Foundation in Sikaria, his ancestral village in Nawada district, Bihar. The organisation works on women’s empowerment, health and hygiene, and livelihood opportunities.
His story offers a perspective on how global experience can inform local initiatives. With the UN Social Forum behind him and the Geneva launch ahead, Deo’s memoir explores the idea that following one’s heart can mean returning to one’s roots and investing in the future of a community.