Theme: Pioneering Ingenuity

TEDxSIUKirkee provides a platform for the brightest minds to be inspired and to inspire others

Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies (SIMS)
Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies (SIMS) , Range Hills Road , Khadki
Pune, Maharashtra, 411020
India

Dhaval Bathia

Renowned Mind Trainer

Dhaval Bathia, renowned Mind Trainer, is the author of 5 international bestselling books that have been translated and published in 14 languages across the world. Dhaval has his name in the GUINNESS Book Of World Records for teaching the highest number of students and the LIMCA Book Of World Records for teaching in the highest number of schools.

Francois Gautier

French political writer and journalist

A famous writer, blogger and journalist, François Gautier was born in Paris in 1959. In the early eighties, he began freelancing in India for different publications and finally ended-up being the correspondent in South Asia, for the Geneva-based “Journal de Geneve”, then one of the best international newspapers in Europe. In 1993, he switched to Figaro, one of France’s leading newspapers for which he worked exclusively for eight years. He also started writing regular columns for Indian newspapers, first in Blitz Bombay, then in the Hindustan Times, later came the ‘Ferengi’s column” in the Indian Express, then the “French Connection” column in the Pioneer, as well as regular contributions for Outlook, Rediff, New Indian Express, DainikJagran, etc.

Khurshed Batliwala

Director of WAYE (World Alliance for Youth Empowerment)

Also known as BAWA, Khurshed Batliwala is an alumnus form IIT Bombay and well known for his myriad personality, Bawa is committed to utilizing every moment of his time in enriching the lives of people around. A day spent with him could make you have a taste of the most amazing meals (that he has cooked in a jiffy), to listening to beautiful western classical music pieces (that he picks up effortlessly on his piano), to playing the most interesting board games (which he picks up from various parts of the world during his travel) to even discovering the magic of mathematics that you perhaps never knew existed. He enjoys movies with happy endings and is partial to theater, comedies and musicals being his favourites.

Lakshmi Rebecca

Talk show host,director and producer

An award-winning online talk show host, filmmaker and anchor, Lakshmi Rebecca is popularly known for her online talk show, Chai with Lakshmi. She is also a motor-biker, ex-model and was once a social worker and researcher. Lakshmi also blogs and shares about her life and what she learnt from it.

Maral Yazarloo

Head of Retail

Maral Yazarloo is the Head of Retail at a major real estate company. She is Iranian by origin but calls India her home. She is a bike enthusiast, traveler, and a fashion diva that has her independent fashion brand.

Seema Rao

First Woman Commando Trainer in India

Dr. Seema Rao, India’s first and only woman commando trainer. Trained 15,000 commandos without compensation for 20 years. Movie maker, Inventor, Author of world’s first encyclopedia of CQB, Beauty pageant finalist, Doctor, Sky diver, Scuba diver, Fire fighter and winner of world peace award

Vaibhav Sethia

Stand-up comedian

Vaibhav Sethia is an eminent Stand up Comedian and writer. He graduated in Architecture from IIT Roorkee and then worked in 5 different fields until he found his true calling in Stand up Comedy. He constituted the "first batch of comedians" in Kolkata and has extensively performed over 500 shows in his new found passion.

Vithika Yadav

Human Rights Activist

Vithika Yadav is a human rights professional, with more than a decade long experience of working on sexual rights and gender rights, human trafficking and modern day slavery. In 2012 she was awarded as one of the Top 99 under 33 Young Foreign Policy Leaders in the world by Diplomatic Courier and Young Professionals in Foreign Policy in USA.