Theme: An Indian Tapestry of Thought

Prepare to delve through the metaphysical tapestry, where eternal truths and progressive visions are patiently unveiled. With this edition of TEDxPESU we began with the dream of inviting the finest Indian minds with the most thought provoking and paradigm altering ideas that would spark discussions and have a profound influence on our audiences. Be it the field of outer space, or reconciliation in times of war and unrest, be it fintech in the modern world or the mosaic of rich and vibrant art and culture, our diverse set of talks promise something fresh and interesting for every member of our audience and will most assuredly leave an indelible mark on the listeners.

PES University
100 Feet Ring Road
Banashankari Stage 3
Bangalore, Karnataka, 560085
India

Capt. Martina George

Former Army Veteran, Founder and CEO, Knio Infotech

Captain Martina George, an ex-Army officer, passionate entrepreneur and a home maker at heart, is presently the Managing Partner of Security India Consulting Services, a premium risk management consulting organization where she has led successful assignments on supply chain and loss prevention, fire safety consulting and audit and women safety training for clients such as Amazon, Hinduja Global, Sutherland, DB Schenker, Escorts Ltd. and Wipro. She is also credited with having trained over 8,000+ women from widely dispersed geographical backgrounds across the country. She served in the Indian Army as an officer in the Army Service Corps before launching her career in the civil streets with Goldman Sachs where she formed and headed the Document Management Group for India. She is also a BSI certified Lead Auditor for OH & S Management Systems (BS OHSAS 18001:2007).

Dr. Bhagwan Chowdhry

Professor of Finance at the Indian School of Business, Executive Director- DIRI

Dr. Bhagwan Chowdhry is a distinguished Professor of Finance at the prestigious ISB and the Executive Director of DIRI. Professor Chowdhry began his teaching career at UCLA Anderson in 1988. Here he found “an opportunity to work with outstanding faculty colleagues and an ability to work with students on projects that will make a difference in the world.” During his tenure he has also been a visiting professor and lecturer at a variety of institutions, including the University of Chicago, University of Illinois, and the Indian School of Business. Professor Chowdhry is a frequent contributor to the Huffington Post, Times of India and the Economic Times among other high profile national publications. His latest book "Fintech for Billions", co authored with Anas Ahmed aims to provide a holistic case towards solving the social issues with finance and technology.

Nikhitha C

Co-founder of SSERD & Genex Space

Nikhitha C is an accomplished Aerospace Engineer, Dr. Kalpana Chawla Scholar from the International Space University - France and a renowned TEDx Speaker. She is also a Social Impact Entrepreneur and a successful businesswoman, having co-founded the Society for Space Education Research and Development (SSERD), an NGO with a mission to promote space education and prepare young people for the Space Revolution. In addition, she is the co-founder and COO of Genex Space, a cutting-edge ed-tech startup that offers students worldwide access to quality space education through innovative aerospace curricula and space labs. As part of her work with Genex Space, Nikhitha has created educational content for the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), which has been widely acclaimed for its innovative approach to space education. She is also an ambassador for studies in France, having been appointed by the French Embassy to promote higher education and academic exchange programs.

Pallavi M D

Singer, Actor, Director

Pallavi MD is a singer, actor and composer from Bengaluru. She has been performing Kannada poetry (bhavageethe) for the last twenty eight years. She has won the META Best Actress award for her solo theatrical play C Sharp C Blunt. She has won the State award for her song in the film Duniya, and the State Kempegowda award for her contribution in the field of music. She has acted in Girish Kasaravalli's Gulabi Talkies and Prakash Belawadi's Stumble- both National award winning films. ‘Playgrounds’, a short film she co-wrote and directed, won the best film award in the Hong Kong Film Festival and at IFFLA, Los Angeles. She has been awarded the prestigious Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for her contribution to the field of Bhav Sangeet and the Kempegowda State Award for her contribution in the field of music. She has been a part of many international and interdisciplinary collaborations. She is keen on collaborating with multidisciplinary artists.

Samir Jolly

Trainer, Youth Leadership Training Program(YLTP), The Art of Living

Samir Jolly is a tireless advocate for change, a visionary guided by a compassionate Master, and a catalyst for social transformation. With a steadfast commitment to service and a heart devoted to uplifting the underprivileged, Samir's journey reflects a remarkable odyssey across the diverse landscapes of service, spirituality, and societal reconciliation. For more than two decades, Samir has been a beacon of light, actively engaging in various service projects with The Art of Living. His profound empathy for the marginalized has been the compass steering his life's purpose. His efforts transcend boundaries, illuminating lives in the farthest reaches, particularly in areas hidden in the hinterland. With a compelling story that epitomizes selfless service and the transformative influence of an enlightened guide, Samir Jolly stands as a beacon of hope and a catalyst for societal metamorphosis.

Srividya Varchaswi

Director, World Forum for Art and Culture

Srividya Varchaswi is a dancer, theatre artist and director, entrepreneur and the Director of the World Forum for Art and Culture which has been founded by those who want to see a world united through art. She also spearheaded "Jhankriti", a unique platform for young artists and students of Indian Performing Arts to showcase their talent. She was credited for directing a dance drama called "The Cosmic Rhythm" performed at the magnum opus event, "The World Culture Festival" of 2016, that presented over 30 varied dance forms with 4600 performers from 45 countries, perhaps the only dance drama of such magnitude which was coordinated only via video conference without any live rehearsals. Srividya currently heads the lifestyle brand, BYOGI which has received overwhelming response from all parts of the world. Srividya is also a renowned meditation instructor and life coach and conducts mind management, breath and meditation workshops across the country.

Tarana: The Band

Fusion Band

Tarana is a seven-member band based in Bengaluru, specializing in semi-classical, classical fusion rock and music among other genres.A bunch of passionate musicians creating esoteric music, the band unifies sounds from the Carnatic guitar and Carnatic flute, a touch of Western rock music upheld by soulful Hindustani vocals. Tarana has performed in few of the most prestigious stages such as the Bengaluru Ganesh Utsava, Under -25 summit, Phoenix market city, C ashwath kala bhavana and has gained huge popularity . Tarana has been a part of more than three huge ticketed shows and seen a massive response from the crowd. Tarana currently performs multiple originals which are being released on variousplatforms soon.