Ankit Bhattacharya

Student, Writer/Editor

Hailing from the vibrant state of Assam, India, I'm a finance student pursuing B.Com, currently in my final year at the International School of Management Excellence (ISME), one of Bengaluru's leading B-schools. Coming from a background rooted in core values of honesty, humility, empathy, and perseverance, instilled through a grounded upbringing, has made me the person I am today. Being a compassionate soul with a positive attitude, I thrive in a collaborative environment, tackling challenges with a smile. I'm an inquisitive learner with a knack for finances and content creation. As a finance enthusiast, my forte lies in financial planning, budgeting, and accounting which has helped me to assume the responsibility of managing the finances for IgnitoBuzz 2K23, our college's annual inter-collegiate fest. My passion for learning and academic excellence has helped me to co-author research papers on GenAI & Fintech. I also serve as the Academic Head of the Student Development Council in my college, fostering academic excellence among peers. But learning isn't confined to textbooks for me. Beyond academics, I nurture a love for interactive fiction, which has helped me hone my vocabulary and writing skills. This led me to develop a penchant for content writing which resulted in me being given the opportunity to serve as a LinkedIn correspondent for our college's social media team. Fueled by a passion for learning and sharing knowledge, I believe that the journey of learning never ends. TED Talks have always been a source of inspiration for me and I'm excited to be a part of the TED community and witness the power of ideas worth spreading.

Football, Gaming, Interactive Fiction, Research and Music

I believe in the idea of being a global citizen. Global citizenship extends beyond just possessing intercultural skills. It embodies the idea that our identity is not confined by national borders, and that global interests should take precedence over national interests, especially when the latter are detrimental to the former. While we all carry a national passport out of necessity, the world is our country. We are all citizens of Planet Earth and members of humanity, regardless of our nationality. Our well-being is intricately connected to that of our fellow humans and the natural world. This concept of global citizenship promotes inclusivity and has far-reaching benefits for peace, justice, environmental conservation, and economic sustainability. Embracing this perspective would contribute to ending wars, conflicts, and violence, fostering greater global empathy, cooperation, and collective efforts to tackle critical issues such as poverty, inequality, and environmental sustainability. What the world truly needs is universal empathy, care, concern, and compassion rooted in our shared humanity, rather than selective empathy and outrage reserved only for those who resemble us, to the exclusion of others.

Accounting, Content Writing, Spreadsheet Management

The spirit of TED and it's mission to spread ideas resonates deeply with me because I'm a lifelong learner with a passion for sharing knowledge and empowering others. TED, as a global community serves as a platform that empowers people to share their ideas with the world, a place which brings together experienced intellectuals to share their story with the budding next generation of young, talented, and fresh minds to train them and inspire them to reach for the skies and play a part in shaping a beautiful future. I've watched many TED Talks on YouTube and other social media platforms, my favourite being "Do schools kill creativity" by Sir Ken Robinson. But attending a TED event firsthand is a unique and enjoyable experience altogether. I had the opportunity to attend my first live TED event during my freshman year in 2022, when my college collaborated with TED to host a TEDxISMEBangalore event on the theme "Setback to Comeback" which was graced by many renowned personalities from different walks of life as speakers who spoke on the importance of being resilient during tough times, highlighting their struggles during the turbulent pandemic period and how they overcame those challenges. It solidified my belief in the power of ideas and ignited a desire to be part of this incredible platform. Here I am, a few years later, thrilled to have the opportunity of co-organizing TEDxISMEBangalore 2024 on the theme "Exploring Frontiers" with my amazing team as we look forward to delivering an exceptional experience to everyone in attendance and make this TEDx event one to remember.