Theme: A New Hope

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

Virtual Gathering, Indian Institute of Management Calcutta
Indian Institute of Management Calcutta
Kolkata, West Bengal, 700104
India

Ankit Jain

ex-Board Member and Business Head, Ola Electric

Ankit Jain is a technology executive and entrepreneur. Over the last five years, he has been part of the Ola Group where he launched multiple businesses including Ola Corporate, Ola Prime Exec, Ola Labs, Ola Play and most recently Ola Electric, a unicorn in its own right, focusing on personal and shared electric mobility. Prior to that, Ankit worked at McKinsey and Company, Inc. in their tech practice in the San Francisco Bay Area. Ankit is a Siebel Scholar, a Legatum Fellow, and an alum of both IIT Bombay and MIT Sloan.

Arjun Balaji

Co-Founder, Gourmet Garden

Mr. Arjun Balaji is a computer science engineer and has done his MBA from IIM Lucknow (2005-2007). Prior to co-founding Gourmet Garden, an agri-tech startup, he worked with McKinsey & Co. for more than 12 years in multiple roles across various domains. During his last role, as a partner, he accelerated the growth of Tech-Media-Telecom cluster. Currently, at Gourmet Garden, he is paving the way for innovative sustainable agriculture practices through adapting naturoponic farming approaches.

Chitranshu Tewari

Product and Growth Lead, Newslaundry

Chitranshu leads product and growth at Newslaundry. He believes that the subscription-driven model, rooted in reader accountability, is key to a robust and sustainable news ecosystem in a democracy. His primary objective is to understand patterns of news consumption and what makes a reader pay for news. Among a handful of media leaders who have shaped the subscription news model in India from the ground up, he brings a product-based approach to journalism. Before working in media, he has mobilised people on issues ranging from climate justice to sustainable development. He also worked with UNEP where he designed and led capacity-building workshops for students in India, China and South Korea. Both he and his work have been awarded multiple international awards, including the World Youth Summit Award by the United Nations GAID, Youth Achiever Award for Excellence by the 7th Annual UN Youth Assembly and the Laadli Media Award.

Dr. Leena Chatterjee

Professor, Organizational Behavior and Psychology

Professor Leena Chatterjee has been teaching at IIM Calcutta for more than 3 decades and is one of the most loved faculty members on the campus. She is has done B.A. Hons and M.A. in Psychology from Delhi University and has a PhD in Social and Organisational Psychology from IIT Kanpur. Professor Chatterjee has been a member of multiple research conferences, and has published various articles, journals and cases.

Dr. Rohini Srivathsa

National Technology Officer, Microsoft India

Dr. Rohini Srivathsa is the National Technology Officer at Microsoft India. In her role, she is responsible for driving innovation and growth through 'tech-intensity' - across customers and partners, in industry, and the government. Rohini began her career in R&D at AT&T Bell Laboratories and has 25+ technical publications in ACM/IEEE and other journals. She engaged with CxOs across emerging market during her strategy consulting career at the Boston Consulting Group and IBM Global Business Services. Rohini is a thought-leader, and a business and technology advisor to multiple entities: Wiley Innovation Advisory Council, ECE department at Carnegie Mellon University, MIT Technology Review Insights, NM-ICPS - Dept of Science and Technology of the Government of India, SRITNE at the Indian School of Business. She holds an MBA from Wharton and earned her Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from UT Austin.

Dr. Rukmini Banerji

CEO, Pratham Education Foundation

Dr. Rukmini Banerji is the CEO of Pratham Education Foundation, one of the largest non-governmental organization in India. Trained as an economist in India, she completed her B.A. at St. Stephen’s College and thereafter attended the Delhi School of Economics. She led the ASER (Annual Status of Education Report) effort for 10 years from 2005 to 2014. In 2008, Dr. Banerji was the inaugural recipient of the Maulana Abul Kalam Shiksha Puraskar Award conferred by the Government of Bihar, India. She is a creative writer and loves writing and sharing her ideas on topics related to education

Karthikeyan Balakumar

Co-Founder, Petpals Community

Petpals has been at the forefront of animal care in the IIM Calcutta campus. Its 100+ student and staff volunteers ensure complete care of over 80 stray animals who share the campus with them. Over the course of the two years since its inception, the club has been instrumental in finding forever homes for over 30 pets, managing deworming and vaccinations, providing medical care, and feeding. Karthikeyan, a doctoral student at IIM Calcutta and an alumnus of IIM Trichy, who together with a team of ‘Pet-Pals’ has been driving this community. He shares PetPals’ journey to sensitise the community and how they plan on taking the idea beyond the realm of the campus.

P. Kunhikrishnan

Space Scientist

P. Kunhikrishnan is the director of U.R. Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), ISRO. As a Project Director, he accomplished 13 consecutives successful PSLV missions including the launch of Mangalyaan by PSLV-C25. He then took over as the director of Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota before transitioning to his current role, where under his leadership, 13 satellites were launched. Apart from being a distinguished space scientist, he's also a trained Indian classical flautist.

Puneet Chandok

AWS India and South Asia President

He is the AWS India and South Asia President, alumnus of IIM Calcutta (2000-02). He was a partner at Mckinsey in his last role where he led the firm's technology, media and telecom (TMT), corporate business functions and outsourcing & offshoring practices in Asia. Before the last 11 years in Mckinsey, Chandok was the deputy general manager for Asia Pacific at IBM.

Sashikumar Cheliah

MasterChef

Sashi grew up with a strong sense of family and duty. Born in Singapore as the eldest of seven children, Sashi was introduced to food at a young age through his mother’s café. His strongest memories are of his aunties and mother cooking meals for the growing family. Based in the Star Unit of the Singapore Police Force for nearly a decade, Sashi was highly trained in special tactics and rescue operations. Working in counter terrorism, kidnappings and high-profile protection in the riot police, he enjoyed being both physically and mentally strong. It is this strength and stamina that Sashi took into the MasterChef Australia kitchen in 2018 where he became known as a king of flavor. Sashi made history being the first contestant in ten seasons to win two immunity pins, and he was ultimately crowned the winner after securing the biggest margin and highest score ever seen in a Grand Finale.