Andy Ambat: Musician, Teacher, Fitness Guru, and more
Manitou has been my summer home for the past 8 years. While away from Maine I live in Bangalore, India. Here I teach private music lessons (guitar and piano) to 37 students. I also play lead guitar for a band called ‘Fernandes Fusion’ (they are about to play the Hard Rock Bangalore). We are a 7 piece band of which 5 members are part of Stephanie Fernandes’ family, hence the name. Three of Steph’s brothers (one of them being JAF) her dad and sister are in the band. We play all types of music from many different musical eras.
Another aspect of my life in India is helping assist my parents with 8 non-profit schools they run for street children. (www.buildingblocksindia.org). In India, there is no Public School system available to children from low-income families, so a large majority of kids don’t get the opportunity to go to school. Here is where Building Blocks aims to bridge the gap and give these children a chance. Building Blocks currently works with over 1,000 children, providing them with free education and two nutritious meals a day.
On a personal health and fitness level, I’m currently training for a Triathlon. The one-and-only Larry Rodman has been my inspiration and role model in helping me push my limits. One day I hope to follow in his footsteps and do an Ironman.
Professional Resources
- Leadership Lessons from Toy Story: When was the last time you visited Disney World? Toy Story Land opened this summer and around the same time, the Disney Institute shared this article highlighting lessons and insights from the movie’s characters.
- Turning Around a Bad Day: The Ritz Carlton Leadership Center suggests a little empathy goes a long way toward turning around someone’s bad day.
- How did The Crossover author Kwame Alexander win the 2015 Newbery Medal? He said yes when everyone else was saying no.
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