The speaker addresses the audience who are interested in careers at organizations like the UN and World Bank, or in public policy, and encourages note-taking for the upcoming advice.

• The speaker intends to provide definitive guidance to prevent repetitive questions about public policy careers.
• Listeners are urged to pay attention and take notes as the following advice is crucial for careers in public policy.

The speaker criticizes Indian public policy schools for being overpriced and irrelevant, lacking practical application, and teaching outdated content by retired civil servants.

• Indian public policy schools are deemed useless and not recommended by the speaker.
• These schools charge excessive fees for basic courses that lack practical relevance to modern policy making.
• The curriculum is often managed by individuals with only subject matter expertise, not practical experience.

The speaker emphasizes learning practical skills and disregarding the pursuit of certifications from policy schools.

• Skills, not certifications, are what the market values, and one should focus on becoming an asset to their employer through skill acquisition.
• Young people are being misled into spending large sums on education that offers no real return in terms of employable skills.

The speaker lists necessary skills for working at the UN, World Bank, and in the private sector, noting the importance of technology in policy making.

• Fundamental skills in policy, economics, finance, and liberal arts are crucial, and should be combined with technical skills like coding and data analytics.
• Understanding technology is essential for policy design, implementation, and analysis.
• Private companies like Google and Amazon also hire for policy roles, expanding career options beyond government organizations.

The speaker shares a personal account of the benefits of the GGI fellowship, focusing on the importance of continuous learning and networking.

• The GGI fellowship provided exposure to new sectors and continuous learning in various topics.
• Networking opportunities and mentorship from industry professionals were highlighted as key benefits of the program.
• The fellowship also offered practical tools and resources, such as white paper research and masterclasses.