TEDxBHIS Kanpur Youth

Speakers

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

• Abhinandan Singh

  Fuel Wings, Founder & CEO

  Abhinandan Singh is a dynamic entrepreneur, strategist, and Founder & CEO of Fuel Wings, a growth and marketing innovation company focused on empowering early-stage ventures and brands. With a background in architecture and expertise spanning marketing strategy, business growth, and startup ecosystems, he has been recognized among 40 Under 40 achievers for his impact in driving business transformation. Abhinandan’s work blends creative problem-solving with practical execution, helping organizations scale and adapt in rapidly evolving markets. As a speaker, he brings real-world insights on innovation, leadership, and building the future through bold ideas and strategic vision.

• Ankit Agarwal

  Pool.co Founder

  Ankit Agarwal is a social entrepreneur and founder of Phool.co, an award-winning biomaterials and sustainability venture that transforms floral waste into eco-friendly products, including charcoal-free incense and vegan “fleather.” From Kanpur, India, Ankit has built Phool into a widely recognized example of circular innovation, creating dignified employment opportunities and reducing environmental pollution. His work has earned recognition from Forbes 30 Under 30 and the United Nations Young Leader for SDGs Award, and has been featured by global platforms including Stanford and international sustainability networks. Ankit’s experience spans environmental design, community impact, and global sustainable enterprise, inspiring audiences to rethink how traditional waste can become tomorrow’s high-impact ideas.

• Anmay Shahlot

  Co-founder, atovio

  Anmay Shahlot is a problem-driven entrepreneur focused on making clean air accessible at scale. With 83 of the world’s 100 most polluted cities in India, he believes innovation must move faster than policy. He co-founded atovio, India’s most effective portable air purifier, validated by the National Aerosol Facility at IIT Kanpur with up to 90% pollution reduction. Anmay’s work addresses the reality that over 80 crore Indians breathe toxic air daily, often with no affordable or practical solutions. Through a lightweight, wearable technology, he is building tools for those who can’t afford to wait for systemic change.

• Arya Agarwal

  Senior Marketing Manager at Numberly

  In a world that never stops changing, waiting for clarity can paradoxically cost us time, confidence, and momentum. Arya Agarwal challenges the notion that we must find ourselves before we act. Instead, she reframes personal growth as an active practice. Drawing from insights in neuroplasticity and lived experience, Arya introduces a framework for navigating uncertainty through exposure, discomfort, reflection, and recalibration. Her message is simple yet profound: you don’t find yourself by waiting; you train yourself into who you’re becoming.

• Cdr Abhishek Kankan Kankan

  VP Projects, Gallantry Awardee

  Cdr Abhishek Kankan is a decorated leader, gallantry awardee, and expert in high-performance leadership with over two decades of service in the Indian Navy. A submariner marine commando and Mt Everest summiteer, he combines real-world operational experience with strategic insight in project leadership, risk management, and human potential. As VP of Projects with a strong background in engineering and execution, Abhishek also delivers transformative leadership training programs that equip individuals and teams to excel under pressure and innovate with purpose. His perspective on resilience, adaptability, and purposeful action continues to inspire audiences across leadership forums and youth platforms globally.

• Dr. Anuradha Batabyal

  Assistant Professor, FLAME University

  Dr. Anuradha Batabyal is an environmental scientist and educator driven by curiosity, adventure, and a deep love for nature. An Assistant Professor at FLAME University, India, her work explores how humans and other animals adapt to environmental stress through changes in behaviour, physiology, and cognition. A former Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Calgary, her research focuses on learning and memory under stress, with special attention to mental health and resilience among student populations in India. Through science, teaching, and communication, she bridges research and real-world impact to help young minds rethink how we adapt, cope, and innovate in a changing world.

• Himanshu Agarwal

  Origami Artist & Curator

  Himanshu Agrawal is a creative innovator, origami artist, curator, and professional voiceover artist based in Mumbai. With a passion for transforming ideas into expressive art and meaningful communication, he bridges traditional craftsmanship with modern creative platforms. Himanshu’s work blends artistic precision with storytelling, inspiring audiences to see creativity as a powerful force for innovation and change. At TEDx BHIS Kanpur Youth, he brings a unique perspective on how imaginative thinking and everyday creativity can shape the future of ideas.

• Manish Tripathi

  aantarDESI Founder

  Manish Tripathi is a Delhi-based fashion designer, social entrepreneur, philanthropist, and TED speaker known for creating fashion with purpose. An alumnus of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), he is widely recognised for blending Indian heritage textiles with modern silhouettes to tell powerful stories of tradition, spirituality, sustainability, and social impact. He is best known for designing the ceremonial outfits of Ram Lalla at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir, Ayodhya, and for conceptualising the official mission badge for India’s ISRO-NASA Axiom-1 space mission. As the founder of aantarDESI, Manish uses design as a tool for cultural preservation, artisan empowerment, and community upliftment... redefining fashion as a force for innovation, identity, and purpose.

• Rajesh Srivastava

  Corporate Coach

  Rajesh Srivastava is a seasoned business leader, bestselling author, mentor, and corporate coach with decades of experience driving innovation across organisations. He has served as CEO of JK Helene Curtis, and his insights into leadership, strategy, and customer-centric growth have made him a respected voice in management circles. Rajesh is the author of The New Rules of Business and The 10 New Life Changing Skills, both published by Penguin Random House and recognised nationally; his work has also been translated into Korean, reflecting international appeal. An engaging educator and speaker with deep expertise in organisational transformation, Rajesh helps audiences rethink traditional frameworks and embrace forward-thinking approaches that shape future-ready ideas.

• Shirish Gupta

  Career Counsellor

  Shirish Gupta is an award-winning youth mentor, TEDx speaker, and career strategist dedicated to empowering the next generation with mindset mastery and purpose-driven action. With deep experience guiding students on career planning, personal development, and life-ready skills using proven coaching frameworks, Shirish has advised thousands of young learners and families toward meaningful choices and opportunities. He blends motivational insight with practical strategies to help people unlock their potential, make informed decisions, and turn aspirations into reality.

• Suresh Shankar

  CTDI India CEO & Director

  Suresh Kalburgi Shankar is a seasoned business leader, currently serving as CEO & Director of CTDI India, where he drives strategic growth, business development, and innovation across technology and supply-chain sectors. He brings deep experience in leadership, strategy, and people-centric transformation, with a strong focus on innovation and sustainable impact in business operations. Known for his thought leadership and insights on future-ready strategies, Suresh champions continuous learning, mindfulness, and human-centered approaches to navigating change.