By TM Asankhya Vishwa Mohan
In 2018, I walked into the Lucknow Toastmasters Club with nothing more than a quiet curiosity and a trembling introduction prepared in my mind. I still remember my first table topic- the topic was simple, but my heartbeat wasn’t. Yet, when I finished, the applause felt like reassurance I didn’t know I needed. That was the moment I realised Toastmasters wasn’t just a place to speak- it was a place to grow.
What started as a weekly meeting slowly became a space where I learned to listen better, think faster, and express clearer. Toastmasters taught me that growth isn’t loud or dramatic- it happens in small moments: a well-delivered evaluation, a mentor’s gentle nudge, a speech you didn’t think you could deliver but did anyway. Week after week, I felt myself changing, little by little, word by word.
The heart of my journey has always been the people. I found mentors who challenged me, believed in me, and sometimes saw potential long before I could see it myself. And in return, I attempted giving back to the community by mentoring members who walked in with the same nervous energy I once carried, and watched them transform into confident, articulate leaders. Their progress often felt like my own. The relationships formed in this community have been the most rewarding part of my story.
I never planned to take up leadership roles. Toastmasters simply kept opening doors, and I chose to walk through them. From club officer positions to Area Director, Division Director, Associate Club Growth Director, District Chief Judge, and now the District Administration Manager- each role layered new lessons on top of the last.
Leadership stopped being a title and became a practice of showing up, supporting others, and learning continuously.
Somewhere along the way, Toastmasters became more than an activity- it became part of who I am. People around me often joke that I do two jobs: one as a Team Lead at an MNC, and the other as a full-time Toastmaster. And honestly? There’s truth in that. Toastmasters doesn’t take time- it gives energy, clarity, and purpose.
In my career, I often find myself relying on skills polished in club meetings- structured communication, empathetic leadership, conflict resolution, decision-making under pressure, and the confidence to guide teams in unpredictable moments. Toastmasters didn’t just complement my professional journey; it shaped it.