Speakers and Speaker Coaches
Meet our speakers
Get to know the speakers for TEDxFLAMEUniversity 2024!
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Mrs. Sahar Mansoor
A Zero-Waste Environmentalist | Founder of Bare Necessities | Winner of Young Leader Award (2022)
Sahar Mansoor is the founder and CEO of Bare Necessities, a social enterprise rooted in the philosophy of zero-waste, circular economy and sustainability. Her business offers zero-waste personal care, lifestyle, home care and educational products and services, including online sustainability courses. Sahar has co-authored ‘Bare Necessities - How to lead a zero-waste life’ Published by Penguin Random House. Her time working at the World Health Organization in Geneva and SELCO Foundation, on implementing decentralized solar energy projects in rural Karnataka, enabled her to build Bare Necessities from the ground up. Her work has been recognized by Google India, Al Jazeera, NDTV, Vogue, Elle, Cosmopolitan and Harper's Bazaar among others. Sahar was most recently awarded the Cartier Young Leader award in 2022 for Bare Necessities social impact, business model and for building bridges across people, disciplines and cultures. She is a circular-economy nerd and attempts to live a low impact lifestyle. Sahar enjoys hiking, biking, backpacking and attempting to play football. Check out her business at barenecessities.in
Dr. Kuiljeit Uppaal
World’s First Image Scientist | Polymath and CEO, Krea | Recipient of the Karmaveer Chakra by United Nations (2019)
Dr. Kuiljeit Uppaal, renowned as the 'World's First Image Scientist' and 'Impact Strategist,' has received numerous national and international awards, including the prestigious Karmaveer Chakra Award by the United Nations. With a Ph.D. in Image Management and three master's degrees in diverse areas, she is an expert in Persona & Image Management, Psychometrics, NLP, and more. Dr. Kuiljeit is the author of 'PRIM & POWERFUL,' the world's first book in PRIM, winning the 'India Prime Top 100 Authors Award.' As a thought leader and celebrity mentor, she guides public figures and professionals worldwide, aiming to impact at least one million individuals positively. Dr. Kuiljeit serves on advisory boards, including the Intercontinental School of Economics & Applied Sciences, UK, and holds leadership positions in organizations such as the Women's Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Applauded as a 'Scientistpreneur,' she exemplifies the talent of a Genius Polymath and a progressive Indian woman.
Mr. Chintan Rachchh
Actor in Netflix Series Class (2023) | Poet | KBC kids contestant
Chintan Rachchh, a well-known Theatre Artist, made his debut as the youngest cast member of Class (2023). Chintan's journey from a small-town boy to a theater artist to dropping out of IIIT engineering, to becoming one of the most popular poets on social media has been inspiring for many.
Chintan was born in Rajkot, Gujarat and completed his schooling from Genius English Medium School post which secured an admission in IIIT Karnataka. Being a hardcore actor at heart, Chintan left his course in Karnataka and shifted to Mumbai to complete his education as well as persue his passion for Acting. He completed his engineering from NMIMS, Mumbai in 2022 and was appearing for exams while shooting for Élite's Indian adaptation, Class (2023).
Before making his debut as an actor, Chintan also featured on the kids special episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati in 2012.
Ar. Arshleen Kaur Sahni
Space Architect working with ISRO | Co-Founder Ancient Technologies
Ar. Arshleen Kaur Sahni is an award winning Architect, space architect, researcher and the Co-founder of World's first Cosmic Architecture research design lab: Ancient Technologies. She has been fortunate to share her expertise and passion in the field of cosmic architecture and space architecture at various notable platforms including various colleges such as CEPT, LPU, Amity University Chhattisgarh, Poornima University and ITM University. She believes that the Cosmos is endless and so is the journey of exploration of its very existence.
Dr. Seema Waghmode
Leading Activist for Sex Worker Rehabilitation | Founder of Seema’s Project
Seema Waghmode founded Rev. Haribhau Waghmode Patil Pratishthan in 2005 as a means of rescuing and providing a safe home for the children of sex workers in the Red light area of Pune, India. RHWPP aims to empower the sex workers in the red light area of Pune. A well respected name in the world of social action, her expertise and 30 years of experience in the issues such as Women’s rights, sex trafficking, gender based violence, HIV/AIDS, Child Rights, etc. Seema and her husband Shirish reside in Bori, India and have two daughters and three grandchildren.
Mr. Ajinkya Dhariya
2021 Forbes 30 Under 30 (Healthcare and Science) | Shark Tank S2 4-shark deal worth Rs. 25 cr
Ajinkya Dhariya, Founder and CEO at PadCare Labs, He is Sanitation Entrepreneur. He graduated in 2017, and then started PadCare Labs in 2018 with a vision to shape sustainable societies by enhancing hygiene standards. He is a product enthusiast and loves to solve consumer centric problems with design thinking approach. He is Curious and courageous. Ajinkya's Curiosity drives him to forge new paths and develop Bold, Innovative, and Progressive solutions like Sanitary Napkin Disposal and recycling. His courage empowers the challenge vested interests, pursue unconventional ideas and fight for the health of our planet and its people to bring prosperity. He is pursuing the dream for a sustainable society with his 3Ps, Passion, Perseverance, and Persistence. His efforts were recognized by Forbes 30 U 30, Shark tank India, World Economic Forum, UK- Royal Engineering Academy and Government of India. He is acting as a young ambassador to inspire social actions for healthier people and the planet.
Raymond Moses
Business Consultant | Entrepreneur
Raymond Moses is the founder of MoneyWorks4Me (2008), a site dedicated to helping retail investors invest successfully in stocks and mutual funds. He is also the founding director of The Alchemists Ark (2000) - a business consulting, training, and e-learning company with many market-leading companies as clients. Prior to starting his entrepreneurial journey 25+ years ago he worked with Castrol (1986 -97) and Hindustan Lever (1983-86). Raymond is a B.Tech. Chemical Engineering from IIT-K (1978-83) Born in Mumbai, he now lives in Pune with his wife. They have adopted three cats after their twin boys moved abroad He is a life-long avid reader, passionate about self-actualisation.
Ravi Saha
Innovation Consultant
Passionate problem solver, educator, and innovator. Accenture Student Achiever Award recipient in 2019. Aired live on Kalinga TV to discuss curriculum design for Literacy and Emotional Learning in 2018. Invited by South Korea and Japan for cultural exchange programs in 2017 & 2016. Currently working on fulfilling Article 21A of the Indian Constitution for the right to education. Developed and implemented an efficient method to enhance literacy rates, emphasizing citizen involvement in nation development. Believes in a collective effort for India's progress, combining individual actions with good governance. Will discuss strategies during talks. Emphasizes the importance of emotions in actions and advocates for developing emotional intelligence. Working towards achieving a balanced and empathetic society based on India's philosophies.
Meet our speaker coaches
Get to know the speakers for TEDxFLAMEUniversity 2024!
Aman Zaidi
Aman Zaidi stands as a versatile professional, distinguished for his transformative influence in facilitation, strategic consultancy, and storytelling. His ability to navigate high-pressure scenarios with a blend of professionalism and warmth has left an enduring mark on teams. Aman's storytelling prowess, evident in workshops like "the stories we tell ourselves," showcases his rare talent for evoking transformative shifts in perspectives. In the realm of strategic consultancy, Aman's focus on strengths and profiles has redefined business efficiency, leading entrepreneurs to report increased productivity and mental rejuvenation. Aman's facilitation skills, coupled with his expert knowledge of Strengthscope, make him a sought-after figure for those seeking career development and positive change in both personal and professional realms.
Amit Kundal
Prof Amit Kundal is the Associate Dean of the Faculty of Design, Art, and Performance at FLAME University. With over 12 years of experience in design practice and academia, he has developed a broad skill set that includes teaching Design-led Innovation, developing new programs/courses, managing creative teams, and doing design-driven research. Prof Kundal's expertise also extends to UX/UI, Interaction Design, Re-defining User Journeys, Courses/Workshop delivery, and Design and Business Innovation tools for strategic design innovation. He holds a Doctorate of Philosophy from IIT Kanpur with a focus on design thinking in complex practice. Prof Kundal is actively involved with the global design thinking movement and has served as a Faculty mentor with the SUGAR Network of Design Thinking, PDP at Aalto Design Factory and a member of various design committees and juries.
Michael Burns
Michael Burns, Ph.D. is an author, award-winning filmmaker, writing coach, and university instructor in Pune, India. He's also the founder of Tall Tales, South Asia's most popular creative writing workshop series, online at talltales.in. In his classes and seminars, he shares his observations on story structure, writing best practices, editing strategies, and professional communication details that he's developed over the past two decades.
Kunal Sarpal
Adv. CS. Kunal R. Sarpal (kunal@whitecollarlegal.in), a leading lawyer since 2013, excels in Corporate, Commercial, and Intellectual Property law. A B.Com topper, first-attempt CS (AIR holder), and law graduate from ILS Law College Pune. Founder Partner of award-winning boutique law firm White Collar Legal LLP, ranked top 10 in India in 2016 and 2017, with 500+ clients served by a team of 50+ across 5+ offices. Passionate about entrepreneurship, delivers keynote speeches and workshops, and serves as visiting faculty at Flame University, TISS, IIMs, and MIT. A Tedx speaker and Youth Ambassador for the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, actively promotes student entrepreneurship and startups. Facilitated startups in raising ~$40 million USD in funding since 2017. Presents papers nationally and internationally, serves on the board of directors for various companies, and is fluent in 7 languages. Division Director at District 98, Toastmasters International, an angel investor in startups, and a published author on law, entrepreneurship, and intellectual property.
Nancy Katyal
Nancy Katyal, a renowned expert in Executive Presence, Leadership, and Communication Skills, boasts two decades of experience. As a visiting faculty at top management institutes like IIM & MIT University, she guides individuals, leaders, and organizations to lead purposefully, profitably, and impactfully. With 5000+ coaching hours, she has transformed over a million lives through her programs, coaching CXOs, celebrities, politicians, and corporate VPs. As the CEO of The Perfect You, her work is featured in leading magazines and newspapers, and her bestselling book, "Commit To Yourself," offers a behavioral science-based blueprint for self-leadership. Nancy's contributions to education earned her accolades, including the Lokmat Sakhi Sanman Award, Iconic Women recognition by WEF, and the REX Karmaveer Chakra award by the United Nations. A LIMCA Book & GUINNESS world record holder, she was featured on Zee (24 taas) and "She the Change" coffee table book. Passionate about unlocking personal and professional potential, Nancy serves as an Advisor and Mentor at prestigious international platforms and is the President of the Leadership & Mentoring Council @WICCI.
Heather Sottong
Prof. Heather Sottong is Assistant Professor – Literary & Cultural Studies at FLAME University. She received her PhD degree and MA in Italian from the University of California, Los Angeles. In addition, she also has two undergraduate degrees, a Laurea in Foreign Languages and Literatures from the Università degli Studi di Firenze (Italy) and a Bachelor’s degree in German Literature from the University of Notre Dame. Prof. Heather has a total work experience of over fifteen years and was associated with UCLA, UC Riverside, and Northeast Normal University (China). She specializes in medieval and Renaissance literature in comparative contexts and the literary appropriation of Dante in the Americas. Her research and publications focus on the role that the Divine Comedy played in 19th- and 20th-century Argentine letters and politics. Prior to joining FLAME, Heather was Visiting Assistant Professor of Italian and Comparative Literature at UC Riverside and Principal Editor for the UCLA Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies, where she managed the journals Viator and Comitatus and the book series Cursor Mundi. While living in LA she also worked as a dialect coach in television and film.
Ishita Katyal
Ishita Katyal, a Speaker Coach and Deputy Chief of Curation for TEDxFLAMEUniversity, stands out as a trailblazer in the realm of public speaking. The daughter of Nancy Katyal, another speaker coach for the event, Ishita has seamlessly embraced her role and made significant contributions to the TEDx community. Notably, she holds the distinction of being one of the youngest speakers at a TED event, exemplifying her prowess in delivering impactful talks. Ishita's commitment to spreading joy and curating meaningful conversations shines through her role as a speaker, coach, and curator, making her a noteworthy presence in the world of public speaking and event curation.