Theme: DO

"THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO DO IT IS TO DO IT" – Amelia Earhart
The age of exploration, the era of insight holds an amazing opportunity of translation through action for the world. An action so simple yet powerful, the will to catalyse impact through Ideas worth spreading. The only thing that matters. The only thing that inspires. The only thing that transcends time immemorial is the will to DO! This 2017, we will be saluting the amazing Doers on the TEDxHyderabad stage. Join us!
Apply now at www.tedxhyderabad.com

Gachibowli Indoor Stadium
Old Mumbai Highway
Near IIIT College
Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, 500019
India

A.P. Hota

Digital Revolutionist

Mr. A.P. Hota was Managing Director & CEO of National Payments Corporation of India from February 2009 till August 2017. He has played a key role in implementation of MICR technology in Cheque Clearing, Electronic Funds Transfer, Automated Clearing House, Cheque Truncation System and RTGS system in India. Under his leadership, NPCI launched India’s own card scheme ‘RuPay’ in record three years’ time which is now accepted on all three channels, viz. ATM, PoS and eCommerce with an issuance figure of 390 Million plus RuPay cards. Last year, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) was launched by Dr. Raghuram Rajan, Governor of Reserve Bank of India. Very recently, a common App, BHIM Aadhaar was launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister which rides on the UPI and USSD platform.

Anshu Gupta

Social Entrepreneur

Anshu Gupta, founder of GOONJ, an NGO that works in replenishing urban waste to a useful resource, transforming rural India in a way has never been done before. He is an exemplary person and a known action-inducing leader in the space of humanitarian and disaster relief. For him, a social change should be brought about in such a way that the receivers do not need to feel ashamed or powerless. Goonj works in rural areas by spreading awareness and empowering villagers about problems and their solutions. The villagers contribute their time, effort and locally available resources towards these problems. These villagers are then given clothes, utensils, furniture and food grains in a system of barter of "Cloth For Work". He has been bestowed several honors and awards by many prestigious organizations. He received Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2015 for his achievements.

Anuradha Acharya

Genome Guru

Anu Acharya introduced the concept of improved healthcare through personal genomics in India. She is the CEO of Mapmygenome India, a Genomics company whose vision is “To touch 100 million lives”. Ever since, she successfully pioneered the company through growing product lines, expanding affiliate network, and a Pre-Series A round of funding. From 2000 until April 2013, Anu was the CEO of Ocimum Biosolutions, a global genomics outsourcing partner for discovery, development and diagnostics. Anu was named by Red Herring Magazine to the list of 25 Tech Titans under 35 in 2006, Entrepreneur of the year award by Biospectrum magazine and Astia Life Science Innovators Award in 2008, she was honored as a 2011 Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and ET Women Ahead honor by the Economic Times in 2015

Elca Grobler

Hope Creator

Elca Grobler of My Choices Foundation, shifted base to Hyderabad from Sydney, Australia along with her husband and three young children after completing a Masters in Mathematical Statistics, 3-year Investment CFA and MBA and a successful career in Risk Management, Investment Banking and Funds Management in Johannesburg and Sydney. Her drive for women empowerment and human rights ruined all the possibilities of her walking away from this major overhaul. Her organization works to combat domestic abuse and human trafficking in India by empowering and supporting women and girls to become change agents in their own families and communities. Her NGO is well known to using technology for women welfare.

Gauri Sawant

Transgender Champion

The love, affection and care Gauri Sawant has for her daughter resonates with the kind of human she is i.e. extraordinarily daring and compassionate. Whilst her popularity soared with Vicks TV Commercial, her story began when she was a barely five years of age owing to her mother’s demise. The chaos she lived through since childhood, finally paved way to her new life at 17. Armed with just Rs. 60 in her pocket, she arrived at the city of dreams, Mumbai. She left behind her home, her city, her family but not her identity. Her exemplary communication skills landed her a job in Humsafar Trust. Here she motivated and advised people facing an identity crisis to embrace themselves and their true identities.

GMB Akash

Life Chronicler

"Every human face has a story and I capture it", says GMB Akash, a Bangladeshi multimedia journalist who has traveled to over 50 countries and received more than 100 international awards. His thought provoking work has been published in 100 major international magazines like National Geographic, The Guardian, Amnesty Journal amongst many others. He credits his laurels and success to hard work, honesty and respect towards the people whom he photographs.

Kalpana Saroj

Disruptive Millioaire

Kalpana Saroj's humble and tough early life wouldn’t have indicated a future so bright. From being a daughter from an underprivileged background and a child wife armed with just basic education, she went on to become a successful entrepreneur and a devoted social worker. She grew her business empire from three to seven companies with a net worth of more than 1000 crores under the Kalpana Saroj Group. Her business interests span across manufacturing, real estate, agriculture, exports and film production. She also holds commanding positions in several organisations including the Dalit Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Rashtriya Ekta Yuva Manchand was the Ex-Director of BhartiyaMahila Bank, India’s first bank exclusively for women.

Mark Dharmai

Pocket Dynamite

Mark Dharmai is an International Para Badminton player holding a World ranking – 12th in Men’s Singles, 9th in Men’s Doubles and 4th in Mixed Doubles (as per the latest BWF rankings, 2017). He has been playing sports at a National level for the past twenty two years and has bagged many medals. Mark is a giant in the world of Para badminton and has made India proud by winning several medals at national and international level. Despite several difficult situations and challenges, in 2017, Mark won the silver medal in discus throw and shot-put, in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. He also won the silver in the Thailand Open Para Badminton International Tournament, in Bangkok, Thailand. Considering the odds that Mark has overcome, his story is nothing short of world class. Mark Dharmai’s zeal and grit is not just contagious but also inspiring to many a sportsman. Born to a fisherman in Chimbai village, Bandra, Mumbai, Mark Dharmai's struggles in life came in very early.

Mukesh Aghi

Glocal Strategizer

Mukesh Aghi is the President of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum. Prior to this, he served as the President of the U.S.-India Business Council. Dr. Aghi has extensive experience working with business and government leaders in the US and India to promote trade and strengthen ties between the two countries. Dr. Aghi holds several degrees, including an advanced management diploma from Harvard Business School and a Ph.D. in international relations from Claremont Graduate University. He has over 27 years of experience, having worked with several multinational companies at executive positions, with postings across across diverse geographies and industries . Dr. Aghi was the founding CEO of Universitas 21 Global, the world’s largest consortium of research-led universities and global leader in providing post-graduate online education

Pradeep Lokhande

Rural Relations

Pradeep Lokhande, founder of Rural Relations and India's post card man, enjoys huge popularity in terms of post mail traffic so much so all you need is his name, city and pin code. As part of his work, Lokhande created a database of rural consumers in 49,000 villages in India as part of his consumer reference initiative, which now helps corporates, donors and even ordinary folks reach out to rural India. The fact that he used this data which was valuable to FMCG brands in providing jobs and opening various channels and markets to bring about social change and betterment of rural population is marvellous. His effort of writing letters to various village heads asking about the schedule of their weekly markets opened a channel of communication which was beneficial both to the villagers as well as big companies like Telco, P&G, Tata Tea amongst others.

Rana Daggubati

New Age Storyteller

Rana Daggubati is a National award winning filmmaker, Digital Post entrepreneur, and a successful actor in Telugu, Tamil and Hindi films. Rana Daggubati made a sensational debut in Telugu and Hindi simultaneously as the lead actor in the political thriller ‘Leader’ and the crime thriller ‘Dum Maaro Dum’ in 2010. Having inherited a passion for cinema from his illustrious family, Rana’s first film as a Producer “A Belly full of Dreams” won him the National Award for best film, in 2006. His recent films the magnum opus Baahubali - The Beginning and the Conclusion directed by the India's ace director SS Rajamouli has become one of India’s most successful film globally. Rana has won several other awards for the roles he has essayed in films. Rana is accredited with having transformed the evolution of the digital postproduction landscape in South India. A suave businessman, his company, Ramanaidu Studios is one of India’s largest integrated production powerhouses offering production.

Sunitha Krishnan

Survivor Turned Saviour

Sunitha Krishnan is a highly accomplished and celebrated activist having turned her life around completely. Having co-founded Prajwala, an NGO that works on sex-trafficked survivors and one of the largest rehabilitation homes in the country, she has proved her mettle against all odds. Sunitha has had innumerable laurels bestowed on her for her stellar work from various reputed organizations and countries. She received the Padma Shri in 2016 from Government of India, Franco-German Award For Human Rights & Rule of Law, Mother Teresa Awards for Social Justice, 2014, People of the Year award from LIMCA Book of Records, 2014, Human Rights Award by US Government amongst countless others.

Zameer Uddin Shah

The Academic General

Lt. Gen Zameer Uddin Shah (Retd.) is an ex-Deputy Chief of Army Staff, winner of multiple medals for distinguished service in the Army, and ultimately an academician all rolled into one. He is the recipient of the highest peace time award of PARAM VISHIST SEVA MEDAL, VISHIST SEVA MEDAL and SENA MEDAL. He also happens to be the brother of popular artiste Naseeruddin Shah. During his tenure in the army, he participated in counter-insurgency operations in North East India and Punjab, commanded an Infantry Division of a Strike Corps during Operation ‘PARAKRAM’ to quell the riots in Gujarat and subsequently commanded Bengal Area and an Army Corps comprising of 30,000 troops to combat insurgency in six North Eastern states.