As John F. Kennedy famously remarked, “A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on”. World-changing ideas and their successful implementation have brought our species to the pinnacle of the evolutionary pyramid. It is this cornerstone of civilization that IIM Indore celebrated through TEDxIIMIndore with ‘Ideating Minds’ being the central theme of the event. The event featured noted speakers who delivered brief and impactful TEDx talks that inspired the community to break away from the rat race and pursue excellence in their chosen fields.
First up was Mr. Atul Bhatnagar, COO of NSDC (National Skill Development Corporation), India. Mr. Bhatnagar emphasized the importance of core skills and soft skills in education, calling skilling as the third religion in India after Cricket and Bollywood. He also explained how NSDC is driving the skilling movement in India by conducting skill gap studies, industry connects, developing certifications and using technology. The student community was inspired by the talk and responded with a promise to contribute to the skilling movement in India.
Mr. Atul Bhatnagar, COO of NSDC, India
The next speaker in the series was Mr. Anand Neelakantan, an author who is best known for his alternative take on Indian mythology with ‘Asura: Tale of the vanquished’ and ‘Ajaya: Roll of the Dice’. Mr. Neelakantan, known for his knowledge of the puranas and passion for mythology, took a bold step by pointing out various contrasting fallacies of the Indian mind-set, which are clearly manifested in the actions of its citizens. Quoting examples from the glorious and rich Indian heritage, he emphasized on the pros of the desire for excellence over the human urge to opt for shortcuts, or ‘Jugaad‘.
Mr. Anand Neelakantan
Next up was Mr. Porush Jain, who co-founded Absolute Sports Pvt. Ltd, a start-up that runs the sports portal Sportskeeda.com, while he was pursuing his MBA in Bangalore. Sportskeeda.com being one of India’s largest crowd-sourced web portals and the most viewed sports website in the country, Mr. Jain spoke about how a successful start-up could be conceptualized, while stressing upon the fact that one should believe in one’s idea and be passionate about following it.
Mr. Porush Jain, co-founder Absolute Sports Pvt. Ltd
The stage was then taken by Dr. Pawan Agrawal, CEO and President of the world-famous Mumbai Dabbawalas. Dr. Agrawal took us inside the world of the Mumbai Dabbawalas, an internationally recognized association of Tiffin carriers who have achieved Six Sigma performance with no formal training in management. Focusing on the intense commitment of the Dabbawalas towards customer satisfaction, he gave examples to showcase the immense trust that the carriers had built with both their customers and the organization. His energetic delivery, which exemplified his passion for the organization, was certainly a highlight of the event.
Dr. Pawan Agrawal, CEO and President of Mumbai Dabbawalas
Last but not the least was Mr. Vivek Kaul, a distinguished writer and economist who has worked at senior positions with the Daily News and Analysis (DNA) and The Economic Times. Mr. Kaul spoke about what he called ‘The Ramesh Sippy Syndrome‘; using the examples of Sholay, Kolaveri Di and Google to show how volumes are written on successful ventures only after they have reached the pinnacle of glory, and the fact that nobody is ever able to predict the degree of success that any venture will achieve. Mr. Kaul’s talk posed a serious question about the way management is taught in the modern times, with nobody having a clear idea of what works for success.
Mr. Vivek Kaul
Overall, through a combination of pre-recorded TED videos and inspiring live talks, the event was successful in creating an experience that inspired the audience.
Industry Interaction Cell 