AJ Dahiya

AJ Dahiya is a former monk who is now a writer, speaker, and Chief Vision Officer of The Pollination Project, a global community of 4,000+ grassroots volunteer leaders in over 125 countries. You can connect with him on his website.As a child, AJ’s favorite word was a question: “why?” Born in the outskirts of London to working-class immigrants, AJ rejected the idea that life was about the continuous acquisition of material things. As his childhood friends grew up and planned careers and college admissions, AJ became ordained as a monk to explore his deep interest in spirituality. Renouncing all possessions, he donned bright saffron robes whose color symbolizes the passionate fire of a life dedicated to service. For the next decade, he traveled the globe and served as a trusted counselor for monastic leaders and communities growing in their commitment to compassion consciousness.After ten years of this ascetic life, AJ felt a call to serve in a new way. He began a career in philanthropic leadership, leading dynamic, mission-driven organizations like HOPE Not Hate USA and The Bhakti Center in New York City. At The Pollination Project, AJ pioneers disruptive philanthropic approaches that serve as an antidote to apathy, funding individuals directly for social projects in their own communities. A leader of the #heartivist movement, AJ advocates for the amplifying effects of non-financial resources and self-reflective practices as foundational factors in building a kinder, more compassionate world. He has been invited to speak at Stanford, The London School of Economics, Ohio State University, NYU, and before many other audiences. AJ believes that the kindness within each human heart is the greatest untapped catalyst for changing the world, and he still loves challenging traditional paradigms by asking “why?”In quiet moments you can find AJ thinking about something esoteric, or dreaming about eating potato chips on his imaginary homestead in the woods.