A career can be shaped by more than promotions and professional milestones. For Anand Priya Deo, the search for a more meaningful direction led from corporate employment to international development and, eventually, community-focused work in Bihar. His memoir, Follow Your Heart, documents this journey of reinvention.
The author is scheduled to introduce the book at the Frankfurt International Book Fair on 11 October 2026, with a special launch at the United Nations premises in Geneva on 13 October and a Book Talk at the Global Campus of Human Rights in Venice on 16 October.
The upcoming Geneva event follows Deo’s participation as an invited panel speaker at the United Nations Social Forum in 2024. His professional connection with the UN also includes an internship with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Before this transition, Deo spent almost ten years working with Airtel and PepsiCo. He pursued two Master’s degrees in the UK and Europe and subsequently worked with Medic Mobile, Grameen Foundation and Karya. His development experience spans Africa and Southeast Asia, while his travels have taken him to more than 70 countries.
His commitment to social change also has a local dimension. In 2022, Deo founded the Ananda Foundation in Sikaria, Nawada, Bihar, focusing on women’s empowerment, health and hygiene, and livelihood opportunities.
Rather than presenting success as a fixed destination, Follow Your Heart explores the courage needed to question established paths and embrace uncertainty. From the corporate sector to the UN Social Forum and grassroots initiatives, Deo’s journey illustrates how personal growth can evolve into a broader commitment to social purpose.
