Shivali Aggarwal

Student

An observant, empathetic communicator anytime ready to debate and network. These are the skills I bring to the table. Hi, I’m Shivali Aggarwal, the Event Manager for TEDxCNS. I genuinely believe conversations can change the way people see themselves and the world around them. My passion towards the work I do and my ability to combine collaboration with strategic management and leadership is what excites me. I deeply care about people, communication, and creating experiences that leave a lasting impact. As an individual motivated towards building tools and exploring questions about the world, my core interests lie in business, with a knack for creativity and efficiency!

I'm passionate about business because it changes the way you see the world. The more I've learnt about economics, finance, and markets, the more I've realised that every decision has a ripple effect. Policy changes and businesses adapt. A company innovates and consumer behaviour shifts. An investment today can influence someone's education, healthcare, or livelihood tomorrow. I love the interconnectedness and realm of possibilities business offers. I love that it brings people together without them knowing. You don’t just need to crunch numbers, you need to have a knack for creativity and innovation, you need to understand psychology (why do people behave the way they do), and be a thoughtful, competitive thinker (thinking ahead of the present). Problem-solving and crisis management become essential too because each small decision could affect thousands of people. And I love that business refuses to give you a single right answer. It asks you to sit with uncertainty, question assumptions, and make decisions even when every variable isn't in your control. What excites me most is that no two problems look the same. One day the challenge is understanding consumer behaviour, another day it's responding to an economic crisis or evaluating the impact of a new technology. The constant change is exactly what draws me in. Every new question pushes me to think differently, and I enjoy that discomfort because it's where I learn the most. I'm especially curious about the role technology and artificial intelligence will play in shaping the future of business. While AI can process information faster than any individual ever could, I don't believe it can replace human judgement, empathy, or ethical decision-making.

We often hear that success comes from having the best ideas. I disagree. I believe success comes from asking better questions. Throughout high school, my learnings and curiosity from my experiences of working closely within underprivileged communities, competing in national and international programs, building meaningful professional networks and re-learning the true essence of entrepreneurship and people skills, has deeply reinforced one idea. The people who create meaningful change aren't necessarily the smartest people in the room. They're the ones willing to question assumptions otherwise simply accepted. Society has a quiet way of shaping how we perceive ourselves, often assigning value and levels to the way things are supposed to be. Judgement critically shapes the spaces around us and instead of accepting these norms, I question them. My ability to question conformity by being observant, driven through a need for independence is what leads me to wonder: What if we stopped asking "How do we fit into this system?" and instead asked "Should this system exist this way at all?" This mindset has shaped everything I pursue. It is why I'm interested in entrepreneurship, because businesses have the ability to redesign systems. It's why I enjoy debating, because different perspectives often reveal better questions than better answers. It's why I enjoy working with people from different backgrounds, because every conversation challenges what I thought I already knew. I believe curiosity is far more powerful than certainty. The moment we think we know everything, we stop growing. But when we continue asking questions with humility and genuine intent we create space for innovation, empathy, and progress. So if there is one idea worth spreading, it is this: don't be afraid to challenge what feels ordinary. The next breakthrough, whether in business, science, education, or society, rarely begins with someone who had all the answers. It begins with someone who had the courage to ask a different question.

Collaboration, Decision making, Designing/Art, Leadership, Networking, Problem Solving, Public Speaking, Strategic Thinking

People don't usually know this about me, but one of my biggest strengths is observing people. I've always been drawn to the details that often go unnoticed. Whether it's the dynamic within a team, the shift in energy during a conversation, or the way someone expresses themselves through small actions rather than words, I naturally pay attention. I find it fascinating how people communicate so much without intending to, and how those subtle moments often reveal far more than what is actually said. This habit has shaped the way I approach teamwork and leadership. It helps me recognise patterns, listening carefully, and giving everyone the space to contribute in their own way. Being observant has also taught me to withhold judgment. Every individual brings experiences, motivations, and perspectives that aren't immediately visible, and I've found that taking the time to understand those differences almost always leads to stronger relationships and better decisions.