From Air Force Precision to Social Impact: The Transformative Journey of Rajesh Ayapilla
In the early 2000s, a young officer in the Indian Air Force spent his days working with machines and systems, making sure everything ran smoothly with precision and care. That officer was Flight Lieutenant (Retired) Rajesh Ayapilla . Little did he know that the discipline he learned in uniform would one day help him make a very different kind of impact—one focused not on machinery, but on people and the planet. Today, Rajesh Ayapilla is the Senior Director of Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at The Coca-Cola Company , leading sustainability efforts across India and SouthWest Asia. His journey from the defense sector to driving social and environmental change in the corporate world is nothing short of inspiring. A Career Shift with a Purpose After his time in the Air Force, Rajesh moved into the private sector, taking on technical and environmental roles. He quickly stood out for his ability to combine operational expertise wit...