Jaipur Rugs, Jaipur, 2014-15
Overview
• Role: Trainer, Facilitator, and Storyteller
• Focus: Building dignity-centered communication and emotional resilience within a diverse organizational ecosystem
Key Work
• Facilitated communication and emotional intelligence workshops for 400+ artisans and employees
• Led participatory sessions using theater, storytelling, and cooperative games to foster agency, empathy, and relational dignity
• Documented artisan stories — amplifying the lived experiences behind traditional craft
Core Practices
• Nonviolent communication and active listening
• Participatory facilitation and creative expression
• Storytelling as a tool for visibility, belonging, and systemic repair
Impact
• Strengthened relational culture within artisan communities and organizational teams
• Helped bridge gaps between traditional knowledge holders and modern organizational systems
• Deepened personal understanding of dignity as a living, daily practice within work ecosystems
Building on the foundations of deep listening cultivated at Swaraj University, my work at Jaipur Rugs focused on translating relational awareness into tangible impact within an organizational setting.
As a Trainer and Facilitator, I led communication workshops for over 400 artisans and employees, focusing on nonviolent communication, emotional intelligence, active listening, and mindfulness. These workshops were designed not just to transfer skills, but to foster a culture of dignity, mutual respect, and emotional resilience within the workplace — often bridging the invisible divides between management and artisans.
Through creative modalities such as theatre, storytelling, and cooperative games, I created participatory learning spaces that enabled participants to rediscover voice, agency, and self-worth beyond their roles as producers. This contributed to improved workplace communication, stronger team cohesion, and a more values-aligned organizational culture.
Additionally, I worked closely with artisan communities to document their narratives, capturing the lived realities behind the craft. This work helped elevate the visibility of traditional knowledge systems and humanize the brand’s engagement with its artisan base.
At Jaipur Rugs, I learned that deep systemic change requires not just critique, but daily, embodied practices of communication and relationship-building. The experience strengthened my commitment to integrating emotional literacy, participatory processes, and dignity-centered storytelling into all my future work.