Theme: Square Pegs in Round Holes

The architects of new ideas have often been perceived as "misfits": square pegs in round holes. Sometimes their ideas challenge existing belief systems and value perceptions -- in a way to shape them, give them new directions, and most importantly build a better future. But during the nascent stages, new ideas often face tremendous hindrance, impediment and opposition from existing societal inertia. In such hostile environment, it takes immense zeal, iron determination, far-sighted focus and tenacity to give an idea a strong foothold. TEDxIIMRanchi 2017 is about all such square pegs who surmount the hurdles and create their own mark, ultimately changing the shape of the hole itself.

Ranchi Ashok
Near Mecon Limited
Vivekanand Chowk, Doranda
Ranchi, Jharkhand 834002, Jharkhand, 834002
India

Aparna Saraogi

VP of RBS, Co-founder and Executive Chairperson of WEEFoundation

Executive Chairperson and Co-Founder of Women Entrepreneurship and Empowerment ( WEEFoundation ): India's first of its kind initiative to strengthen Women Eco System. She is also the Vice President of RBS. Treasurer of IIT Delhi Alumni Association, Member of Board of Studies, Mody University and Special Invitee to Senate, IIT Delhi. Aparna is a complete believer of nature and believes everything is possible with passion and trust. Constant learning and exploration are integral to her life.

Aparna Saroagi

An entrepreneur by choice, Ms. Saroagi is banker as well. The co-founder and Executive Chairperson of WEE (Women Entrepreneurship and Empowerment) Foundation is also a policy maker and thought-leader. Her concepts of SOLV and JAM are acknowledged globally. She believes that each one of us has the capacity to change the world with a positive contribution towards it. Only thing – we need to think about it, make a conscious effort towards it and have to be one with our purpose (I-in- I). Besides this, she is a keen believer of constant learning and exploration.

Gaur Gopal Das

Spiritual leader(ISKON)

An Electrical Engineer from College Of Engineering, Pune, Gaur Gopal Das decided to upgrade his career to be a life coach after a brief stint in corporate. In 1996 he joined ISKCON & has been very active in this field ever since. Serving in the leadership at the ISKCON Chowpatty branch, Gaur Gopal Das has been speaking at various prestigious colleges in India and abroad for over 2 decades. He has been involved in guiding leading doctors,medical professionals & corporate firms across the globe. Gaur Gopal Das also regularly visits the members of the Rotary Club & Lions Club for talks and guides various top ranking celebrities and corporate leaders. During his recent visit to London, he was invited to give a talk at the British Parliament. He was awarded the 2016 Rotary International's Super Achiever Award for outstanding contribution in field of spirituality and inspiration. Based on the timeless wisdom coming down from ages, his talks make the audience think deeper and find simple sol

Mahendra Jakhar

Author, Script-Writer, Film-Maker

Mahendra Jakhar is an ex-journalist currently working as an independent screen-writer and author based in Mumbai. He started as a journalist with THE TIMES OF INDIA in Delhi where he worked for six years before moving to Mumbai to pursue his dreams of being a script-writer. His first novel, THE BUTCHER OF BENARES, was published by Westland Publications. It was rated as the Best Crime Fiction Debut Novel of the Year and was Amazon Rising Star. His second novel, THE SWASTIKA KILLER, will be releasing soon this year published by Westland Publications. As a script-writer, his first feature film was THE KILLER for Mahesh Bhatt starring Irrfan Khan and Emran Hashmi. Later he wrote Tiggmanshu Dhulia's SHAAGIRD. His latest release as a script-writer was Manjhi – The Mountain Man, directed by Ketan Mehta starring Nawazuddin Siddique. Recently he has co-written the script for Hindi feature film CHANDAMAMA DOOR KE ... to be directed by Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan starring Sushant Singh Rajput. Its India's first epic space adventure film about India's most daring mission to the Moon. Currently he is working on TV series for Star TV based on the true life story of an Indian Army soldier who was caught behind enemy lines during 1971 war. Apart from this he has written scripts for various TV shows – CID, Maano Ya Na Mano, Bidaayi, Betiyaan, Seeta aur Geeta and Dwarikadhish. He also did research work and scripting for a documentary on the hijack of Indian Airlines plane from Kathmandu to Kandahar for National Geographic Channel. His film script, Bhiwani, based on the Boxers of Haryana was selected for International Film Festival of India for the Competitive Section at Film Bazaar. He conducts workshops on screen-writing and to help discover the hidden creativity, imagination and ideas in everyone.

Orwin Noronha

Managing Director,Inventor

Ignatius Orwin Noronha, Managing Director of Leowin Solutions Pvt. Ltd. is a man on a mission. A relentless innovator, Orwin Noronha has already made an indelible mark by inventing a host of products ranging from waterproofing treatments tailored to Indian climatic conditions to Specialised Concrete Mix Design for Road Concrete, which have or have the potential to save crores for the national exchequer. His current mission is to “Make the Entire World Free of Mosquito Menace in the shortest span of time in order to protect people, cows and pet animals”. His invention, the “MozziQuit” Mosquito Trap Device, is considered by many to be the most economical and eco-friendly mosquito trap till date. The Mozziquit has already been approved by the Indian Council of Medical Research and has earned awards and praises from a number of organisations.

Russell Collins

Traveler, Innovator, Trek Organizer

Russell Collins is an Australian traveller who has spent many years exploring the Himalayas and has been a proponent of eco tourism for over 2 decades. Mr. Collins has been working on bringing high efficiency clean burning solid fuel stoves to the Himalayas in an attempt to deal with deforestation and pollution in the form of a social enterprise called 'Himalayan Rocket Stove Pvt Ltd'. The aim of this project is to save 1 million mature Himalayan trees over the next 10 years whilst also reducing pollution in and out of the home. He has also developed a clean burning cook stove that can be made on site for less than $1 anywhere that people have access to some form of clay. This non-profit venture is called 'The Smokeless Cookstove Revolution’ and aims to save over 1 million lives in the next 10 years. Mr. Collins is passionate about exploring the mountains on his Royal Enfield Bullet, camping out in his Gypsy King.

Samina Bano

Right To Education Activist

RTE activist Samina Bano founded Bharat Abhyudaya Foundation along with other IIM and Harvard Graduates in the year of 2012, with a commitment to the cause of elementary education reform at institutional level while working closely with the civil societies as well as the government in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Samina Bano, now heading the Bharat Abhyudaya Foundation (BAF) as its chairperson in a span of six months did what even Uttar Pradesh government could not achieve in a year. In 2014-15, only 54 poor students were given free admission in schools under the economically weaker section (EWS) quota under Right To Education (RTE) Act. After her crusade, the number in 2015-16 has swelled to over 1,300 and is still counting. Among those admitted, nearly half the children are from minority community. Among numerous awards and honors achieved by her, World Women Super Achiever Award (2015) and Ashoka Fellow (2015) stand out.

Sanjay Mucharla

NGO, Founder at Wisen

A Stats, Math and Computer Science major, Sanjay started working at Google as an analyst until Facebook lapped him up in their newly opened Hyderabad office. Soon after, Sanjay moved to the USA to work at Facebook Headquarters in Menlo Park, California, as a Marketing Analyst. Sanjay moved back to India almost 2 years ago to fulfill his dream of working at the grass root level on social issues, and also at the same time have a direct impact on the society. Sanjay after briefly working with ProjectKHEL in Lucknow, started his own social project Wisen in February 2016. Through Wisen, he has been working with youth and raising awareness on gender based violence and its prevention. Gender inequality is one of the most important social issues in India, and is also the root cause of gender violence, which includes acts like domestic violence, eve teasing, acid attacks etc. The solution to this social issue lies in the hands of youth of this country. He, therefore founded Wisen.

Sarandeep Singh

Sarandeep is the Chairman and CEO of Women Entrepreneurship and Empowerment Foundation (WEE Foundation), an initiative of IIT Delhi. Its the first of its kind of program in India on womenempowerment, supported by IIT Delhi and other government departments like DST, DIETY etc. A high-powered, premium program has been designed to address the specific needs, challenges, andopportunities faced by the women entrepreneurs. This is a FREE of COST program for all the selected woman entrepreneurs. This program has been designed by Sarandeep, keeping international standards/learnings from various startups that he has been involved in. WEE Foundation intends to focus and ignite fire amongst women globally, who will embrace entrepreneurship as a viable, fulfilling career alternative to traditional forms of employment and a powerful means of earning income (for ventures which are for profit and not for profit). WEE Foundation has chosen 45 women entrepreneurs who are being trained at IIT delhi. The same program will be offered in other countries also, through prestigious Universities, starting 2017. Sarandeep Singh is also a Certified International Master Trainer for various programs, six sigma master black belt and an Executive Coach. He is a startup consultant and mentors startups from "idea to execution" across various industries . He has trained several Indian and multinational organizations, nationally and internationally across various leadership levels. During his career, he has worked with global Fortune 500 organizations like American Express, Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch and Franklin Covey in various leadership roles globally. Sarandeep is Ph.D. in Decision Analysis and Risk Analysis from Stanford and has a Masters in Business Administration from Stanford University where he received the Arjay Miller Scholar award.