TEDxSRMIST

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Cdr Prakash Thanwani

  Retired Naval Officer and Visionary Entrepreneur

  Cdr Prakash Thanwani is a Retired Naval Officer and visionary entrepreneur who has built multiple 8-figure businesses at the intersection of advanced science and wellness. After overcoming a life-threatening health crisis, he established himself as a leading authority in human physiology, partnering with global firms to introduce nanotechnology-based regimens to India. He is also a pioneer in the tech sector, driving the adoption of distributed computing through models that empower individual stakeholders. Through his organization, Oasis of Enlightenment (OOE), he leverages his military leadership to mentor the next generation of technical professionals.

• Chitra Sivasankar Arunagiri

  Educator, Academic Director

  Chitra Sivasankar Arunagiri is an educator and Academic Director focused on improving how schools function every day. He builds systems that help students find purpose beyond marks and supports teachers to grow as mentors. His work brings together discipline, values and practical ideas to create better learning environments. He also conducts workshops on leadership and character for students and educators. Chitra is driven to help young people become confident, responsible, and clear-thinking individuals.

• Dr. A Sivathanu Pillai

  Scientist, Chief Controller, R&D, DRDO

  Dr. Apathukatha Sivathanu Pillai is a visionary scientist and technologist widely regarded as the "Father of BrahMos", the joint venture between India and Russia to design, develop, produce, and market the world's fastest supersonic cruise missile. With over fifty years of experience in ISRO and DRDO under visionary leaders like Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, Prof. Satish Dhawan, and Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, he became a Technology Leader in the fields of satellite launch vehicles, guided missiles, and aerospace systems. He is a recipient of the Padma Shri (2002) and Padma Bhushan (2013) by the Government of India, and the Order of Friendship by the Government of the Russian Federation - the highest Russian award for foreign citizens.

• Ghazal Furniturewala

  Nutritionist

  Ghazal Furniturewala is a Nutritionist who has trained under and is working with Rujuta Diwekar for over 7 years. She works with a diverse set of clients from all walks of life, of all age groups and varying fitness levels, and plans diet and workout routines for them.

• Harshit Shankar

  Flautist

  Harshit Shankar is an accomplished Indian flautist and recipient of the prestigious Bal Shree National Award from the President of India. He is also the winner of India's Got Talent Season 10, known for blending classical tradition with cinematic expression and global collaborations. A disciple of Padma Vibhushan Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia and Rakesh Chaurasia, Harshit has performed at major music festivals across India and internationally. Through concerts, film music, collaborations, and his musical ensembles, he continues to present the Bansuri to contemporary and global audiences.

• Kishore K V

  Student, Founder of ClickFieldAI

  Kishore KV, currently pursuing 3rd year Btech CSE , at SRM university and Founder of ClickFieldAI, is an AI consulting Company driven by a deep curiosity about what influences human decisions. His journey began with a business rejection that led him to uncover the invisible forces - psychology, timing, and trust , that make people say “yes.” By mastering these, he went on to close multiple deals across Western markets. In his TEDx talk, “The Invisible Forces Which Make Us Say Yes,” Kishore shares how understanding these hidden patterns can transform rejection into opportunity and ideas into real-world outcomes.

• Manmohan Yadav

  Student, Founder of The Change App

  A fourth-year CSE student from SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, passionate about creating meaningful social impact. He is currently working on The Change App, an initiative focused on helping and supporting women communities through accessible solutions.

• Mrinali Thanwani

  Production Designer

  Mrinali Thanwani is a scenic and production designer known for creating immersive visual environments for theatre and film. She began her career in Bollywood as an Assistant Art Director and later pursued an MFA in Scene Design from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Currently, she is a Scene Design Fellow at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, bringing stories to life through innovative design.

• Ravi Kapoor

  Founder and Director of Tushar Gems

  Ravi Kapoor is the Founder and Director of Tushar Gems Pvt. Ltd., with over 28 years of experience in the gemstone and jewellery field. He started his business in 1998 in Karol Bagh, New Delhi, working with natural gemstones. Over time, he built a strong name based on trust, quality, and genuine products. He has expanded the business with a showroom in Gurugram to reach more customers. He is now also supporting the next generation, as his son grows the family business into modern jewellery.

• Sayani Chakraborty

  Indian classical Bharatanatyam Dancer

  Sayani Chakraborty is a prominent Indian classical Bharatanatyam Dancer. She is a senior disciple of Guru Smt. Rama Vaidyanathan, and is widely recognized as a performer, teacher, and choreographer, and the founder of the Dhruba Institute of Dance. Her training in other dance forms (Kathak, Classical Ballet, Jazz, and Tap) shows her versatile artistic education. She has presented her art on prestigious platforms such as NMACC (Mumbai), Dubai Expo 2021, and the Konark Dance Festival. Extending her reach beyond the stage, her YouTube choreographies like “TANDAV” and “AYI GIRI NANDINI” have resonated with audiences worldwide, gathering millions of views. Through her work Sayani continues to bridge classical roots with contemporary expression.