Anand Priya Deo, a development professional, social entrepreneur and author, is set to launch his memoir Follow Your Heart at the Frankfurt International Book Fair on 11 October 2026, followed by a special launch at the United Nations premises in Geneva on 13 October 2026, in the presence of UN workforce and former colleagues. He will also deliver a Book Talk at the Global Campus of Human Rights in Venice on 16 October 2026.
After nearly a decade with Airtel and PepsiCo, Anand pursued two Master’s degrees in the UK and Europe and interned with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva. He later worked with international organisations including Medic Mobile, Grameen Foundation and Karya, with work spanning Africa and Southeast Asia, and has travelled to more than 70 countries. In 2024 he was invited as Panel speaker at the Social Forum of United Nations.
Follow Your Heart is a memoir of courage, uncertainty, self-discovery and finding purpose.
What makes the journey particularly distinctive is where it has led him back to. With deep roots in Bihar, Anand established the Ananda Foundation in 2022, based in his ancestral village of Sikaria in Nawada, Bihar bringing his international development experience back to the grassroots. The Foundation focuses on women’s empowerment, health and hygiene, and livelihood opportunities, reflecting his belief that meaningful social change can begin with reconnecting global experience to local communities.
The book captures an unconventional journey from corporate life to international development and grassroots social change, offering a simple message: sometimes, finding your purpose begins with the courage to follow your heart.
