Theme: The Inflection Point

TEDxIIFTDelhi is a flagship event of IIFT Delhi, one of India's oldest and most prestigious business schools, and is headed by the Media Committee of IIFT Delhi. The theme for the VII edition of TEDxIIFTDelhi was "The Inflection Point".

In mathematics, an inflection point is a point on a curve at which a change in the direction of curvature occurs.
When we extend this concept to the realm of philosophy, an inflection point may represent a critical juncture in one's life or a turning point in the course of human history. It may be a moment of profound self-reflection or insight, where one's beliefs and values are challenged and transformed. An inflection point may also mark a transition from one era to another, a time of radical change and upheaval.
The theme encourages us to reflect on the complex and dynamic nature of change and transformation, and the potential for growth and evolution that emerges from moments of transition and disruption.

Indian Institute of Foreign Trade
IIFT Bhavan
B-21, Qutub Institutional Area
New Delhi, Delhi, 110016
India

Capt. Zoya Agarwal

First Indian Female Pilot to fly over the North Pole

Capt. Zoya Agarwal is the first Indian woman pilot to fly the world’s longest non-stop air route between San Francisco & Bengaluru with an all-female flight crew, which notably included passing over the North Pole. She has served as the UN Women Spokesperson for Generation Equality, and was also the youngest woman pilot to fly a Boeing-777 in 2013. Capt. Zoya is the first Indian woman to be given a place in San Francisco’s Aviation Museum. She is also one of the first Indians to receive the most prestigious scholarship for the MBA program at Columbia Business School. Capt. Zoya has been felicitated with numerous awards like the Outstanding Achievement in Aviation, and by notable individuals such as the French ambassador to India, Monsieur Emmanuel Lenain. Capt. Zoya’s achievements have inspired many young women to pursue careers in aviation. She is seen as a trailblazer in a male-dominated field and a role model for women in India and beyond.

Dr. Akash Sehgal

Healthcare Economist

Dr. Akash Sehgal is a dentist by profession and a healthcare economist by trade. His master thesis was on the role of evolving healthcare facilities in the developing healthcare scenario of India. During the 2nd wave of the pandemic, he treated over 150 patients via online consultations and imparted knowledge on COVID protocols to the public through social media. He headed the COVID facility at Tau Devi Lal stadium in Gurugram, set up by Doctors For You and also conducted door to door COVID management drives in Gurugram and Mewat. His inquisitiveness about literature made him delve deeper into the psychodynamics of storytelling. His keen interest in the history, culture and literature of Delhi pushed him to start his podcast, Coal And Salt on Spotify which was in the top 5% of globally shared podcasts of last year. His love for mountains and Delhi makes him write and talk about the day to day life of both, reflecting the tehzeeb of the city and the hardships of the mountains.

Dr. Kiran Bedi

IPS, 24th Lt. Governor of Puducherry, Social Activist

Dr. Kiran Bedi is the first woman to have joined the officer ranks of the Indian Police Service. She has served India as the 24th Lt. Governor of Puducherry, and the United Nations as a Civilian Police Advisor in Peace Keeping Operations. Dr. Bedi holds a Ph.D. from IIT Delhi and a post-doctoral Nehru fellowship. Her latest book, 'Fearless Governance', draws upon her experiences as the Lt Governor of Puducherry. Her accomplishments extend beyond academia, including being an Asian tennis champion, winner of the Gallantry Award, and the Magsaysay Award, also known as Asia’s Nobel Peace Award. Dr. Bedi founded Navjyoti and the India Vision Foundation, which have served underprivileged communities in rural and urban areas, as well as in prisons, for the past 30 years. She also has a biopic on her life called Yes Madam Sir. Past surveys by Readers’ Digest and The Week Magazine rated her as India’s Most Trusted and Admired Woman.

Mrs. Sargam Koushal

Mrs. World, 2022-23

Mrs. Sargam Koushal is the current title holder of Mrs. India World. Hailing from Mumbai, she was crowned Mrs. World 2022 at the annual Mrs. World pageant held at Las Vegas, Nevada. Competing among 56 other married women, vying for the coveted title of Mrs. World, Mrs. Koushal claimed the title and brought the crown back to mother India after 21 years. Mrs. Koushal graduated from the University of Jammu with a master’s degree in English Literature. For four years, she taught English Language and Literature to middle and high school students in Jammu and Visakhapatnam, until she decided to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a model and advocate for body positivity and mental health awareness to young ladies. Mrs. Koushal has been promoting self-defence in young girls both on her personal platform, and by organizing workshops in various schools and colleges in Mumbai. She has also been helping to bring awareness to the opioid epidemic and mental health crisis across the world.

Sohail Hashmi

Filmmaker and Writer

Mr. Sohail Hashmi is an eminent writer and documentary filmmaker from India. An alumnus of the reputed Jawaharlal Nehru University, Mr. Hashmi takes a special interest in Delhi’s history and architecture. He has researched, scripted and produced well-known documentaries, which explore the themes of education, cultural heritage, and travel. He has authored a book titled “Sanchi: Where Tigers Fly and Lions Have Horns” as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of India Series. Mr. Hashmi is also an active voice on social and political issues, advocating for the protection of heritage sites. He conducts heritage walks in Delhi and has also penned several columns for the Hindustan Times, the Hindu, and the Wire. He has written for Landscape and Terrascape Magazines on travel and architecture, contributed to a Penguin publication celebrating Delhi and has also co-authored Geography books for senior school students.

Tanvi Khanna

Professional Squash Player || Asian Games 2018 Silver Medalist

Ms. Tanvi Khanna is a member of the Indian squash team, and an international level professional squash player from India. She is currently rated fourth in the country and is thought to be one of the best squash players to have come out of India. She also competes for Columbia University's squash team: the Columbia Lions. In 2018, Ms. Khanna competed for India in her first Asian Games and won a silver medal in the women's team competition. During the 2019–20 PSA World Tour, she first entered the top 100. She reached her greatest PSA global ranking of 86 in September 2021. Through her accomplishments on and off the court, Ms. Tanvi Khanna has become an inspiration for many aspiring squash players in India and around the world.

Vaibhav Munjal

Co-founder, Chalchitra Talks

Mr. Vaibhav Munjal is the co-founder of Chalchitra Talks, a platform where he recommends movies, books, music, and everything which makes for good pop culture. He is also a filmmaker and has directed multiple short films, ads, and sketches over the years. He has built a closely-knit community of people passionate about the arts, and Chalchitra Talks has become a one-stop destination for the most authentic recommendations in India. In the past, Mr. Munjal has done podcast episodes with more than 100 filmmakers, writers and actors. Some of his co-hosts include Anurag Kashyap, Naseeruddin Shah, and Peter Gould, who has written Breaking Bad and created Better Call Saul. Mr. Munjal finds himself at the intersection of being an entrepreneur, a Youtuber and a filmmaker, and enjoys the fact he can't be labelled by a single profession.

Vishakha Bhaskkar

Co-founder, Angrakhaa

Ms. Vishakha Bhaskkar is the co-founder of Angrakhaa, a size-inclusive clothing brand that makes extremely fashionable, cool, and trendy clothes across all sizes. She pitched her startup on Shark Tank India and was able to secure an amazing deal from Amit Jain, the co-founder of CarDekho. Ms. Bhaskkar completed an Honors degree in economics from Shri Ram College of Commerce. From the second year of her studies, she started to write blogs about fashion on the topics of normal and plus size. While working in a fashion company, she met her co-founder Ms. Asana Riamei and together they started Angrakhaa. Since then, there has been no looking back.

Yashodhar Gulati

Founder and CEO, The Tatva

Mr. Yashodhar Gulati is the founder and CEO of The Tatva, a digital media platform with the motive to feed India’s youth with information and wake them up to ground reality through the means of what everyone uses the most these days, smartphones & social media. He is a man who has taken social media by storm, with news and stories reaching millions every day. Thriving since its inception in 2020, The Tatva is now India’s most-consumed youth-run digital media platform with a total content readership crossing 200 million within the last 3 years. It maintains a focus on unfiltered news coverage and unprecedented opinions with a point of view that is considerate of all perspectives without any biases towards a particular ideology.