Palakh Khanna - Taking It Slow Means That We Explore, We Take Risks, We Understand Our Failures and Successes, and Then Choose Our Path! (Social Entrepreneur From India)

I guess the biggest challenge I have ever faced is actually stepping out of my comfort zone! I am a huge introvert and it often comes in the way of my risk-taking ability but I have been working on that! Break.The.Ice has been the biggest step I took to stepping out of my comfort zone and actually interacting with people.

1. Tell us about your background and journey.

Hi everyone! I am Palakh Khanna, a 19-year-old Youth Changemaker, Social Entrepreneur, Mentor, Teacher, and Environmentalist. I am India’s 20 under 20, a Regional Officer for Asia Pacific and a World Record Holder. I have an organization called Break.The.Ice, where we try to literally break the ice about taboo topics and stigmatized topics and help in creating an enlightened youth community. Currently, I am pursuing my Undergraduate degree in English Honors with a minor in Business Economics from Delhi University.


2. How did you come up with the idea of Break the Ice and go about executing it?

It all happened when I overheard a conversation between my mom and my domestic help. My domestic help had had her periods at our place and she was shying away from asking for sanitary napkins. I went to my mom and told her that we live in the 21st century and periods are the most natural process, why are we shying away from a conversation about them? And, that’s when I had the idea to open a platform that will only talk about topics that are not talked about!



3. What has been the biggest challenge that you faced and how did you overcome that?

I guess the biggest challenge I have ever faced is actually stepping out of my comfort zone! I am a huge introvert and it often comes in the way of my risk-taking ability but I have been working on that! Break.The.Ice has been the biggest step I took to stepping out of my comfort zone and actually interacting with people.



4. Was there any setback that you later realised was a stepping stone?

I guess all! Every one of the setbacks I have ever face have always turned out to be stepping stones for a different journey! And, once I realised that, I began to embrace my failures.



5. How did you find that Break the Ice was the right calling for you?

I was always wanted to create change! From the time that I was 7 years old, I have always said “I want to create a better society”, but I never knew how! Break.The.Ice felt like a right calling for me because it covered everything which could create a better society, from discussing mental health to breaking taboos around gender equality, it covers everything!




6. If you have the option then what advice would you give to your younger version?

To believe in myself! I have always doubted myself and my abilities, and I’m still improving, but I would definitely tell my younger self to believe in herself!



7. What advice would you give to school and college students about finding their path?

To take it slow. We are often told that we need to have a career in mind and everything planned out at once, but that doesn’t benefit us in the future. Taking it slow means that we explore, we take risks, we understand our failures and successes, and then choose our path!




Bio -

Palakh Khanna is a 19-year-old Youth Changemaker, Social Entrepreneur, Mentor, teacher, and environmentalist from New Delhi. She is the Regional Officer for Asia Pacific, as well as India's 20 under 20. She is working towards breaking taboos and stigmas as well as youth empowerment through her organization Break.The.Ice. She is also a World Record Holder and has been recognized for her work by US Times Now, The Hindu, Global Indian amongst others. The youngest mentor and coach for the Business Blasters program, a Govt. of Delhi initiative, she aims to create a better society for all.

Interviewed By - Shashank Sehgal