Theme: BREAKING BARRIERS

Imagine a world in which a single spark of inspiration ignites a global dialogue. Welcome to TEDx, the dynamic offshoot of TED dedicated to sharing impactful ideas. TEDxMargao exemplifies how TED brings the experience to local communities around the world.

TEDxMargao unites the inquisitive and forward-thinking. A blend of TEDTalks videos and live speakers sparks conversations that inspire big dreams.

Despite drawing from TED's wealth of knowledge, TEDxMargao thrives on its community's unique autonomy. Join us for this celebration of ideas, where we can learn something new, and any thought can spark a revolution.

Ravindra Bhavan
Fatorda
Margao, Goa, 403602
India

ALAN DSOUZA

Musician

A business consultant and educator, he has spent his time mentoring the youth, especially on leadership qualities, through workshops in schools and colleges, besides working in his professional field of sales & business development. Over the last 5 years, thousands of students in Goa have been empowered and their light drawn through sessions conducted by Leadership Studio IND, an institute under the directorship of Mr. D'Souza (or Alan). Besides being an international corporate trainer, he is also associated with both domestic and international companies that provide his consulting services. He is also the host of a YouTube talk show podcast called Ground Zero Everyday Leaders. Mr. D'Souza is a philanthropist, a motivational speaker, and a leadership coach. He believes that every individual can contribute to bringing about a change in the world.

ANKUR KANKONKAR

Entrepreneur

Ankur Kankonkar is an accomplished entrepreneur, motivational/keynote speaker, career mentor, and disability rights advocate. As the CEO and MD of Kankonkar Technologies Pvt Ltd in Goa, India, Ankur leads a tech company dedicated to helping small and medium-sized businesses achieve digital transformation. Despite losing his eyesight to Retinitis Pigmentosa in his early 20s, Ankur excelled academically, earning top honours in BSc and MSc in Computer Science. He is passionate and empathetic, and he is known for his determination and kindness.

KATYA IDA COELHO

Athlete

Katya, living in coastal paradise Goa, is a 19-time national gold medalist. She made history as the first Indian to qualify for the Youth Olympic Games at just 14 years old. Katya further distinguished herself by qualifying and participating in the Asian Games in 2018, being the only Indian to qualify in windsurfing. Born to national champion Donald Coelho, Katya, along with her brother, continues to carry forward their father’s legacy, making the country proud with their recent achievements, including winning titles at the National Games.

KEDAR D S BORKAR

Entrepreneur

Kedar has worked on building Soul Travelling's digital presence , introducing travellers to the concept of a 'walking tours' when no one knew what it meant. Building it from scratch and pioneering offbeat tourism in Goa was no feat, but he continues to work his magic. "While self-growth is important, I feel that we need to think about the growth of the community as well. Soul Travelling is just getting started and we have a long way to go, empowering local communities and travel enthusiasts to reinvent Goa's perceptions and experiences globally."

MARIO JUDE FERNANDES

Athlete

Mario Fernandes is an Indian Freediving athlete and passionate wildlife rescuer. In 2022, Mario etched his name deep into the annals of freediving by setting four National records for India. Growing up in Goa with the ocean as his playground, he turned his childhood dream into reality, becoming India's first and only SSI Level 3 Freediving Instructor and AIT (Assistant Instructor Trainer). Beyond freediving, Mario's deep-rooted respect for nature led him to volunteer with wildlife rescue missions and set up Chameleon, a wildlife and marine rescue NGO. Known across North Goa for his passion in rescue, he also featured in Animal Planet’s documentary series "Snake Squad."

MRIDULA MANASVI

Student Entrepreneur

Mridula Manasvi is a 17-year-old IB Year 1 student at TISB with a strong sense of curiosity and adventure. She has a strong desire to change the world and a passion for learning and exploring new things. Founder of the NPO "The Plantterra" and the company "Gabiasplice," Mridula is committed to environmental and social causes. With a keen interest in biology and chemistry, she aspires to become a doctor. A creative individual, she enjoys sketching, painting, and crafting, which helps her approach problems from unique perspectives.

NADIA REBELO

Musician

Nadia's life has been steeped in music and rhythm from an early age, with her father being a drummer and her mother a ballroom dancer. Immersed in this artistic environment, Nadia began competing in various musical competitions at age 11, winning many of them. By 16, she started singing fado professionally, releasing her debut album, "Fado Português," in 2015. Her journey included a significant performance in Porto in 2014 and her first charity concert in Lisbon, which saw a large turnout. In 2018, she performed at Casa Museu Amalia Rodrigues and appeared on RTP 1’s "Agora Nós," singing and being interviewed. She continued her musical career with a concert at the Museum of Alfredo Marceneiro in 2019.

PRAGYA BHAGAT

Poet

Pragya Bhagat is a performance poet, essayist, and award-winning author. She is the founder of The Poetry Circle and a resident of the Sunaparanta Art Initiator Lab. Her work has been featured in the BBC, Huffington Post, and The Wire, amongst others; through her words, Pragya explores the intersections between the body, belonging, and the politics of vulnerability. She is a student of Kalaripaittu and a folk music enthusiast.

SAAKSHAR DUGGAL

Advocate

Saakshar Duggal is India's leading youth voice on the legalities of Emerging Technologies like Artificial Intelligence, robotics, etc. He is recognised as an Artificial Intelligence Law Expert. He is an 11-time TEDx speaker and has been a guest speaker at prominent organisations like the United Nations main office (UN) DRDO, AIIMS, etc. He is dedicated to promoting awareness of legal issues in cyberspace and of upcoming technologies like Artificial Intelligence.His goal is to make India cyber-resilient.

SAMUEL AFONSO

MUSICIAN

Samuel Afonso is a singer, songwriter, and musician from Goa, India. He is currently the violinist and singer of the band 'Music Oasis'; he has also been part of various other musical troupes like Goychim Lharam, Moksha Band, and Goan Serenaders. He released his debut Konkani original titled 'Ek Katha' (Anthem of Unity) in the year 2020, which gained immense success and recognition. His latest Konkani original, titled 'Konkan Git', is making huge waves in the music scene and is rapidly reaching audiences throughout the world. Besides this, Samuel is a qualified environmentalist and has extensively worked on various significant projects around Goa, like the River Sal and the River Kushavati. Samuel will be performing for the event as a solo violinist.

SHARLAINE MENEZES

Rapper

Sharlaine Menezes, rap sensation from Goa, began her musical journey at just 4, serenading All India Radio listeners and acing piano exams from Trinity College London. Her path to fame is peppered with victories and electrifying performances, like rocking the Northeast Futsal League. Sharlaine has teamed up with local stars and international icons like Tracy De Sa and Marc Legend. A fierce advocate for gender equality in rap, she even presented a paper on it! Featured widely in national media, she was the sole Indian artist in the prestigious IBIS World Music Campaign 2020-21, handpicked by Pablo Vittar.

SIDDHARTH COTA

Musician

Siddharth Cota, from the quaint village of Betalbatim in South Goa, discovered his passion for music at 17. Initially aspiring to be a professional badminton player, an injury halted his sports career, leading him to explore music. He quickly took to the guitar and decided to pursue music over a career in banking and management. Siddharth's musical journey began with winning the Portuguese singing competition "Vem Cantar" for two consecutive years. He started professionally with "Trio Orlando" and later joined the ballroom music band "Versatyle." Concurrently, he played with the Gipsy Jazz groups "Banjara Quartet" and "Caravan." Seeking more, he embarked on a solo career in 2014, performing solo and collaborating with various musicians.

TEJ NAIK

Entrepreneur

Tej Naik is the co-founder and Managing Director of Powerland Agro Tractor Vehicles Pvt. Ltd. Powerland, under his leadership, manufactures and exports one of the fastest electric ATV models in the world, achieving remarkable growth globally and taking a 'Made in Goa, India' product to the world. Winner of MSME Star Stories 2024 award for globalization excellence, Tej is not just about business. He’s a former Go-karting champion, having won the National Amaron Karting Championship in 2007. Tej is also a dog lover, taking care of many furry friends at his factory, blending speed, innovation, and compassion.

TEJASWINI SATEESH

Young Leader

Tejaswini is a dynamic young leader who embodies determination and resilience. Unapologetically herself, she revels in conquering challenges. As a rising entrepreneur and resourceful bootstrapper, Tejaswini takes bold actions to empower individuals and create a positive societal impact. She compliments her interest in the legal field with a refined talent in classical dance and singing, blending grace with discipline in every endeavor. Her forte lies in philanthropy and activism, where she champions meaningful change. For Tejaswini, raising the bar and transforming lives aren't just pursuits—they're her life's mission.

VARUN CARVALHO

Musician

Varun Carvalho truly believes that music has the power to bring about the change in the world that we want to see. Varun travels to different parts of the world and connects with people through his music, because for him, music is his connection to the world. Varun fuses his music with the local music of the area, creating a higher sound and uniting the people in a higher vibration. Varun will speak on his own journey from a stammerer who was so scared to even open his mouth to singing his way into the hearts of people in different parts of the world.