Speakers

Adhirath Sethi is a businessman and author, based in Bangalore. He is also a trustee for the Agastya Foundation.He is an alumnus of The Rishi Valley School, Eton College, and the London School of Economics.A former management consultant with The Boston Consulting Group, he took an all too eager plunge into entreprenurship in 2008. As the Director and CEO of Poly Fluoro Ltd, he has worked to grow the company and establish its reputation as one of the leading manufacturers in the field of high-performance polymers.His first book – The Debt Collector’s Due – was published by HarperCollins in 2015 and draws on his own experiences with hiring debt collectors to recover funds for his business. The book has presently been optioned for being made into a mini-series.His second book – Where the Hills Hide their Secrets – published in 2019 – is set in post-colonial India, where the murder of a local woman sends secrets and scandals spilling out of the woodwork across the fictitious hill-station town of Nalanoor.In 2019, to commemorate Agastya’s two decades since inception, a proposal was put forth to capture the story of the foundation’s remarkable journey. The advent of COVID meant that this plan was temporarily put on hold. However, in 2021, the idea was revived and Adhirath offered his time to bring the book to life. He spent the first half of 2022 interveiwing anyone that might have insights into Agastya. Speaking with everyone from front-line workers, to donors, to board members, and senior management, the inside story of Agastya began to emerge. The Moving of Mountains is thus infused with the distilled learnings from thought leaders, captains of industry, staff, and the founders themselves.As a board member of the Agastya Foundation and as Chairman of the Navam Foundation, Adhirath’s involvement in the NGO space spans over 10 years and includes contributions to fund raising, operations management, and strategy.He lives in Bangalore, where he divides his time between his work, his writing, his family, and Agastya.

Amarjit Singh Dulat served as the head of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), India's spy agency, under Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee. He later joined Vajpayee's Prime Minister's Office (PMO), where his job was to ‘monitor, manage, and direct’ the government of India's peace initiative in Kashmir.Dulat was born in Sialkot, Punjab, in December 1940. With India's Partition, his father, Justice Shamsher Singh Dulat, relocated the family to Delhi. After schooling in Delhi, Shimla and Chandigarh, Dulat joined the Indian Police Service in 1965, and then the Intelligence Bureau (IB) in 1969, where he served for almost thirty years. At IB, he headed the Kashmir Group during the turbulent 1990s until he joined and headed R&AW.Since leaving government in 2004, Dulat has been active on the Track II circuit, and has visited Pakistan. His first book, Kashmir: The Vajpayee Years, was published in 2015. He co-authored two books with former Pakistan intelligence chief Lt. Gen. Asad Durrani – Spy Chronicles: RAW, ISI, and the Illusion of Peace in 2018 (with Aditya Sinha), and Covert: The Psychology of War and Peace (with Neil K. Aggarwal) in 2024. Dulat’s memoir, A Life in the Shadows, was published to acclaim in 2022.

Amol Palekar’s creative journey is an intimate blend of art, theatre and film. A painter at heart, he began his artistic exploration in 1967 after graduating from J.J. School of Arts. An accidental encounter with the legendary thespian Satyadev Dubey led him to theatre. In this new sphere, inspired by Badal Sircar’s pioneering ‘Third Theatre’ movement, Palekar revolutionised and democratised the Indian stage by taking theatre to alternative spaces, from parks to terraces, from canteens to garages.His cinematic career too marked a turning point in Hindi cinema. In the 1970s, he charmed audiences as the endearing ‘boy next door’, offering a refreshing alternative to larger-than-life heroes. With three back-to-back silver jubilee successes, Palekar became an overnight sensation. As a director, his nuanced exploration of complex themes blurred the lines between the social and personal.Palekar marks his eightieth year with a memoir, ‘excavating’ a lifetime of memories and experiences. Through candid anecdotes and clear-eyed reflections, Viewfinder lifts the curtain on not only his experiences with cultural luminaries but also a critical era in the formation of Indian cultural expression. His steadfast opposition to censorship and committed stance on social issues solidifies his legacy as a courageous champion of artistic freedom. Thus emerges a portrait of Amol Palekar—the real man behind the reel man.

Dr Amrinder Bajaj is a gynaecologist and an award-winning author. Formerly HOD of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at MAX PPA Delhi, presently, a senior consultant with to FMRI (Fortis Memorial Research Institute), Gurugram.Writing is a passion that has led to the publication of over 10 books. These include 3 wellness books, 2 novels based on autobiographic events, a Khushwant Singh memoir, a novel on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, a book of poetry, a joke book and a text book. She had two columns in Woman’s Era, writes medical/nonmedical articles, short stories, travelogues and poetry for Woman’s Era, Alive and Femina. She writes on and off for the Times of India, Tribune, Indian Express, Deccan Herald, Economic Times, Outlook India. A book on ‘What Women Want in Bed’ is in the editing stage with Hay house.

I am the founder of the YouTube channel called "The Book Show'' which is dedicated to books of all genres in both Tamil and English with 7.5 Lakh + subscribers. I'm also a weekly column writer for Hindu Tamil Daily Newspaper, TV personality, Actor in Tamil film industry and a public speaker.

Anubha Bhonsle is an award winning journalist & author. Her book of reportage titled Mother, Where’s My Country?, set in Manipur, has been widely acclaimed. Anubha has an expansive and rigorous body of work reporting from areas of strife, conflict and covering the big events of our times. She was formerly the Executive Editor at CNN-IBN. She is now an independent journalist and entrepreneur—the founder of Newsworthy Studios, a storytelling, communication and design company working at the intersection of media, strategy and impact

Anup Soni is a versatile Indian actor with over three decades of experience across films, television, OTT, theatre, advertisements, and stage productions. He is widely recognized for his impactful performances that blend depth, dignity, and realism. A household name through his long-running stint as the host of Crime Patrol, Anup has also delivered memorable performances in acclaimed OTT series such as The Test Case, Class of ’83, Tandav, and Saas Bahu Achaar Pvt. Ltd. His career spans a rich variety of roles, from mainstream television hits like Balika Vadhu, where he played the pivotal Bhairo Singh, to nuanced characters in films and digital storytelling. On stage, Anup has consistently explored diverse theatrical forms through plays like Begum Jaan, Ballygunge 1990, Meri Wife ke Saath Vachan Diya Hai, and Pencil Se Brush Tak, reaffirming his love for live performance. Currently, Anup features in three upcoming web series — Saare Jahan Se Achha (Netflix, August 2025 release), Ikathe, and Shaque — all of which showcase his range across layered, significant characters. Beyond acting, he is also developing an original legal drama titled Grounds, a relationship-driven series with multi-season potential. Anup’s journey reflects his ability to evolve with the changing landscape of entertainment — from television to cinema to OTT — while staying committed to powerful storytelling and meaningful collaborations.

Anupreeta Das is a journalist and an author, currently working as a South Asia Correspondent for The New York Times. Based in New Delhi, she reports on India and its neighbors. Previously, she was the finance editor of The Times, overseeing coverage of Wall Street out of New York. Das also spent nearly a decade at The Wall Street Journal in various reporting and editing roles, including deputy business editor. As a reporter at the Journal, she wrote groundbreaking stories about finance, including a series about the secretive investments of billionaires. She holds degrees from Boston University, the London School of Economics, and the University of Delhi. She is an avid hiker, having hiked across a Himalayan glacier as a teenager and summiting Mount Kilimanjaro. She is the author of "Billionaire, Nerd, Savior, King: Bill Gates and His Quest to Shape Our World."

Mrs. Ashima Bath works and resides at The Lawrence School, Sanawar. She was the Head of Faculty, English, one of the youngest to be appointed in 2001. Currently she is Senior Housemistress there.An educator or ‘edutainer’ as she refers to herself, she has the distinction wearing many hats at any given time. A teacher, resource person, writer, cook, homemaker, mother, wife and philanthropist to name just a few.Mrs. Ashima Bath is also an expert on innovative and programmatic approach to child education. A BEC teacher trainer from the British Council, her specialized workshops, beside teaching the ELT skills and prevalent methodologies, aim at the dissemination of expertise to bring about a change in the role and attitude of teachers. Her workshops specifically create awareness towards the needs of the students and the changing scenario of our education system in today’s world.Some of her self designed areas of ELT specialization include new forms of vocabulary retention, formulated creative writing modules for different grades, a specialized module for teaching Shakespeare to beginners and extensive reading lists for classes eight to twelve.In school her work also deals extensively with extracurricular activities. These include topics such as, creative expression and writing, thematic and integrated classroom teaching, phonetics through innovative methodology, drama in education, movie clubs for children and much more.She believes very strongly in the upliftment of women and the rights of the girl child.A philanthropist at heart she helps the women in her village by providing materials to knit and sew.Ashima Bath has helped visualise and run a series of NGO School outside of New Delhi, under the aegis of the Takshila Foundation whose syllabi and running she still supervises in the capacity of a visiting teacher.Passionate about reading, writing and her love for the language and etymology she is often considered to be and referred to as ‘the mad professor.’She also successfully ran Sunnyside Learning Centre, a pre-primary center for children. Mrs. Ashima Bath is co-author of BROADWAY, SKYLINE and MULBERRY series published by Oxford University Press.Mrs. Ashima Bath also writes for the Tribune, Robin Age, a children’s newspaper in Mumbai and for Education World along with opining on books of various genres at select venues.She often quotes Robert Frost, “I have miles to before I sleep, miles to go, before I sleep”, when asked how much more she has left to go.She resides permanently in the hills along with her husband, Iknam Bath and daughter Ananyaa Bath

Bachi Karkaria is a game changer in India’s journalism, having helped elevate local issues to Page 1 and created path-breaking brands for the Times of India Group. She is also a popular columnist, best-selling author, litfest curator and international media trainer. She was the first Indian board member of the Paris-based World Editors Forum, a Jefferson Fellow at Hawaii’s East-West Center, and a recipient of the Mary Morgan Hewitt Award for Lifetime Achievement.Karkaria’s books include the critically acclaimed In Hot Blood: The Nanavati Case That Shook India; the bestseller biography of M.S. Oberoi, Dare To Dream; Mills, Molls And Moolah; Behind The Times; Mumbai Masti; The Cake That Walked; and collections of her columns. Her biography of Capt C.P. Krishnan Nair, Capture the Dream, was published in February 2022.

Balaji Vittal is an author/co-author of Bollywood books like the National Award winning 'RD Burman - The Man, The Music', the MAMI Award winning 'Gaata Rahe Mera Dil - 50 Classic Hindi Film Songs', and the highly acclaimed 'S.D. Burman - The Prince-Musician' and 'Pure Evil - The Bad Men of Bollywood'. Balaji is also a columnist contributing to News18, Outlook and The New Indian Express. He is also a TEDx speaker and a Bollywood commentator at prestigious Literary Festivals.

Bandana Tewari is a Culture Journalist and Sustainability Advocate. A TEDx speaker and writer, she has given keynote speeches all across the world about compassionate fashion and conscious consumption, sustainability and spirituality, with a special focus on Gandhi & Fashion and the need for sartorial integrity. Her speaker assignments have taken her to countries as varied as Berlin, Sydney, Muscat, Kolkata, Lagos, and Jakarta, amongst others.As Vogue India’s https://www.vogue.in/ Editor-at-Large for 13 years, Bandana was responsible for planning, visualizing and ideating fashion features for the ultimate style bible. Her ringside view of the rapidly evolving industry coupled with her signature ability to take the long view in every commentary has made her a globally recognised voice in fashion lifestyle and sustainability. She continues to write for Vogue India.Today, Bandana lives in Bali and contributes to several global magazines. Bandana’s pieces have appeared in well-regarded publications such as Atmos, The New York Times, Vogue Arabia, Vogue India, Harper’s Bazaar India, Elle India, Vogue Portugal, Vogue US, Vogue UK, Wallpaper, Platform, Take, RoadBook and Tank, in addition to several leading Indian newspapers such as, Hindustan Times and The Hindu.Bandana is a member of the prestigious BoF 500. She has written extensively for The Business of Fashion https://www.businessoffashion.com/ on a variety of topics from indigenous ‘made-by-hand’ economies of India and Indonesia, to transgender and LGBTQ representation in fashion.She is currently Creative Advisor to: -Good Earth, the foremost lifestyle brand in India https://www.instagram.com/goodearthindia-Sabyasachi- fashion designer and cultural catalyst https://www.instagram.com/sabyasachiofficial-Himalayan Knot program- a joint program between Royal Enfield and UNESCO that brings together Himalayan communities, conservation specialists, craftspeople and artisans and fashion designers to conserve pastoral lands, safeguard the living heritage, and preserve local livelihoods. https://www.instagram.com/royalenfieldsocialmissionShe is Director, Cultural Sustainability for wellbeing resort-Sitara Himalaya. https://www.instagram.com/sitarahimalayaShe is a Special Advisor to Copenhagen Fashion Summit and sits on several advisory boards—NEST (NYC), Redress (Hong Kong), Global Fashion Agenda (Stockholm), Fashinnovation (New York), and a member of the British Fashion Council Community. 

Barsali Bhattacharyya is a journalist turned economist and author. She has over fourteen years of experience in researching and writing about economics, business, consumers and everything that lies in between.As a journalist, she has worked with Business Standard and India Today, writing on business, policy, companies, art, culture and society. She later moved into economic research, working with companies like the Economist Intelligence Unit and Visa, among others. She primarily focuses on the global consumer economy, understanding the impact of economic conditions and emerging technologies. She is a frequent commentator to leading media outlets, such as CNN, Reuters, the Financial Times, South China Morning Post and Dubai Eye. She has delivered boardroom briefings and keynote speeches for global clients, distilling economic information into actionable insights for senior corporate executives and government officials.Her debut book, ENTER PROMPT: Navigating AI in India, draws directly from this dual lens of journalism and research. It draws on interviews and research to explore how artificial intelligence might reshape India’s democracy, economy and social fabric. She lives in Delhi.

A veteran journalist and columnist, Chander Mohan was the distinguished editor of the Hindi daily Vir Pratap for forty years. Born in Lahore in pre-partition Punjab, he has been a leading voice in vernacular journalism, writing searing and uncompromising editorials. From penning his first editorial during militancy in Punjab to travelling in Rajiv Gandhi’s press entourage and later to Lahore with Prime Minister Vajpayee, he has witnessed several eras of politics and media. Chander Mohan is the co-author of Pratap, A Defiant Newspaper. The book is based on his family's iconic Urdu newspaper launched in 1919. Pratap was more than just news – it was resistance, revolution and history in ink. Semi-retired, he pens ‘maryadain,’ a weekly column for a national newspaper while managing several educational institutions in his hometown, Jalandhar. Journalism and education are his two passions, and he finds a way for both to complement each other. 

Devina Mehra, Founder & CMD of First Global, is a gold medallist from IIM Ahmedabad (one of the only two women in the institute's 55 year plus history) as well as from Lucknow University, where she broke several records and got 8 Gold Medals.  She spearheaded First Global's globalisation 25 years ago, making First Global the first Asian (ex-Japan) firm to become a member of the London Stock Exchange in 1999 and then the NASD.First Global is now a Global Asset Management firm managing over USD 700 million in assets in India & Globally using a unique Human + Machine (Artificial intelligence and machine learning) model.She has been quoted widely on Global as well as Indian markets by global financial media like Wall Street Journal, Business Week, Fortune, Forbes, CNBC, Financial Times etc.She has been featured among the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business by Fortune magazine in 2025 and 2022. She has been featured as one of India's leading entrepreneurs by Outlook Business and Entrepreneur magazines.  She has been a prolific writer in various newspapers & magazines. Most recently she has written a book ‘Money Myths and Mantras: The Ultimate Investment Guide' which has become a bestseller on debut, becoming the number one seller on Amazon across all genres of books.

Educationist, theatre director and activist Feisal Alkazi lives and works in New Delhi. Over the past forty years he has carved out his own niche with his group, Ruchika. He has directed over 200 plays with adults in Hindi, English and Urdu. Most recently, two plays written by him have been produced, Noor and A Quiet Desire. In addition he has directed over 100 productions for schools all over India, and in the field of disability, he has directed thirty documentary films.He is currently involved in the field of heritage education, initiating projects in Delhi, Jaipur, Srinagar and Hyderabad. He is the author of twenty books, including Rang Biranga Rangmanch which has sold 50,000 copies.

Gillian Wright Is a writer and translator living in New Delhi. She has written on various subjects from hill stations, Presidential retreats (including The Retreat at Mashobra) and Indian birds to governance and politics. Her translations include 'Raag Darbari' the modern Hindi classic by Shrilal Shukla whose centenary is being marked this year. She watches birds, butterflies and bugs and is the author of the award-winning children’s book ‘Mishti the Mirzapuri Labrador’.

Harinder Baweja is a senior journalist and author. She has been reporting on current affairs, with a particular emphasis on conflict, for over four decades. Her journey has taken her through the battlefield of Punjab and onwards to insurgency-ridden Jammu and Kashmir. She has also mapped various crises in Pakistan and was in Afghanistan when the Taliban first rode into Kabul in 1996.She has been honoured for her work and has won the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Award for excellence in journalism, the Prabha Dutt award, and the Haldighati award. She authored a book on Kargil, A Soldier’s Diary: Kargil the Inside Story, and edited and contributed to various anthologies, including two titled, 26/11: Mumbai Attacked and Most Wanted: Profiles of Terror.

Jawhar Sircar is a public intellectual based out of Kolkata, India, who assists activists and advocacy groups with his 45 years of experience in public affairs — 42 in the IAS and 3 years as Opposition MP in Rajya Sabha. He quit the latter prematurely in sheer disgust — at politics, corruption in public life and government’s repression of right. administration. Sircar has been active in research in cultural, historical and anthropological subjects for several years, even while working full-time in administration. He has published numerous articles, contributed to 8 books and regularly delivers talks on history, culture, society, media, politics and religion. His work: ‘The Construction of the Hindu Identity in Medieval Western Bengal: The Role of Popular Cults’ (2005) was commended by top historians and anthropologists in India and abroad. His book in Bengali cultural festivals and rituals of India has been extremely popular. India’s oldest intellectual body, the Asiatic Society awarded him for his ‘Contribution to History and Politics’. From August 2001, his performance in Parliament was rated outstanding and he took active part in debates and in grilling the government on its claims, especially as Member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology & Communications to examine laws on the freedom of the media, and also on JPCs on Environment. He has also chaired the board of India’s top academic body, the Centre for Studies in Social Sciences.

Jyoti Malhotra is the Editor-in-Chief of The Tribune Group of Newspapers and has dedicated over 40 years to journalism. Her extensive experience spans print, TV, radio, and online platforms in both English and Hindi. In addition to her editorial role, she is a regular contributor to BBC Radio, sharing her insights and expertise on various topics.

As an award-winning writer and journalist with nearly three decades of experience across television, print, and digital media, Jyotsna’s writing blends journalistic insight with a deep sense of social responsibility. A former Senior Editor and Senior Anchor at NDTV, her journey led her to pen her debut book, Stoned, Shamed, Depressed where she offers a stark, eye-opening look into the hidden lives of India's urban teenagers, revealing a silent crisis shaped by digital addiction, substance use, academic pressure and mental health struggles. Based on the family newspaper, her latest book, Pratap: A Defiant Newspaper, a powerful legacy of fearless journalism which she co-authored with her father, was released by HarperCollins India. A columnist for publications in India and abroad, her writings reflect societal issues and challenge the status quo, which she says is her family legacy! She brings this outlook to her podcast ‘Table Talk with Jo.’ Jyotsna is the recipient of the Sanatan Puraskar, 2025 for Literature.

Latha, who was born and brought up in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, has been writing poetry since the age of twenty, giving vent to her pent-up emotions.She has always been questioning the validity of many of our social norms and the hypocrisies hidden under the garb of tradition and culture-in her family and in society at large, where she witnessed the stealthy and shocking acts of people, which made her realise that appearances are often deceptive.Driven by the urge to talk her mind out, Latha started publishing a monthly magazine titled The Way Forward, which she used as a medium to voice out her views on subjects like religion and education. However, the magazine could not be continued after seven issues.The Toilet Seat is her first attempt at writing a book.

Leena Gupta is a Transformational Life Coach and Wellness Expert, TEDx Speaker, and Founder & CEO of Leena Gupta Inc. She has trained over 25,000 people spanning 25 countries over two decades. She is also a Senior International Faculty with the Art of Living Foundation NGO for over 23 years and has been personally mentored by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. She is an executive committee member at CFBP- (Council for Fair Business Practices) and has curated the “CFPB Holistic Health Summit’’ in 2023 and 2024.Leena has worked with several Fortune 500 companies and major corporates like Adobe, British Gas, Barclays Bank, Intel, Crompton Greaves, Jindal Steel, IBM, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, and Shapoorji Pallonji, among many others. She has designed programs for cancer patients, women, and youth, training and empowering them. Through her thoughtfully curated programs, clients learn to manage stress levels, enhance awareness, get creative in problem-solving, create work-life harmony, and anchor into their essence. She blends ancient wisdom with practical yet powerful techniques to help her clients to live intentionally and tap into their inner source and reservoir of talent, potential, joy, and creativity. Her signature techniques, like Radical Mission Statement, 4-5-6 Breath Work, Happy Mirror Work, and Guided Meditations, 80/20 Trashcan Rule have helped thousands of clients experience personal transformation, breakthroughs, inner peace, strength, and happiness.Several organizations have recognized Leena for her work in Transformational Life Coaching and Wellness and Happiness management. She is a recipient of the FICCI Ladies Organization Women Achiever Award and The Woman of Excellence Award.She has grown up in the US and is an alumna of Smith College. She has also lived in the UK, Thailand, and Hong Kong, among other countries. This has helped her garner a keen sense of cultures, perspectives, philosophies, and languages, which has helped her craft and fine-tune her signature techniques.Her first book, “Anchor Within,” which provides essential life lessons and practical tools we missed learning in our childhood has just been published by Penguin and is in bookstores now. This book helps the reader to shift the focus from looking for love, acceptance, and validation from the outer world to looking inward and connecting to their essence, which is filled with love, peace, and joy. This book will provide the readers with a roadmap to re-invent themselvesand operate from inner stability, strength, and sovereignty.Leena lives by her mottos of “Carpe Diem” and “Success is an inside job”.

Madhur Singh is currently writer and editor at the World Economic Forum.She was previously managing editor at IndiaSpend, India’s foremost public interest data journalism website.She has been the India correspondent for Bloomberg Law and Time magazine, and has worked with The Indian Express and the Hindustan Times in various reporting and editing roles.Madhur is a Chevening fellow, with a Master’s in International Relations from the University of Warwick, UK, and a Master’s in English Literature with Post-Colonial Studies from Panjab University, Chandigarh.

Mani Shankar Aiyar was educated at The Doon School, St. Stephen’s College and Cambridge, U.K. In 2010, his Cambridge college elected him an Honorary Fellow. He served 26 years in the Indian Foreign Service, including a deputation to the Office of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.He was thrice elected to the Lower House of Parliament from Tamil Nadu and also served a six-year term in the Upper House. In 2006, he was conferred the Outstanding Parliamentarian Award. He served as a cabinet minister from 2004 to 2009, holding several different portfolios., He has thus far published nine books, including his latest, Memoirs of a Maverick released in August 2023. The companion volume to his Memoirs, The Rajiv I Knew was released in January 2024. The last and final volume of his autobiographic trilogy, titled A Maverick in Politics as released on 6 February 2025

Manraj Grewal Sharma is the resident editor of The Indian Express. Author of a book on Punjab militancy called “Dreams after Darkness”, she has also worked as a consulting editor with development organisations such as United Nations Environment Programme and Asia Pacific Adaptation Forum. She has been a publishing consultant with the Asian Development Bank, Manila, as well, and was the managing editor of “Gender, Technology and Development” , an international peer-reviewed journal published by Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, for five years. 

General (Dr) Manoj Mukund Naravane (Retd) is a highly decorated and widely respected leader with over four decades of service in the Indian Army, culminating in his appointment as the 28th Chief of the Army Staff. His illustrious military career spans strategic command roles, national security policymaking, international diplomacy, teaching, authorship and thought leadership. A veteran of the Sikh Light Infantry, he has commanded operations along India’s most sensitive frontiers, including the Western, Northeastern and Northern borders and has served in active peacekeeping and diplomatic roles abroad. General Naravane served as a faculty member at the prestigious Army War College in Mhow, where he mentored senior officers pursuing their M.Phil. dissertations, guiding them through critical research in strategic and military studies. He was a driving force behind the initiation of multiple 'Make in India' capital procurement projects, amounting to over ₹11,000 crore, significantly enhancing the Indian Army’s indigenous capabilities and reducing dependence on foreign defence equipment. General Naravane played a pivotal role in the groundbreaking decision to induct female cadets into the National Defence Academy (NDA), a historic move that marked a major milestone in promoting gender equality within the armed forces. Throughout his tenure, he was actively involved in high-level negotiations with profound national security implications, demonstrating his expertise in strategic decision-making and defence diplomacy. Under his firm and visionary leadership, the Indian Army adopted a resolute and assertive posture along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), effectively turning the tide against the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and safeguarding India’s territorial integrity during a period of heightened tension. With a unique blend of operational experience and academic depth, General Naravane’s contributions to defence reforms, counter-terrorism and military modernisation are reflected in his public lectures, academic papers and keynote addresses across global think tanks and forums— including the Raisina Dialogue, RUSI London and the USIP-IGF in Washington. His international experience includes serving as Defence Adviser in Myanmar and leading military delegations to over a dozen countries. Beyond defence, General Naravane is deeply engaged in mentorship, governance and strategic advisory roles. He sits on advisory boards of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum and udChalo and contributes regularly to national discourse through media, industry forums and think tanks such as ThePrint and ORF. As an Independent Director and founder of Amalisha Management and Consultancy Services LLP, he brings unmatched expertise in leadership, crisis management, strategic foresight and public-private collaboration—skills that are increasingly vital in today’s complex business and geopolitical environment. Fluent in multiple languages and now a published author, General Naravane continues to inspire, influence and lead from beyond the uniform. General Naravane exemplifies leadership that transcends domains—from the battlefield to the boardroom. With a career defined by decisive action under uncertainty, he champions principled decision-making grounded in experience, ethics and resilience. His transition into the corporate world reflects his deep understanding of strategic planning, crisis management and governance. General Naravane believes that military values—discipline, integrity and accountability—are not just relevant but essential in corporate leadership. As a mentor and advisor to several organisations, he brings clarity, vision and ethical foresight to every role he undertakes. Through his association with the Directors Institute, he continues to invest in lifelong learning and effective governance, all while sharing his insights through publications, talks and his recently authored military fiction novel, The Cantonment Conspiracy. As a dynamic mentor and global speaker, General Naravane champions the values of duty, integrity and strategic foresight. His leadership philosophy is rooted in decision-making under uncertainty and ethical considerations. Through his speaking engagements at prestigious forums or his insightful writings in publications like ThePrint, he continues to shape the narrative of modern leadership, blending military tradition with progressive, global perspectives. General (Dr) Manoj Mukund Naravane stands as a paragon of leadership, seamlessly bridging the worlds of national defence and Corporate Governance. His legacy of service, strategic insight and ethical leadership continues to influence institutions across sectors. In the boardroom, on global platforms and through his mentorship, General Naravane remains a guiding force—steadfast, visionary and committed to building a more secure and principled world.

Narayani Ganesh joined The Times of India in 1987 and worked in various capacities in the Times Group for 34 years. As Associate Editor, she wrote opinion pieces and did interviews on issues related to environment, science, philosophy, wellness, heritage, outer space and travel in The Times of India, The Economic Times and Navbharat Times.Narayani was editor, The Speaking Tree and Sacred Space, two popular columns on philosophy, spirituality, sustainable living and wellness. She was also editor, The Speaking Tree Sunday newspaper that was published from eight cities across India. These columns, and the Sunday Speaking Tree newspaper brought to the general reader, the essence of spiritual truths and stories gleaned from different faiths in simple language. She is now a freelance writer.Narayani has authored an anecdotal biography titled My Father, Gemini Ganesan, as part of the Family Pride series of Roli Books.

A creative and social entrepreneur, Neha Kirpal founded the India Art Fair (2008-2018) and then moved her focus fully to mental healthcare. This was inspired by her own lived experiences as a child and carer to a parent with schizophrenia and as a survivor of sibling suicide loss.As Amaha's co-founder since 2019, Neha helped build what is today India's largest private sector mental health service. With an in-house team of 200+ therapists and psychiatrists, Amaha provides care across 600 cities online and across eight centres in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, and recently opened its first speciality mental health hospital.In 2021, to serve families across the lifespan, Amaha came together with Children First-a specialist child and youth mental health organisation that has been working with families, schools and communities for nearly two decades.A global mental health lived experience ambassador, Neha is a founding cohort member of the India Mental Health Alliance (IMHA), set up in 2023 to build capacities for mental health professionals and care systems. IMHA has created a national cross-sectoral alliance of over 220 member organisations till date, to establish mental health as a developmental agenda in India.Neha is the co-author of Homecoming: Mental Health Journeys of Resilience, Healing and Wholeness published by Westland releasing September 2025; an anthology of women leaders navigating severe mental illness alongside their lives career and purpose.An Aspen Fellow and Eisenhower Fellow, Neha has been part of the World Economic Forum's Young Global Leaders community. She received NDTV's Indian of the Year Award, Business Today's India's Most Powerful Women in Business Award and is a recipient of the Nari Shakti Award, presented by the President of India.

Daughter of an Army officer , Surgeon Rear Admiral Nirmala Kannan finished her schooling from Bishop Cotton Girls School Bangalore. Having joined the Indian Navy in 1977 as a Doctor, she acquired an MD in Obstetrics and Gynaecology from Mumbai University , but her interest in Hospital Administration and Health Management made her switch her path very early in her Naval career. She has not only held several important executive assignments including the Command of the hospitals of the Eastern and Western Naval Commands, she is also an MSc in Defence Studies from the Defence Services Staff College , Wellington in 1991.Later in 2004, she was the first Woman Officer from the Indian Armed Forces to get selected for the prestigious National Defence College at New Delhi. During her career in the Indian Navy, she was conferred two Presidential Awards for Distinguished Service - Visisht Seva Medal in 1993 and the Nao Sena Medal in 2012 .Following retirement in 2013, she has settled down in Coimbatore along with her husband who is a retired Vice Admiral.Having always followed the Mantra of living life every day to its fullest and maintaining a fine and healthy balance between work and pleasure, she continues with her lifelong passion for singing English songs besides enjoying a few rounds of Golf every week. The creation of her own You Tube channel in 2021 and uploading renditions regularly has been her way of sharing her joy and happiness with the world besides spreading the message that “ It’s never too late to follow one’s dreams.” 

Nirupama Dutt is a poet, author, translator of many seasons having worked with leading newspapers and journals. Her books include 'Stories of the Soil', 'Laal Singh Dil: Poet of the Revolution' and 'The Ballad of Bant Singh. Her contribution has been highlighting poets and writers of Urdu, Punjabi and Hindi in the English language and writing on the marginalized sections of society.

Shri P. Chidambaram is the former Finance and Home Minister of India and a member of the Rajya Sabha. Chidambaram's educational qualifications have been in law and an MBA from the prestigious Harvard Business School in the United States. Chidambaram started his career as a lawyer and entered politics in 1984 when he was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Sivaganga constituency in Tamil Nadu. During his tenure as Home Minister, he played a key role in the formulation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), which is considered to be one of the landmark social welfare schemes in India. In 2008, Chidambaram was appointed as the Finance Minister of India for the second time in the UPA-I government. He presented the 2008 Union Budget, which was aimed at reviving the economy in the aftermath of the global financial crisis. The Indian National Congress appointed P. Chidambaram as a senior spokespersons in 2014.Chidambaram has also been involved in various international forums and has represented India in the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the G-20. He has also been a member of various parliamentary committees, including the Standing Committee on Finance and the Committee on Public Accounts.In 2012, he won the Best Administrator in India Award and in 2013 he received the Business Reformer of the Year Award.

Paul Waters fell in love with India when he fell in love with his wife, Aneysha. He’s from Belfast. She's from Chandigarh/Delhi. He’d already set his previous book, Blackwatertown, in Ireland, so she suggested he set his next one in India, because they’re there so much. That's how his new book, Murder in Moonlit Square, came about.Paul has been a night club cook in New York, he made iconic Brazilian footballer Pelé his dinner, smuggled a satellite dish into Cuba, reported undercover in Zimbabwe, survived riots as a reporter in Northern Ireland, conducted sports crowds in Bulawayo, was an award-winning BBC journalist, led the BBC World Service live coverage of the 9-11 attacks on the USA, co-hosts the We’d Like A Word books and authors podcast, and is co-organiser of the Chiltern Kills crime festival and the Khushwant Singh LitFest London.

Bedi, born to two strong, celebrated, bohemian, celebrity parents has carved out a strong identity of her own With a career spanning 3 decades across TV/film/ advertising/ talk shows/ Reality shows/ Print & digital media and now as wellness entrepreneur. Her wellness brand “HAPPY SOUL” & Holistic wellness start-up Magicians of wellness (india) PVT LTD, combine an amalgamation of her 30+ years of study in alternative sciences. Her Online ecommerce aggregator platform for Feminine empowerment through Holistic Wellness aims at creating positive change for individuals, communities and the planet as well.Vision: "Unlocking human potential, one happy soul at a time & creating a world where joy, love, and positivity thrive."Mission: "Empowering individuals to break free from limitations, embracing happiness through discovering their true essence, and living a joyful, purpose-driven life. Through positive mindset coaching, immersive workshops, and heartfelt connections to kindle profound impact, ripples of love, compassion, and happiness across the globe."Pooja has been awarded multiple times for all her avatars, be it for her individual contributions, as a professional and a humanitarian. Her recent awards (2024 and 2023) include Inspiring Women Leaders (2024) ET inspiring women leaders 2024 by Economic Times Healthcare heroes Award (2024) for Wellness entrepreneurshipleading wellness entrepreneur 2023 by Shakti Awards was part of the “We women want” movement which was tweeted about by PM Modi. Wellness Entrepreneur of the Year 2023 by Business GoaPooja is diploma holder with CHII on modalities for behavioural resolutions, health resolutions, spiritual hypnosis, clinical hypnotherapy, as well as has certifications in courses such as NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming). Her certifications also include metasciences such as Karuna Reiki, Usui Reiki, Magnified healing, Heal your life, Shamanism and more.She is also a Jay Shetty certified life coach and accredited to the AC ((international body of coaches) Her transformational workshops have also been conducted for FICCI-Flo chapters pan India, EO (Entrepreneur Organisation), corporates, various women’s groups, Social entrepreneur groups & educational institutions across the country.Her wellness brand Happy Soul has caught the attention of healers, the business community and health enthusiasts. Under the guidance of the Goldman Sachs 10K program at the IIM in Bangalore in 2023, she recreated, restructured and created a robust business model for her Passion Project. Happy Soul is being positioned to be an umbrella and front runner in the world of wellness which is globally a 6 trillion dollar industry.

Jha was born in Patna, India, on 22 December 1938. In 1961, he joined the United Nations, where he spent five years in the United Nations Development Programme UNDP. He spent two of these five years in New York City as a special assistant to the managing director of the Special Fund, Paul G. Hoffman, who was the first administrator of the UNDP. The remaining three were spent in Damascus, Syria.In 1966, Jha returned to India and joined the Hindustan Times as an assistant editor. In 1969, he moved to The Times of India and became its regular economic and later political columnist . After two brief stints as the Acting editor of the Economic Times, and Editor of the Financial Express, columnist where he was the deputy editor of The Economic Times. Between 1979 and 1981, he was briefly the Acting editor of the Economic Times and Editor of the Financial Express before returning to the Times of India as its senior Assistant Editor. He resigned from the Times of India in 1986 on ethical grounds and re-joined the Hindustan Times as its editor in December 1986. From 1987 till 1990 he was also the India correspondent of The Economist. In 1990 he was the media advisor to Prime minister V.P Singh. During the Emergency in India ( 1975-78) Jha was a visiting Fellow at Nuffield college , Oxford in 1976-78. He has also been a visiting professor at the Universities of Virginia and Richmond (1996-2000) , and Sciences Po in and a visiting Fellow at Harvard in 1994-95, 2006-08, and 2019-23.

PRIYAMBADA JAYAKUMAR was raised in India, specifically in the City of Joy - Kolkata. Born to a Bengali mother and a Tamil father, she completed her schooling from La Martiniere for Girls, Kolkata. The capital city of Delhi soon beckoned where she received her BA (Hons) degree in History from St. Stephen's College, University of Delhi. A Tripos in Social and Political Sciences followed thereafter from the University of Cambridge. Subsequently, she attended Harvard University for a further period of study. She is married with three children and currently lives in Singapore.

Raaja Bhasin is the nom de plume of Chandra Haas Bhasin. He has published fifteen critically acclaimed and award-winning books and over three thousand articles, stories and reviews in various leading publications in India and abroad. He is an internationally acknowledged authority on the town of Shimla, the Western Himalaya and on 19th and 20th century India, his writing covers history, travel, fiction and poetry.

Dr Rakhshanda Jalil is a writer, critic and literary historian. She has published over 30 books and 50 academic papers. She has published six edited volumes of short stories: Urdu Stories (Srishti, 2002), a selection by Pakistani women writers called Neither Night Nor Day (Harper Collins, 2007), New Urdu Writings: From India and Pakistan (Westland, 2013), Pigeons of the Dome: Stories of Communalism (Niyogi Books, 2015), Preeto & Other Stories: The Male Gaze in Urdu (Niyogi Books, 2019); a collection of essays on the little known monuments of Delhi, called Invisible City (Niyogi, 2008, revised third edition 2011); two co-authored books, Partners in Freedom: Jamia Millia Islamia (Niyogi, 2006) and Journey to a Holy Land: A Pilgrim’s Diary (OUP, 2009). She was co-editor of Third Frame, a journal devoted to literature, culture and society brought out by the Cambridge University Press. She has edited and introduced a volume of essays entitled Qurratulain Hyder and the River of Fire: The Meaning, Scope and Significance of her Legacy (Aakar, 2010; and Oxford University Press, Karachi, 2010).Some of her works of translations include: Premchand’s short stories entitled The Temple and the Mosque (Harper Collins, 1992; revised and enlarged 2011); a collection of satirical writing in Hindi by Asghar Wajahat entitled Lies: Half Told (Srishti, 2002); 32 satirical cameos by Saadat Hasan Manto entitled Black Borders (Rupa & Co., 2003); Through the Closed Doorway, nazms by Urdu poet Shahryar (Rupa & Co. 2004); short stories by Intizar Husain entitled Circle and Other Stories (Rupa & Co. 2004; Sang-e-Meel, Lahore, 2012); a collection of Premchand’s short stories for children called A Winter’s Tale and Other Stories (Puffin, 2007); Naked Voices and other Stories – a collection of stories and sketches by Saadat Hasan Manto translated by her from Urdu (Roli, 2008); and Panchlight and Other Stories by Hindi writer Phanishwarnath Renu (Orient Blackswan, 2010). Her translations of Intizar Husain’s short stories The Death of Sheherzad (Harper Collins, 2014) was shortlisted for the Crossword Award; and her translation of Intizar Husain’s seminal novel Aage Samandar Hai, as The Sea Lies Ahead, for Harper Collins won the German Embassy-Karachi Litfest Pakistan Peace Prize in 2016 and the Runners-Up and Jury's Commendation for the Muse India Translation Award 2017.She has been running an organization called Hindustani Awaaz since 2003, devoted to the popularization of Hindi-Urdu literature and culture and curates an annual day-long celebration of the literary culture of Urdu, entitled Afreen, Afreen.Her Ph. D. on the 'Progressive Writers' Movement as Reflected in Urdu Literature' was published by Oxford University Press as Liking Progress, Loving Change. Another book, a biography of Urdu feminist writer Dr Rashid Jahan, has been published by Women Unlimited as A Rebel and Her Cause (2014, and also published by Oxford University Press, Karachi). With over 20 books behind her and over 50 academic papers at seminars and conferences, at present she contributes regularly to national and international newspapers and magazines, writing book reviews, opinion pieces and travelogues. She also contributes regularly to Himal (Kathmandu), The Herald (Karachi) and The Friday Times (Lahore), apart from the Indian Express, The Hindu, Biblio, The Literary Review, The Wire, Scroll, Firstpost, Outlook, etc. in India. Her debut collection of fiction, Release & Other Stories, was published by Harper Collins (India, 2011), and received critical acclaim.Her recent books include: Looking Back: The 1947 Partition of India,70 Years On, co-edited with Tarun K. Saint and Debjani Sengupta (Oxford Blackswan, 2017); Footprints on the Zero Line: Writings on the Partition, translation of short stories and poems by Gulzar (Harper Collins, 2017); The Traitor, a translation of Krishan Chandar’s novel Ghaddar (Westland/Amazon, 2017); An Uncivil Woman: Writings on Ismat Chughtai (Oxford University Press, 2017); a critical biography of the Urdu poet called Shahryar: A Life in Poetry (Harper Collins, 2018); The Great War: Indian Responses to the First World War (Bloomsbury, 2018); Kaifiyat, a translation of Kaifi Azmi’s poems (Penguin Random House, 2019); Jallianwala Bagh: Literary Responses in Prose and Poetry (Niyogi, 2019); a collection of essays on Identity, Culture, Politics and Literature entitled But You Don’t Look Like a Muslim (Harper Collins, 2019), and more recently Gandhinama, edited and introduced the Devnagri edition of Akbar Allahabadi’s poem (Vani Prakashan, 2020), The Fall of Dhaka and Creation of Bangladesh: Literary Responses in Urdu and Bangla, co-edited with Debjani Sengupta (Orient Blackswan, 2021), a selection of writings from Urdu, Bangla and English entitled Bangladesh: Writings on 1971 Across Borders (co-edited with Debjani Sengupta, Orient Blackswan, 2022), Urdu: The Best Stories of Our Times (Harper Collins, 2023), Baal-o-Par, a translation of the collected works of Gulzar (Harper Collins 2024), The Loharu Legacy (Roli Books, 2024), and most recently Love in the Time of Hate: In the Mirror of Urdu (Simon & Schuster, 2024).She was given the Kaifi Azmi Award for her contribution to Urdu Literature in 2016 and the First Jawad Memorial Urdu-English Translation Award in 2017. She is a Trustee of the Ghalib Institute, PEN (Delhi Chapter), Seva Mandir (Udaipur) and Chairperson of Sarvodaya International Trust (Delhi Chapter. She also serves on the Board of the annual Shankar-Shad Mushaira in Delhi organized by the DCM Shriram Group.She is the Editor of the Taj magazine, a bi-annual book-length journal of the Taj group of hotels.

Richa S. Mukherjee is a Ted X speaker, an award-winning writer, ex-journalist and ex-advertising professional. She is the author of five novels, three of which are headed for screen adaptations. She is a blogger and travel writer and contributes to several platforms. Her work and words have featured in publications such as The Times of India, Mid Day, The Asian Age, New India Express, The Bombay Times and Hindustan Times. Rolling Stones Magazine India featured her as part of a Women In Creativity initiative in 2023 and she serves on the jury for the South Asian chapter of the Laadli Media and Advertising awards for Gender sensitivity. She has authored e-singles, anthologies and audio books. She is an avid traveler, fitness enthusiast and a Kathak dancer.

Rishi Majumder is a columnist, co-founder of the digital history project Indian History Collective and director of the creative agency Oijo which excels in brand management and content creation for a diverse array of clients (including its own media verticals). Before becoming a creative entrepreneur Majumder was a journalist. Trained in law and economics, he has formerly been the Managing Editor of the Vice media group in India, the co-producer and host of the India end of the global online music show BalconyTV and the senior editor of the award winning film webzine The Big Indian Picture. This was preceded by stints in Mumbai Mirror and Tehelka (as principal correspondent). Majumder’s journalistic work spans narrative longform, opinion pieces, investigative stories, essays, features and news reports on a range of subjects including, but not limited to, policy, politics and culture. His work has appeared in nearly every major Indian publication as well as some outlets abroad. He has spoken at various national and international forums on these areas, including on radio and television. He is also the curator and moderator of a series of talks on literature and the arts, called ‘Goethe Darbaar’, at the Goethe-Institut, New Delhi, which has been going on for over two years now.

Sandhya Gokhale, a multifaceted force bridging law, art, and activism, crafts a world where logic and reason meets soul. A fearless advocate and storyteller, she has redefined conventions with her unique lens. Celebrated for her unwavering conviction and bold stands, her work resonates with deep empathy and quiet strength.Her professional journey as a civil rights advocate in the USA was complemented by her enduring passions for Indian classical music and creative writing. She has authored eight feature film scripts garnering acclaim for their varied themes and powerful women- centric narratives. Paheli (The Riddle) based on Vijaydan ji Detha's epic story 'Duvidha' was chosen as the Indian official entry to the Oscar Awards in 2006. Directing ‘Bhinna Shadja’ (Note Extraordinaire), a documentary celebrating Padma Vibhushan Kishori Amonkar's legacy, remains her most cherished and significant accomplishment.She and her husband Amol Palekar share a commitment to social responsibility striving for a better world through collective action.

Sandiip Bhammer is the founder and managing partner of Green Frontier Capital, a leading India-focused climate-tech venture firm. With over 30 years of global finance experience, he has held prominent investment roles at DA Capital, Balyasny Asset Management and the Amaranth Group, as well as senior investment banking positions at Citigroup, HSBC and CLSA. As an adjunct professor of Finance at UMass Amherst’s Isenberg School of Management he taught sustainability-focused startup investing. He continues to mentor and serve on several startup boards across India and the USA. Sandiip holds an MBA from Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management, an MSc in Finance and a BSc in Business Administration from Boston College’s Carroll School of Management. He was awarded the 2022 Meaningful Business 100 Award.

Sangeeta Waldron is a multi-award-winning communications expert and bestselling author, specialising in climate change, sustainability, and corporate social responsibility. A Climate Reality Leader trained by Al Gore, she brings deep insight and strategic vision to her work with global brands, government ministers, and leading charities.She is the founder of Serendipity PR & Media, a London-based agency, and has written speeches for UK government officials while advising some of the world’s most influential organisations.In May 2025, Sangeeta co-launched Legacy Makers, a limited podcast series exploring climate change, alongside Giles Trendle, former Managing Director of Al Jazeera English.An international speaker, guest lecturer, and moderator, she is also the global contributing editor for the India CSR Network, one of India’s largest sustainability news platforms.Her third and latest book, What Will Your Legacy Be? – Conversations With Global Game Changers About The Climate Crisis, was published in January 2025 and presented at Davos 2025. The book quickly became a bestseller and is praised for its urgent and insightful dialogue on the future of our planet.Sangeeta’s second book, Corporate Social Responsibility Is Not Public Relations (2021), was shortlisted for the UK Business Book Awards, with a foreword by acclaimed British journalist Lucy Siegle. Her debut, The PR Knowledge Book, was published in 2019.She currently serves on the advisory board of Bridge India, a progressive, award-winning think tank focused on public policy and international dialogue.

Santosh Desai has spent his professional life at the intersection of brands and culture. Over the past four decades, he has worked in advertising and marketing, serving as President of McCann Erickson India and CEO of Futurebrands. He now leads Think9 Consumer Technologies, which works with start-ups on growth and consumer insight.Alongside his professional work, he writes regularly on the social and cultural shifts shaping everyday India. His weekly column City City Bang Bang in the Times of India, now in its 21st year, reflects on how the country is changing in small but telling ways. His first book, Mother Pious Lady – Making Sense of Middle Class India, looked at the texture of post-liberalisation life. His forthcoming book, Memes for Mummyji – India After the Mobile Phone, explores how technology is subtly but profoundly reshaping how we live.

 

After an MBA from IIM-Ahmedabad, Serena Jacob pursued a 37-year career in Qualitative Research. Over this period, she worked closely with senior qualitative practitioners, country MDs and client leaders across the Asia-Pacific region to deliver transformative thinking to businesses until her retirement in 2024.She is currently working on co-authoring a book about Branding in the Social Sector, which she hopes to publish next year.

Shobhaa Dé is a celebrated author, journalist, columnist, and social commentator. Amitav Ghosh has described her officially as "A national treasure."She has more than twenty bestselling books to her name. Her works have been extensively translated into a variety of languages, including French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish.

Smita Tharoor is a motivational keynote speaker and thought leader on the Unconscious Bias and how it influences all of us. Smita has spoken at conferences all over the world from Philadelphia to Penang with Berlin and Bangalore in the middle. She talks about women’s empowerment, emotional resilience, change management, cultural agility, leading in times of uncertainty and other similar topics all embedded by our unconscious bias.She is the co-founder of Culturelytics a company that uses artificial intelligence to understand culture in an organisation and the founder of Tharoor Associates a Training,Coaching and Organisational development company. She is a TEDx Speaker, Broadcaster, Trainer, Coach, Mentor, Mindfulness Practitioner and University Lecturer.In her podcast, Stories Seldom Told she has interviewed people around the world to share their stories and life lessons on how they manage their unconscious biases. The podcast has just completed eight seasons including 43 inspirational women. These 43 women have all shown how they have managed themselves when times were tough, how resilient they have been and how entirely due to their own sense of self belief they have overcome odds that many others would crumble under. It currently has the global ranking of being in the top 5% of podcasts listened and is heard in 107 countries. Smita is a Coach, an Adjunct Professor at OP Jindal Global University, India. She is the recipient of the “Global Diversity Leadership” Award at the 2017 World HRD Congress. She is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development, an NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) Practitioner, Coach, Mentor and Mindfulness Practitioner.Growing up in pluralistic India taught her the value of tolerance and the appreciation of accepting differences. She is passionate about the unconscious bias and how it impacts on all aspects of leadership development. Her experience working in the UK, India, Europe, Asia, and the USA gives her a unique advantage in understanding the expectations and needs of different cultures.

Sonali Gupta is one of India’s leading clinical psychotherapists with two decades of experience. She works with young adults, artists, couples, and corporates to enhance their emotional well-being. She works at the intersection of relationships, grief, anxiety, and compassion. Sonali was awarded the Elle Mental Health Expert Award for 2023. She won the Cosmopolitan Mental Health Advocate for the year 2023-2024. Sonali writes a fortnightly column for the national daily Hindustan times called Adulting sucks and for Mint Lounge called ‘Heart of the Matter’ Her first book 'Anxiety: Overcome It and Live without Fear” was released May 2020 on by HarperCollins. Her second book, 'You will be alright :A guide to navigating Grief published by Penguin Random House, released in October 2024 and is the first book that looks at grief and loss from an Indian perspectiveWith over 1 lakh subscribers, her YouTube channel “Mental Health with Sonali’ is one of, if not the, largest for a mental health professional in India. Sonali’s work and expertise has been recognised by mainstream media. She is also deeply loved and respected within the mental health community.