Theme: Glowsticks - Lux in Tenebris

The theme talks about the need to break in order to shine, glow and emit light when it's dark. When life gets tough and situations get dark, it's very human of us to break. But is breaking a sign of weakness? A miserable end to your story? Or is it an opportunity to understand, analyse and improve yourself with the experience and grit you gained and be your own ray of light shining in the uncertain darkness of life. Glow sticks teach us that you need to break in order to shine, glow and emit light when it's dark.

SDA Bocconi Asia Center
9th Floor, Hiranandani Knowledge Park, Powai, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400076
Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400076
India

Dr. Manisha Anwekar

Author, Educational & Spiritual Consultant

Dr. Manisha Anwekar is the Founder and CEO of SPIRITUAL KONNECT—a socio-spiritual organization. She is a Rotarian, a UN Volunteer, a Mentor-of-Change with Atal Innovation Mission - NITI Aayog, and an eminent member of the Ethics Committee of LTMMC’s CTC and Bone Marrow Transplantation Centre as Social Scientist. She is a prolific author who writes one book every month, and has authored and published sixty-nine books so far. Her book, “Jeevan Sanwarne Ke Mantra” is distributed FREE of COST in Indian Jails. She organizes WOMEN OF SUBSTANCE DIGITAL AWARDS to felicitate inspiring women every year, and INNER REFLECTIONS—a value-education based international essay writing competition. Very recently she founded her Nationwide initiative—Mission 2023 WALK INDIA MOVEMENT to make India a healthier and happier country by 2030. She is a great example that a person can do multiple things together. We are really excited to share her journey with you all.

Dr. Shibani Belwalkar

Leadership Coach and Author

An insightful author, a compassionate Leadership coach, an influential global voice in the world of Purpose, and an awesome professor. She pours her heart and soul into helping individuals and organizations uncover the deepest essence of who they are and embrace their unique calling – their Purpose. In her recently penned insightful book Don’t Wait, she masterfully weaves together stories from around the world, deep reflections, and transformative insights, encouraging readers to break free from the shackles of self-doubt and societal expectations, and to seize the present moment in pursuit of their true purpose. Her contagious passion, limitless optimism and unwavering commitment to making a difference have inspired countless individuals and organizations to re-evaluate their priorities and take bold steps towards making an enduring difference in the world!

Mr. Ashish Chopra

HR Professional & Co - Founder @ BeUnic

“If you don't have something nice to say to someone, keep your mouth shut. Let's spread love and positivity, and not hate" These are a few words our speaker lives by. Being the first runner-up in Mr Gay India 2018, Ashish is an amazing drag artist who loves playing with society’s norms. He is also a successful entrepreneur and co-founder of BeUnic, a community-oriented e-commerce platform that enables LGBTQ artists and designers to offer their products and services. Having gone through so much and yet persevering through it all.

Mr. Shriram Iyer

Bollywood Playback Singer & Independent Artist

Introducing Mr. Shriram Iyer, a voice you may have heard when you vibed to ‘Dilli Dilli’ from “No one Killed Jessica’, or got lost in the melodic journey of Coke Studio’s masterpiece ‘Yatra’, Either way you have been touched by the enchanting voice of Shriram. With over 4500 performances all around the globe and over 2 lakh monthly Spotify listeners, we are extremely happy to present to you one of our eminent speakers for TEDx 2023, Mr. Shriram Iyer. Join us as he takes you on a journey with his soulful voice and an inspiring story which talks about peace, positivity and love.

Mr. Zeeshaan Pathan

MD & CEO World Development Corporation

Zeeshaan Pathan, Group MD and CEO of World Development Corporation, merges business acumen and technical expertise to establish purposeful and profitable organisations. His diverse career covers technology, banking, and education. Zeeshaan excels in utilising AI and ML for digital transformation and strategic corporate governance. He is a Certified Independent Director and a Board Member at Directors' Institute and serves as Chairman of the Global Association for ESG, UK, a leading organisation in ESG initiatives.

Ms. Anooja Bashir

Brand Strategist, Startup Mentor, Serial Entrepreneur, and an Angel Investor

Ms. Anooja Bashir is a serial entrepreneur who is currently heading her own venture, Ourea and is also the CMO of Flexi Cloud. She is also a mentor for Startups and SME’s with 20+ corporate experience across India and GCC countries. She also runs an EdTech platform called LIKES and a social entrepreneurship saga called Anooja Initiatives - helping more women to enter entrepreneurship and supporting underprivileged women and mothers through her initiatives. Featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur, and Fortune India for her incredible achievement in the field of innovation & strategies. She is a true icon, empowering women & children in action along with being an active contributor towards the Diversity & Inclusion segment. She is a 3 times TEDx speaker and has spoken on national and international forums as a keynote speaker on Josh talks. A versatile person possessing a plethora of talents, we are truly honoured to have her as our esteemed speaker for the event.

Ms. Dixita Patel

Fashion and Lifestyle Influencer

Meet Dixita Patel, an engineer turned fashion lifestyle influencer, commanding a massive following on social media platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, etc. It's no surprise that she has been recognised as one of the "13 Top Indian Fashion Bloggers You Should Know" What sets Dixita apart is her ability to deliver insightful and engaging content that resonates with her followers. With a keen eye for fashion trends and an unwavering dedication to her craft, she has become a leading voice in the world of fashion lifestyle influencing. Her work has not gone unnoticed, as she has collaborated with over 500 brands including Loreal, Sephora, Davidoff, Kerastase Paris, Nykaa and more. Her journey has been nothing short of inspiring, marked by her unwavering determination and sharp wit that sets her apart from others in the same space. From dreaming of gracing the TEDx stage to actually becoming a speaker, she has truly proven that anything is possible with hard work and dedication.

Ms. Vaishali Shadangule

Creative Director and Founder - Vaishali S Couture

Born in the small town of Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, Vaishali has been transcending borders and cultural boundaries with her brand Vaishali S Couture, as she etched her name upon the hallowed halls of Paris Haute Couture Week and the Milan Fashion week, becoming the first female designer from India to do so. With lifelong love for Classic Indian weaves, the label has been endeavouring into taking diverse intricate traditions to the global stage, from New York to Paris to Milan.