Past TEDx event

TEDxMahindraUniversity

Unwritten Futures: Imagining tomorrow, together

Took placeJanuary 31, 20269:00 AM - 5:00 PM (GMT+5:30)
LocationHyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
FormatUniversity
We are glad to present the theme for the 2026 edition of TEDxMahindraUniversity: Unwritten Futures: Imagining tomorrow, together. This theme serves as an invitation to transcend all predetermined paths, urging us to embrace the raw, boundless energy of possibilities that define our moment. It reimagines our collective destiny not as a fixed script, but a blank page, entirely within our control. We challenge our community, speakers and audience alike, to shift from passive observance to active authorship, realizing the potential inherent in the moment. The next great leap forward is not only aspirational but completely within our grasp, beginning with creative thinking: the daring act of imagining futures beyond the constraints of current systems. It is this intellectual courage that drives transformation through reinvention, empowering us to create new models of living, learning, and leading by questioning accepted norms and demonstrating the vastness of human capability. Every monumental journey of authorship begins with focusing on the shifts to reexamine how we think, what we value and why. This demands a restructuring of ideas, moving far beyond incremental change to allow for a conceptual rebirth and comprehensive renewal. Speakers offer insights that fundamentally reshape existing understanding, involving the deliberate dismantling of old paradigms to allow new frameworks to emerge across various domains as possible areas of implementation. This shift entails redefining progress, challenging us to measure success not by competition or output alone, but by contribution, compassion and impact. Crucially, this is a commitment to cultivating diversity: a rich interplay of emotion, intellect and creativity, fueling a dynamic flow of continuous ideas and perspectives, keeping the vision of a better future vibrantly alive. The outward exploration of new ideas must be anchored in personal alignment, recognizing that shaping an unwritten future requires internal transformation just as much as external innovation. True change begins within — through the conscious act of personal rewriting: the realization that the power to reshape our narratives lies within us. In this process, we strive for holistic transformation nurturing growth that is physical, emotional, and spiritual allowing every dimension of ourselves to evolve in harmony. In the absence of a predetermined path, the future becomes a fertile space for self-discovery and purposeful becoming. The journey calls for a purpose: to uncover what we are truly meant to pursue, and aligning thought, feeling and action with our deepest values while embracing uncertainty as a space for self-definition. Speakers should address the critical need for building an emotional infrastructure: creating frameworks essential for cultivating the resilience and sustained well-being needed for navigating a future defined by continuous evolution. The journey culminates in the collective result, the final phase, which addresses our shared responsibility in shaping a global, preferred future. This evolution is not a destination but rather a continuous unfolding, calling us to reimagine how we collaborate and coexist in a fast paced, ever-changing world. It calls us to reconsider our understanding of social connection and interaction necessitated by changing global scenarios, ensuring that as humanity advances, it does so together rather than in isolation. Ultimately, the possibilities we unlock must embody humanity and peace, paving a path towards a future built on cooperation, not conflict. We seek voices and talks that demonstrate how we revive the way we relate, challenging the inherited norms of interaction and resource-sharing. In this shared authorship of tomorrow, models where cooperation and compassion become the cornerstones of progress ensure that what we build doesn't just advance us but also unites us. Unwritten Futures is, at its heart, a collaborative manifesto — a call to reimagination, authorship and most importantly action. We invite speakers to share the blueprints of possibilities, challenging the audience to leave the event not just informed, but inspired and empowered to begin the immediate and profound work of personal rewriting. The time for passive waiting is over. The page is open and the pen is yours. The future is unwritten, and we are its author(s).

Speakers

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

  • Aaboo Varghese

    Founder and Executive Director, Purnata

    Aaboo Varghese is the Founder and Executive Director of Purnata, a leading organization combating human trafficking through rescue, rehabilitation, reintegration, and comprehensive prevention strategies. With over 35 years in developmental work—including 18 years on the anti-trafficking frontlines—Aaboo has led community interventions across Mumbai and West Bengal and collaborated extensively with law enforcement. He also established Amoli Handicrafts, a sustainable livelihood brand for survivors. Under his leadership, Purnata was named a finalist for the 2025 .ORG Impact Awards in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Guided by a blend of strategic vision and deep compassion, Aaboo is dedicated to advocacy and mentoring, believing that restoring dignity and freedom is worth a lifetime of service. He lives with his wife, Sybil, and their two sons, Yohaan and Yeshaya.

  • Dr. Bhulakshmi V.

    Founder, GapSkills Learning Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

    Dr. Bhulakshmi is a facilitator, educator, and catalyst for human transformation with over 25 years of experience. Her mission is to enable inner transformation that leads to external impact. Beginning her career in technology and learning design, she has guided thousands of individuals across sectors: from farmers adopting new agricultural practices to Fortune 500 leaders cultivating authentic presence. Her expertise spans coaching high-performing managers, helping organizations break silos through systems thinking, and empowering teachers to reframe student potential. Uniquely, she has also facilitated transformational workshops inside Telangana prisons, reinforcing her belief in the resilience and dignity of every individual. Whether working with family businesses, corporate giants, or communities, Dr. Bhulakshmi creates safe, courageous spaces for people to rewrite their narratives. She is an architect of meaningful learning dedicated to unlocking human potential.

  • Dr. Madhavi Latha Gali

    Professor, IISc and Chair for Centre for Sustainable Technologies

    Madhavi Latha Gali is a Professor of Civil Engineering and the Chair of Centre for Sustainable Technologies at the Indian Institute of Science, (IISc) Bengaluru. She is a fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering. A gold medalist from NIT Warangal and a Doctorate from IIT Madras, Prof. Madhavi was the first female faculty member of the Department of Civil Engineering at ISc. She is known for her significant contributions to the design and construction of the world’s highest railway bridge across river Chenab in Jammu, as a geotechnical consultant to this iconic national project. She received many awards, including NDTV Science Icon of the Year, Distinguished alumna award of NIT Warangal, Best woman researcher in Geotechnical Engineering award, Prof. S. K. Chatterjee outstanding researcher award of IISc, Ramoji excellence award in Science and Technology, Vishwakarma award, and Avinash Shirode Yashokirti award. She is listed in the top 75 women in STEAM of India.

  • Dr. Sarita Subramaniam

    Director and Co-founder, The Earth Bridgade Foundation (NGO)

    A dentist by profession and a wildlife conservationist by passion, she founded Earth Brigade Foundation [EBF] in 2017 and is the Director of her own NGO. Earth Brigade Foundation is a not-for-profit, dedicated to providing direct benefits towards wildlife conservation. Deeply concerned about habitat loss and human-animal conflict, Dr. Sarita spearheads Earth Brigade Foundation’s core initiative, Project Aquarius. Through this initiative, she prioritizes the set up of solar-powered pump installations at forests, making drinking water accessible to wildlife perennially, particularly during the hot, summer months. Earth Brigade Foundation also assists the frontline forest staff and local communities remain engaged in conservation.

  • Sharanbir Kaur

    Financial Services, Real Estate and Travel, Meta

    With over a decade of experience across consumer brands like Maruti Suzuki, Samsung, Bharti Airtel, and Meta, she brings a rare combination of enterprise leadership and creative thinking to the table. Sharan has advised CXOs across 15+ business functions from go-to-market and dealer digitalisation to marketing automation, content personalization, and conversational commerce, especially in the auto, fintech, and D2C sectors. She has a sharp eye for systems thinking in the marketing field, enabling her to decode market shifts and build future-proof strategies in an increasingly AI-first world. She also runs executive programs in performance marketing and AI strategy, where she mentors senior professionals navigating career transitions in a disrupted digital economy.

  • Shrinivas C.S.

    Educator, EduVision TLS

    Shrinivas C.S. (b. 1966, Davanagere) has dedicated over 25 years to enhancing student learning and teacher capabilities. An alumnus of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, he transitioned from a 12-year corporate career to education in 2000 by establishing ‘SPACE Academy.’ His signature "TURNING POINT" program helped 800+ 10th graders secure distinctions across all three boards. Shrinivas has consulted for 300+ schools and established training systems for 5 CBSE institutions. Advocating that demonstration drives implementation better than monitoring, he designed the ’Superior Teaching Patterns’ module, which achieved 100% First Class results in partner schools. Drawing on one-to-one coaching with 300+ students, he created the "Quadrant Coaching Module" to eliminate 95% of academic challenges in grades 6–12, emphasizing that true accelerated learning requires specific, measurable foundations.

  • Sqn Ldr Neeraj Sharma (Retd.)

    Cybersecurity Leader, Military Veteran

    Sqn Ldr Neeraj Sharma (Retd.) is a forward-thinking cybersecurity strategist with over 16 years of experience driving information security, technology risk, and responsible AI practices across defense and global financial services. He has led large-scale security transformation initiatives with the Indian Air Force, UBS, and JPMorgan Chase. His portfolio spans technology risk and controls governance, information security management, cloud and AI/ML security—anchored in a secure-by-design mindset that enables organizations to innovate with confidence. Known for his collaborative, clarity-driven leadership style, he brings people together around complex problems and drives execution with discipline and empathy. With roots in mission-critical cyber operations, he brings a unique blend of military discipline and business pragmatism to every engagement. An alumnus of IIM Indore and BITS Pilani, and currently a PhD scholar in Cyber Security.

  • Vivek Sundaram

    Technologist Exporing Purpose, Presence, and Human Potential

    Vivek Sundaram is a speaker, facilitator, and coach working at the intersection of purpose, presence, and human potential. With roots in Tanzania and Mumbai, he trained as a computer scientist in the US before building a two-decade career at Microsoft, Amazon, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Google. Seeking a life of greater clarity, Vivek left the corporate world to explore the balance between achievement and joy. His work now blends contemplative traditions, modern psychology, and experiential learning to help individuals and organizations access "playful, purposeful presence." His philosophy is simple: doing less often allows us to become more. Whether speaking, facilitating, or coaching, Vivek invites people to loosen rigid inner narratives and create futures shaped not by pressure, but by presence.

Organizing team