PURPOSE
CONNECTING THE FUTURES
OF WORK AND EDUCATION
Our purpose is to catalyze and foster the most crucial conversations on education and work in India.
For far too long, academia and industry have been like the parallel banks of a mighty river of talent: never to converge on a shared destination.
This has created an urgent, spiralling problem. Wide gaps between what we are taught and what we are expected to do at work are stubbornly entrenched in the talent ecosystem. As a consequence, India faces an unenviable employability challenge.
Bridge will bring together top academics, education experts, the senior-most talent leaders and C-suite members from industry to connect the futures of work and education.
PURPOSE
Our purpose is to catalyze and foster the most crucial conversations on education and work in India.
For far too long, academia and industry have been like the parallel banks of a mighty river of talent: never to converge on a shared destination. This has created an urgent, spiralling problem. Wide gaps between what we are taught and what we are expected to do at work are stubbornly entrenched in the talent ecosystem. As a consequence, India faces an unenviable employability challenge.
Bridge will bring together top academics, education experts, the senior-most talent leaders and C-suite members from industry to connect the futures of work and education.
SPEAKERS
Engaging, articulate and unafraid to speak their mind, our featured speakers are:
KUMAR MANGALAM
BIRLA
CHAIRMAN,
ADITYA BIRLA GROUP
As Chairman of one of the largest Indian conglomerates, Kumar Mangalam Birla is also a distinguished institution leader as the Chancellor of the Birla Institute of Technology & Science. He is Chairman of IIT Delhi and IIM Ahmedabad. Kumar Mangalam Birla has won several awards for his exemplary leadership in the domains of industry and education. He will deliver a Keynote at Bridge on Philanthropy, Legacy & Impact.
DEBORAH
QUAZZO
MANAGING PARTNER,
GSV VENTURES
A formidable force in global edtech leadership, Deborah is Managing Partner of GSV Ventures, a venture fund investing in education and workforce skills technologies disrupting the $7 trillion sector. She is Cofounder of the ASU+GSV Summit, and serves on the boards of various high-profile enterprises including Aakash Educational Services, Ascend Learning, and Degreed. At Bridge, Deborah is part of an expert Colloquy on Private Capital's Role: Where Money Meets Talent.
LAXMAN
NARASIMHAN
GLOBAL CEO,
RECKITT
Laxman is well known for his expertise in consumer services and management of global business affairs. With previous senior roles at PepsiCo and McKinsey & Company, he is an exceptional leader with a proven track record in developing purpose-led brands and driving consumer-centric innovation. With years of strategic and management experience, Laxman will deliver a Keynote at Bridge on A True Unicorn: Who Is The 21st Century Employee?
BETTY
VANDENBOSCH
CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER,
COURSERA
A true expert in the online education space, Betty has held numerous leadership positions both in industry and academia. Before joining Coursera, Betty was Chancellor of Purdue University Global, where she oversaw academics for more than 32,000 students; most of whom earned their degrees online. She also worked at Kaplan University, and served as Associate Dean and Associate Professor at the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University. At Coursera she oversees the company’s content and credential strategy and partner relationships. At Bridge, Betty will join the expert Huddle, Content Is King, Context Is God.
AJAY
PIRAMAL
CHAIRMAN,
PIRAMAL GROUP
Ajay Piramal is one of India’s leading industrialists, philanthropists and an advocate for responsible entrepreneurship. He leads the global business conglomerate with diverse interests in pharmaceuticals, financial services and real estate. He has also established the Piramal Foundation, championing numerous social impact initiatives aimed at unlocking India’s economic potential. Mr Piramal holds key positions on the boards of several companies and prestigious institutions, including Harvard Business School’s Board of Dean’s Advisors. He also serves as President and Chairman of Anant National University and Chairman of the Pratham Education Foundation.
At Bridge, Mr. Piramal will deliver a Keynote on Future Proofing Our Workforce: How To Thrive, Not Survive.
NEHARIKA
VOHRA
VICE CHANCELLOR,
DELHI SKILL AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP UNIVERSITY
Neharika is currently leading the setup of the newly-instituted Delhi Skill and Entrepreneurship University, following a two-decade stint as faculty at IIM Ahmedabad. Her research interests lie in organizational behavior, change management, educational leadership and gender issues at the workplace. As a proponent of integrating skill-based education, Neharika will be a part of Bridge’s Huddle on Preparing Gen Z & Gen Alpha.
CHRISTOPHER
DEDE
PROFESSOR, LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES,
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
A professor in Learning Technologies at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, Chris’s fundamental interest lies in developing new types of educational systems to address 21st century opportunities and challenges. He is a well-regarded leader of mobile learning initiatives and his book, The 60-Year Curriculum, is an absolute must-read for anyone interested in education. At Bridge, Chris will explore the main themes from his book: the learning needs of professionals as we all live longer and have careers that span across many decades.
NEELA
SALDANHA
BEHAVIOR SCIENTIST & BOARD MEMBER,
GRAMEEN FOUNDATION
Neela is an applied behavioral scientist working at the intersection of behavioral change and development. She is the Founding Director of the Centre for Social & Behaviour Change at Ashoka University. Her industry experience includes leading teams on insight, strategy and marketing at Unilever, Nestle, PepsiCo and Accenture. She was recognized by Forbes magazine as one of “Ten Behavioral Scientists You Should Know”. At Bridge, Neela will be part of an exclusive Colloquy on Secret Superpower: Habits & Behaviors.
VIJAY
KUMAR
DEAN, ENGINEERING,
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
Noted Indian robotist, academic and institution leader, Vijay is a UPS foundation professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. He has held many administrative roles at the reputed institution, ranging from Director of GRASP Laboratory to Deputy Dean. At Bridge, Vijay will deliver an expert Masterclass on Higher Ed's Future: Complementing Work & Life.
JULIE
DIRKSEN
E-LEARNING, INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN,
BEHAVIOR CHANGE EXPERT & AUTHOR
Author of ‘Design For How People Learn’ and instructional design expert, Julie has more than 15 years of experience creating highly interactive e-learning experiences for clients, from Fortune 500 companies and technology startups to grant-funded research initiatives. She is currently a Learning Strategy Consultant at Usable Learning, and was an adjunct faculty member at Minneapolis College of Art and Design, specializing in project management, instructional design, and cognitive psychology. At Bridge, Julie turns Masterclass instructor with a session on How People Learn.
RISHIKESHA
KRISHNAN
DIRECTOR,
IIM BANGALORE
Rishikesha is Director of Indian Institute of Management Bangalore; a prolific author, columnist and professor of management. He was a Visiting Scholar at the Center for the Advanced Study of India, University of Pennsylvania, and at Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad. Rishikesha held the Jamuna Raghavan Chair in Entrepreneurship at IIMB from 2007-10, and was listed among Thinkers50’s list of most influential management thinkers from India. At Bridge, Rishikesha will share his years of experience as an institution leader in an Encounter on Unemployable Graduates: Who's To Blame?
SUDHIR
JAIN
DIRECTOR,
IIT GANDHINAGAR
Padma Shri recipient and institution leader, Sudhir is Director at Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar. He is an elected fellow of Indian National Academy of Engineering, and the U.S. National Academy of Engineering for leadership in earthquake engineering in developing countries. With immense experience in education and research, he is part of a Bridge Huddle on Academia-Industry Collaboration: Are Internships Enough?
PARMESH
SHAHANI
AUTHOR, QUEERISTAN & CORPORATE LGBTQ INCLUSION ADVOCATE
Parmesh has pioneered an experimental space that brings together academia, activism, business, and the arts through events in Mumbai. He is an active advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and queer inclusivity in the corporate world and currently leads Diversity & Inclusion at Godrej. He has been a TED Senior Fellow, a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and a Yale World Fellow. At Bridge, Parmesh will feature in an expert Huddle on Preparing Gen Z & Gen Alpha for the future.
MAYANK
KUMAR
COFOUNDER & MD,
UPGRAD
Mayank has over 10 years of experience in the global education sector, ranging from operations to investment and consulting in emerging markets across India, SE Asia, China and Latin America. He has previously worked with Bertelsmann India Investments, Parthenon Group and Tata Strategic, and is an alumnus of IIT Delhi and ISB Hyderabad. Based on his work in growth and strategic partnerships at upGrad, Bridge is excited to host Mayank in a Solution Room that discusses EdTech To LearnTech: What Will It Take?
ANIHA
BRAR
DEAN, YOUNG INDIA FELLOWSHIP,
ASHOKA UNIVERSITY
In a career spanning diverse organizations and experiences, Aniha’s commitments lie with education and communication. She is currently Dean of the prestigious Young India Fellowship, a postgraduate diploma program in Liberal Arts at Ashoka University. She’s previously worked in fields ranging from media, feature writing, publishing and sports journalism. At Bridge, Aniha joins an expert Huddle: Reimagining Faculty: Beyond PhDs & Tenures.
ANIL
SANTHAPURI
DIRECTOR OF LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT,
CGI
A result-oriented Talent & OD professional, Anil has 18 years of professional experience in the domains of talent management, leadership development and consulting. His career spans across organizations like Western Union, HCL Technologies, CGI Information Systems, Mahindra Satyam and iGate Global Solutions, where he designed and delivered award-winning learning and talent initiatives. Anil will share his experience and thoughts on Covid-19: Work, Worker & Woes, exclusively at Bridge.
GV
RAVISHANKAR
MANAGING DIRECTOR,
SEQUOIA CAPITAL
Managing Director of Sequoia Capital and renowned investor, GV is well-versed in consumer tech, consumer, education and financial services opportunities. He currently serves on the boards of Byjus, Capital Float, Eruditus Learning, Faces Cosmetics, Five Star finance, Finova Capital, Go Fashion, HomeLane, Indigo Paints and many more successful enterprises. He’s passionate about entrepreneurship that offers unique solutions to consumer problems, and will feature in Bridge’s expert Colloquy: Dizzying EdTech Heights: Profit, Scale, Impact?
KIRTI
SETH
CEO (INTERIM), IT-ITES SECTOR SKILL COUNCIL, NASSCOM
A business leader with over 30 years of rich experience in entrepreneurship, management, and driving change, Kirti has played a major role in India’s growth story by heading the prestigious FutureSkills Prime project, a digital skilling initiative in partnership with the Government of India. Before NASSCOM, she was the CEO of NIIT Uniqua—a Genpact and NIIT joint venture—a training organization focused on the IT-ITES sector. Over the years, her leadership experience has ranged from being a founder-entrepreneur of a 500-employee organization, managing 2 turn-around stories, and was an advisor for learning and development to global organizations in NIIT’s Global Consulting and Advisory practice, like Shell, Rio Tinto, Bank of America and Quintiles.
At Bridge, Kirti will be part of an expert Huddle, Content Is King, Context Is God.
RAJENDRAN
DANDAPANI
BUSINESS SOLUTIONS EVANGELIST, ZOHO CORP; PRESIDENT, ZOHO SCHOOLS OF LEARNING
After dropping out of IIT-Madras, Rajendran was part of the founding team at Zoho Corporation (then called Vembu Systems). Later, he spent seven years at Xerago as their Chief Algorithms Officer, managing projects and services for clients including Citibank and Sify. Since rejoining Zoho Corporation in 2004, he spearheads mobile development with a multi-talented team that builds mobile apps for more than 45 million customers. He is also the President at Zoho Schools of Learning, Zoho’s own ongoing social experiment aimed at becoming a viable alternative to conventional college education. Rajendran is also a TEDx speaker, a technology evangelist and a contra-academician at heart; also a firm believer in how the Indian education system needs a reboot.
At Bridge, Rajendran shares his views at the Huddle, The Final Mile: Company As College.
MADAN
PILLUTLA
DEAN,
INDIAN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS (ISB)
Professor Pillutla is a globally acclaimed management thought leader on organizational behavior, with over 25 years of teaching experience at prestigious institutions like the London Business School and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. He began his career as a management trainee at ITC Ltd. in India and has held editorial positions in several renowned academic journals including Administrative Science Quarterly and the Academy of Management Perspective.
At Bridge, Madan brings his vast expertise to the Colloquy, Secret Superpower: Habits & Behaviors.
Swati
Rustagi
Director, Human Resources,
Amazon India
Swati is a seasoned HR leader with over 22 years of experience and has worked with large pan-India teams at Hindustan Unilever Limited, DSP Merrill Lynch, Johnson & Johnson Medical, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals and Max Health Care. She specializes in Human Resources Management systems such as employee relations, organizational development, talent management, leadership & development. In her current role, she employs her passion for people and processes to unleash the employee potential towards achieving organizational vision and business goals. At Bridge, hear from Swati at the Encounter: Do Internships Matter?
Krishna
Kumar
FOUNDER & CEO,
SIMPLILEARN
Krishna Kumar began his career as a software engineer at Infosys, but soon his entrepreneurial spirit inspired him to start his own venture–Tech Unified. In 2009 he started Simplilearn.com, which quickly became one of the largest platforms in delivering certification training for working professionals. An established thought leader in edtech, Krishna brings his experience to Bridge’s Huddle on Reimagining Faculty: Beyond PhDs & Tenures.
ROHIT
KAPOOR
CEO, INDIA & SOUTH-EAST ASIA (INSEA),
OYO
Rohit has led OYO India transforming the business across financials, partner and customer NPS. A seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience, he has worked in various leadership positions at several organizations including Max India Limited and Mckinsey & Company. He also dons the hat of an investor across domains like prop tech, health tech and fintech. At Bridge, Rohit will share his expert insights in an Encounter on Unemployable Graduates: Who's To Blame?
VISHNU
IRUVANTI
HEAD, PEOPLE PRACTICE,
CLEARTAX INDIA
With more than 10 years of experience in the HR industry, Vishnu currently leads People Practices at ClearTax, India's largest tax and financial services software platform for individuals, tax experts, SMEs and enterprises. Prior to this, he has worked extensively with Ola, Myntra, Yahoo and Microsoft in talent acquisition and recruitment.
At Bridge, Vishnu joins industry leaders and leading academics at the Huddle: The New Age Resume.
SHUBHRATA
PRAKASH
DIRECTOR, NITI AAYOG; AUTHOR, THE D WORD
Subhrata has donned many illustrious hats, from IRS Officer to Income Tax Commissioner, to policy expert, author and poet. She is currently Executive Director of India’s renowned government education policy think tank NITI Aayog and a fervent mental health advocate, with her first self-help book The D Word published in 2016. At Bridge, Subhrata will be a part of the expert Colloquy that discusses The Real Crisis: Mental Health.
Prince
Augustin
EVP, Group Human Capital & Leadership Development,
Mahindra & Mahindra
Prince has enabled development and empowerment of the talent base through coaching, mentoring and deployment of HR processes at leading corporations such as Castrol, Star TV, Morepen and now the Mahindra Group. Recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award in HR in 2015, Prince will bring his tremendous experience in talent allocation and leadership to Bridge’s Colloquy on Measuring Impact: Waiting For Godot.
NAMITA
DALMIA
PARTNER,
ENZIA VENTURES
Currently Partner at Enzia Ventures that invests in healthcare, education and environment, Namita is passionate about education technology and learning impact through innovation. She is a Board Member for several non-profit organizations as well as for-profit organizations in edtech including WhiteHat Jr and Vedantu, and has worked with Omidyar Network India, Central Square Foundation, Education Elements, and the National Knowledge Commission. Her in-depth knowledge of the sector brings her to Bridge’s exciting Colloquy, Dizzying EdTech Heights: Profit, Scale, Impact?
ANUPAL
BANERJEE
CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER, TATA TECHNOLOGIES
Currently at TATA Technologies, Anupal has led HR functions at several renowned organizations globally, including Viacom18, Infosys, WNS and Capgemini. He was part of the core team responsible for setting up the Infosys Mexico subsidiary and headed performance management, talent acquisition and organization effectiveness at Viacom18.
At Bridge, Anupal joins the Huddle, The Final Mile: Company As College.
AMITABH
SINGH
HEAD, BUSINESS HR, PEOPLE & LEADERSHIP CAPABILITY, ICICI BANK
Amitabh is a veteran HR leader with extensive experience in leadership development, L&D and HR service delivery. He has worked with ICICI Bank for over eight years now and holds a postgraduate degree in Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration from Xavier Institute of Social Services.
At Bridge, Amitabh joins a panel of expert industry leaders and academics on the Huddle, The Final Mile: Company As College.
PRABHU
AGGARWAL
VICE CHANCELLOR,
BENNETT UNIVERSITY
Prabhu comes with over three decades of global expertise in engineering, process management, education and leadership development. Before joining the leadership at Bennett University, he had served as President and Vice Chancellor at NIIT University, and also led the Center for Professional Development Programs for working professionals at Mason School of Business in Virginia, USA. At Bridge, he will share his experiential insights at a Huddle on Reimagining Faculty: Beyond PhDs & Tenures.
VEENA
VOHRA
ASSOCIATE DEAN & PROFESSOR, HUMAN RESOURCES & BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES,
SBM, NMIMS
Veena is uniquely well-versed in both academia and industry challenges, as Associate Dean and Professor at NMIMS School of Business Management following 7 years of corporate work experience. Her research interests lie in Leadership, Emotional Intelligence, Appreciative Inquiry, and Human Resource Management. Veena will offer her scholarly insights at Bridge’s exclusive Solution Room, EdTech To LearnTech: What Will It Take?
Shobhini
Mukerji
Executive Director,
Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab, South Asia
Supervising over 40+ pan-India research projects and policy engagements, Shobhini’s work ranges from managing and designing large-scale data collection and analysis, to advising organizations and governments on research design, monitoring, and evaluation strategies. She works closely with donors, policymakers and research institutions and has helped successfully scale many social programs. At Bridge, Shobhini brings her experience of transforming research into action to the Colloquy, Measuring Impact: Waiting For Godot.
Manika
Sharma
Director,
The Shri Ram Schools
In a career spanning three decades as an educator, Manika has inherent knowledge on subjects such as instructional leadership, working in teams, critical thinking and more. She is passionate about education and continues to positively impact the lives of students. Manika has conducted leadership and motivational teacher training sessions across India. At Bridge, she will be joining the Huddle on Preparing Gen Z & Gen Alpha.
SUSAN
CHEN
DIRECTOR, HEAD OF PEOPLE,
HK & SG GAME DEVELOPMENT STUDIOS, RIOT GAMES
A strong advocate for financial and educational inclusion, Susan has worked and lived in Taiwan, New Zealand, UK, Norway, Singapore and Indonesia. She holds a PhD with a focus on knowledge management and is pursuing a program in educational psychology. Susan works with teams and leaders to develop talent strategies and interventions to build capabilities for sustainable growth in organizations. Her work has been covered in a variety of industry journals that focus on challenges organizations and the global workforce face. At Bridge, Susan will join a Huddle on Covid-19: Work, Worker & Woes.
Jeff
Buening
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER,
OUTLIER.ORG
Jeff leads Outlier in its mission of building a more accessible, equitable, and affordable future for higher education. An On Deck Fellow, he was the founding executive at Brightwheel, a leading childcare and pre-school management software. Jeff spent his early career at NBC Universal in a variety of finance, strategy, and business development roles and was a pre-launch member of the Hulu venture team. At Bridge, we’re delighted to host Jeff at the Huddle: Content Is King, Context Is God.
SHANKAR
VANAVARAYAR
PRESIDENT,
KUMARAGURU INSTITUTIONS
Educationist and entrepreneur Shankar leads multiple businesses, educational institutions and social development organizations within the multinational conglomerate, Sakthi Group. He also holds distinguished positions at Young Indians, the Vanavarayar Foundation and the Aspen Global Leadership Network. He is currently President of nine educational institutions including schools and colleges under NIA, a not-for-profit with a modern outlook on education.
At Bridge, Shankar will speak at the Huddle on Reimagining Faculty: Beyond PhDs & Tenures.
NEHA
BAGARIA
FOUNDER & CEO,
JOBSFORHER
Soon after graduating from the Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania, Neha founded her first company Paragon, an education startup introducing the Advanced Placement Program in Indian high schools. Following a three and half year career break to look after her family, she founded JobsForHer, an online portal enabling women to find job opportunities and restart their careers after a break. She has been featured on Forbes India’s WPower Trailblazers list of groundbreaking women achievers for her game-changing work in innovation and breaking stereotypes.
At Bridge, Neha brings her entrepreneurial wisdom to the Huddle, The New Age Resume.
PRATHAM
MITTAL
DIRECTOR,
MASTERS' UNION
Pratham is currently Director of Masters' Union, a unique practitioner-led higher education institution; and Cofounder of Outgrow.co, one of the world's most popular polling technology companies and interactive content platform. An alumnus of the University of Pennsylvania, he brings his experience in digital platforms to a Bridge Solution Room on EdTech To LearnTech: What Will It Take?
NEHA
KIRPAL
COFOUNDER,
INNERHOUR
For over a decade, Neha worked at the intersection of the creative and social sectors. As founder of India’s first international art fair, she ran it successfully for ten years moving her focus entirely to the marginalized mental health sector. In 2019, Neha joined Dr. Amit Malik as Cofounder at InnerHour, a tech-led mental health platform that delivers omni-channel products and services for a range of mental health conditions. Neha will be a part of Bridge’s exclusive Colloquy on The Real Crisis: Mental Health.
HARPREET S.
GROVER
COFOUNDER,
COCUBES.COM
Harpreet founded CoCubes.com with his batchmate Vibhore Goyal in 2007, soon after graduating from IIT Delhi. The online platform for assessments and hiring was acquired by Aon Hewitt in an all-cash deal in 2016. Harpreet co-authored Let’s Build A Company with Vibhore based on their entrepreneurship experiences. Passionate about education and building careers, Harpreet is an angel investor with many high-profile startups including Chaayos, ShopKirana and Avail Finance.
At Bridge, Harpreet joins an innovative Huddle on The New Age Resume.
Ali
Imran
Vice President, External Engagement,
Ashoka University
An established expert in communications and innovation, Ali has 25 years of leadership experience in strategy, marketing, branding and advertising. He worked as Head of Marketing at Samsung Mobiles, Bacardi India and UTV Television, Branch Head of Leo Burnett Advertising, and Associate Vice President at Lowe Lintas. Currently at Ashoka University, he leads Communications & PR, admissions and outreach, and international partnerships.
At Bridge, Ali brings years of insight in communications and academia to the Huddle,The New Age Resume.
Mukta
Nakra
Head, Human Resources & Sustainability, Marks and Spencer, Reliance India Ltd.
Mukta has diversified experience in all business aspects of human resources across sectors, and has managed high-impact change management initiatives for large global organizations involving multi-cultural and matrix environments. She is passionate about D&I, and launched 'Women in Retail' program to promote gender diversity across stores in Walmart India. Mukta also led ‘Reach Out’ - a development initiative for senior women leaders at Amex in partnership with Pepsico, PwC, Microsoft, Tata Group and RB. She has also been instrumental in the launch of Pride Chapter at AmEx.
At Bridge, Mukta brings experiential insights to the Huddle: Covid-19: Work, Worker & Woes.
KUMAR MANGALAM
BIRLA
CHAIRMAN,
ADITYA BIRLA GROUP
As Chairman of one of the largest Indian conglomerates, Kumar Mangalam Birla is also a distinguished institution leader as the Chancellor of the Birla Institute of Technology & Science. He is Chairman of IIT Delhi and IIM Ahmedabad. Kumar Mangalam Birla has won several awards for his exemplary leadership in the domains of industry and education. He will deliver a Keynote at Bridge on Philanthropy, Legacy & Impact.
DEBORAH
QUAZZO
MANAGING PARTNER,
GSV VENTURES
A formidable force in global edtech leadership, Deborah is Managing Partner of GSV Ventures, a venture fund investing in education and workforce skills technologies disrupting the $7 trillion sector. She is Cofounder of the ASU+GSV Summit, and serves on the boards of various high-profile enterprises including Aakash Educational Services, Ascend Learning, and Degreed. At Bridge, Deborah is part of an expert Colloquy on Private Capital's Role: Where Money Meets Talent.
LAXMAN
NARASIMHAN
GLOBAL CEO,
RECKITT
Laxman is well known for his expertise in consumer services and management of global business affairs. With previous senior roles at PepsiCo and McKinsey & Company, he is an exceptional leader with a proven track record in developing purpose-led brands and driving consumer-centric innovation. With years of strategic and management experience, Laxman will deliver a Keynote at Bridge on A True Unicorn: Who Is The 21st Century Employee?
BETTY
VANDENBOSCH
CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER,
COURSERA
A true expert in the online education space, Betty has held numerous leadership positions both in industry and academia. Before joining Coursera, Betty was Chancellor of Purdue University Global, where she oversaw academics for more than 32,000 students; most of whom earned their degrees online. She also worked at Kaplan University, and served as Associate Dean and Associate Professor at the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University. At Coursera she oversees the company’s content and credential strategy and partner relationships. At Bridge, Betty will join the expert Huddle, Content Is King, Context Is God.
AJAY
PIRAMAL
CHAIRMAN,
PIRAMAL GROUP
Ajay Piramal is one of India’s leading industrialists, philanthropists and an advocate for responsible entrepreneurship. He leads the global business conglomerate with diverse interests in pharmaceuticals, financial services and real estate. He has also established the Piramal Foundation, championing numerous social impact initiatives aimed at unlocking India’s economic potential. Mr Piramal holds key positions on the boards of several companies and prestigious institutions, including Harvard Business School’s Board of Dean’s Advisors. He also serves as President and Chairman of Anant National University and Chairman of the Pratham Education Foundation.
At Bridge, Mr. Piramal will deliver a Keynote on Future Proofing Our Workforce: How To Thrive, Not Survive.
NEHARIKA
VOHRA
VICE CHANCELLOR,
DELHI SKILL AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP UNIVERSITY
Neharika is currently leading the setup of the newly-instituted Delhi Skill and Entrepreneurship University, following a two-decade stint as faculty at IIM Ahmedabad. Her research interests lie in organizational behavior, change management, educational leadership and gender issues at the workplace. As a proponent of integrating skill-based education, Neharika will be a part of Bridge’s Huddle on Preparing Gen Z & Gen Alpha.
CHRISTOPHER
DEDE
PROFESSOR, LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES,
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
A professor in Learning Technologies at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, Chris’s fundamental interest lies in developing new types of educational systems to address 21st century opportunities and challenges. He is a well-regarded leader of mobile learning initiatives and his book, The 60-Year Curriculum, is an absolute must-read for anyone interested in education. At Bridge, Chris will explore the main themes from his book: the learning needs of professionals as we all live longer and have careers that span across many decades.
NEELA
SALDANHA
BEHAVIOR SCIENTIST & BOARD MEMBER,
GRAMEEN FOUNDATION
Neela is an applied behavioral scientist working at the intersection of behavioral change and development. She is the Founding Director of the Centre for Social & Behaviour Change at Ashoka University. Her industry experience includes leading teams on insight, strategy and marketing at Unilever, Nestle, PepsiCo and Accenture. She was recognized by Forbes magazine as one of “Ten Behavioral Scientists You Should Know”. At Bridge, Neela will be part of an exclusive Colloquy on Secret Superpower: Habits & Behaviors.
VIJAY
KUMAR
DEAN, ENGINEERING,
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
Noted Indian robotist, academic and institution leader, Vijay is a UPS foundation professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. He has held many administrative roles at the reputed institution, ranging from Director of GRASP Laboratory to Deputy Dean. At Bridge, Vijay will deliver an expert Masterclass on Higher Ed's Future: Complementing Work & Life.
JULIE
DIRKSEN
E-LEARNING, INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN,
BEHAVIOR CHANGE EXPERT & AUTHOR
Author of ‘Design For How People Learn’ and instructional design expert, Julie has more than 15 years of experience creating highly interactive e-learning experiences for clients, from Fortune 500 companies and technology startups to grant-funded research initiatives. She is currently a Learning Strategy Consultant at Usable Learning, and was an adjunct faculty member at Minneapolis College of Art and Design, specializing in project management, instructional design, and cognitive psychology. At Bridge, Julie turns Masterclass instructor with a session on How People Learn.
RISHIKESHA
KRISHNAN
DIRECTOR,
IIM BANGALORE
Rishikesha is Director of Indian Institute of Management Bangalore; a prolific author, columnist and professor of management. He was a Visiting Scholar at the Center for the Advanced Study of India, University of Pennsylvania, and at Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad. Rishikesha held the Jamuna Raghavan Chair in Entrepreneurship at IIMB from 2007-10, and was listed among Thinkers50’s list of most influential management thinkers from India. At Bridge, Rishikesha will share his years of experience as an institution leader in an Encounter on Unemployable Graduates: Who's To Blame?
SUDHIR
JAIN
DIRECTOR,
IIT GANDHINAGAR
Padma Shri recipient and institution leader, Sudhir is Director at Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar. He is an elected fellow of Indian National Academy of Engineering, and the U.S. National Academy of Engineering for leadership in earthquake engineering in developing countries. With immense experience in education and research, he is part of a Bridge Huddle on Academia-Industry Collaboration: Are Internships Enough?
PARMESH
SHAHANI
AUTHOR, QUEERISTAN & CORPORATE LGBTQ INCLUSION ADVOCATE
Parmesh has pioneered an experimental space that brings together academia, activism, business, and the arts through events in Mumbai. He is an active advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and queer inclusivity in the corporate world and currently leads Diversity & Inclusion at Godrej. He has been a TED Senior Fellow, a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and a Yale World Fellow. At Bridge, Parmesh will feature in an expert Huddle on Preparing Gen Z & Gen Alpha for the future.
MAYANK
KUMAR
COFOUNDER & MD,
UPGRAD
Mayank has over 10 years of experience in the global education sector, ranging from operations to investment and consulting in emerging markets across India, SE Asia, China and Latin America. He has previously worked with Bertelsmann India Investments, Parthenon Group and Tata Strategic, and is an alumnus of IIT Delhi and ISB Hyderabad. Based on his work in growth and strategic partnerships at upGrad, Bridge is excited to host Mayank in a Solution Room that discusses EdTech To LearnTech: What Will It Take?
ANIHA
BRAR
Dean, YOUNG INDIA FELLOWSHIP,
ASHOKA UNIVERSITY
In a career spanning diverse organizations and experiences, Aniha’s commitments lie with education and communication. She is currently Dean of the prestigious Young India Fellowship, a postgraduate diploma program in Liberal Arts at Ashoka University. She’s previously worked in fields ranging from media, feature writing, publishing and sports journalism. At Bridge, Aniha joins an expert Huddle: Reimagining Faculty: Beyond PhDs & Tenures.
ANIL
SANTHAPURI
DIRECTOR OF LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT,
CGI
A result-oriented Talent & OD professional, Anil has 18 years of professional experience in the domains of talent management, leadership development and consulting. His career spans across organizations like Western Union, HCL Technologies, CGI Information Systems, Mahindra Satyam and iGate Global Solutions, where he designed and delivered award-winning learning and talent initiatives. Anil will share his experience and thoughts on Covid-19: Work, Worker & Woes, exclusively at Bridge.
GV
RAVISHANKAR
MANAGING DIRECTOR,
SEQUOIA CAPITAL
Managing Director of Sequoia Capital and renowned investor, GV is well-versed in consumer tech, consumer, education and financial services opportunities. He currently serves on the boards of Byjus, Capital Float, Eruditus Learning, Faces Cosmetics, Five Star finance, Finova Capital, Go Fashion, HomeLane, Indigo Paints and many more successful enterprises. He’s passionate about entrepreneurship that offers unique solutions to consumer problems, and will feature in Bridge’s expert Colloquy: Dizzying EdTech Heights: Profit, Scale, Impact?
KIRTI
SETH
CEO (INTERIM), IT-ITES SECTOR SKILL COUNCIL, NASSCOM
A business leader with over 30 years of rich experience in entrepreneurship, management, and driving change, Kirti has played a major role in India’s growth story by heading the prestigious FutureSkills Prime project, a digital skilling initiative in partnership with the Government of India. Before NASSCOM, she was the CEO of NIIT Uniqua—a Genpact and NIIT joint venture—a training organization focused on the IT-ITES sector. Over the years, her leadership experience has ranged from being a founder-entrepreneur of a 500-employee organization, managing 2 turn-around stories, and was an advisor for learning and development to global organizations in NIIT’s Global Consulting and Advisory practice, like Shell, Rio Tinto, Bank of America and Quintiles.
At Bridge, Kirti will be part of an expert Huddle, Content Is King, Context Is God.
RAJENDRAN
DANDAPANI
BUSINESS SOLUTIONS EVANGELIST, ZOHO CORP; PRESIDENT, ZOHO SCHOOLS OF LEARNING
After dropping out of IIT-Madras, Rajendran was part of the founding team at Zoho Corporation (then called Vembu Systems). Later, he spent seven years at Xerago as their Chief Algorithms Officer, managing projects and services for clients including Citibank and Sify. Since rejoining Zoho Corporation in 2004, he spearheads mobile development with a multi-talented team that builds mobile apps for more than 45 million customers. He is also the President at Zoho Schools of Learning, Zoho’s own ongoing social experiment aimed at becoming a viable alternative to conventional college education. Rajendran is also a TEDx speaker, a technology evangelist and a contra-academician at heart; also a firm believer in how the Indian education system needs a reboot.
At Bridge, Rajendran shares his views at the Huddle, The Final Mile: Company As College.
MADAN
PILLUTLA
DEAN,
INDIAN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS (ISB)
Professor Pillutla is a globally acclaimed management thought leader on organizational behavior, with over 25 years of teaching experience at prestigious institutions like the London Business School and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. He began his career as a management trainee at ITC Ltd. in India and has held editorial positions in several renowned academic journals including Administrative Science Quarterly and the Academy of Management Perspective.
At Bridge, Madan brings his vast expertise to the Colloquy, Secret Superpower: Habits & Behaviors.
Swati
Rustagi
Director, Human Resources,
Amazon India
Swati is a seasoned HR leader with over 22 years of experience and has worked with large pan-India teams at Hindustan Unilever Limited, DSP Merrill Lynch, Johnson & Johnson Medical, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals and Max Health Care. She specializes in Human Resources Management systems such as employee relations, organizational development, talent management, leadership & development. In her current role, she employs her passion for people and processes to unleash the employee potential towards achieving organizational vision and business goals. At Bridge, hear from Swati at the Encounter: Do Internships Matter?
Krishna
Kumar
FOUNDER & CEO,
SimpliLearn
Krishna Kumar began his career as a software engineer at Infosys, but soon his entrepreneurial spirit inspired him to start his own venture–Tech Unified. In 2009 he started Simplilearn.com, which quickly became one of the largest platforms in delivering certification training for working professionals. An established thought leader in edtech, Krishna brings his experience to Bridge’s Huddle on Reimagining Faculty: Beyond PhDs & Tenures.
ROHIT
KAPOOR
CEO, INDIA & SOUTH-EAST ASIA (INSEA),
OYO
Rohit has led OYO India transforming the business across financials, partner and customer NPS. A seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience, he has worked in various leadership positions at several organizations including Max India Limited and Mckinsey & Company. He also dons the hat of an investor across domains like prop tech, health tech and fintech. At Bridge, Rohit will share his expert insights in a debate on Unemployable Graduates: Who's To Blame?
VISHNU
IRUVANTI
HEAD, PEOPLE PRACTICE,
CLEARTAX INDIA
With more than 10 years of experience in the HR industry, Vishnu currently leads People Practices at ClearTax, India's largest tax and financial services software platform for individuals, tax experts, SMEs and enterprises. Prior to this, he has worked extensively with Ola, Myntra, Yahoo and Microsoft in talent acquisition and recruitment.
At Bridge, Vishnu joins industry leaders and leading academics at the Huddle: The New Age Resume.
SHUBHRATA
PRAKASH
DIRECTOR, NITI AAYOG; AUTHOR, THE D WORD
Subhrata has donned many illustrious hats, from IRS Officer to Income Tax Commissioner, to policy expert, author and poet. She is currently Executive Director of India’s renowned government education policy think tank NITI Aayog and a fervent mental health advocate, with her first self-help book The D Word published in 2016. At Bridge, Subhrata will be a part of the expert Colloquy that discusses The Real Crisis: Mental Health.
Prince
Augustin
EVP, Group Human Capital & Leadership Development,
Mahindra & Mahindra
Prince has enabled development and empowerment of the talent base through coaching, mentoring and deployment of HR processes at leading corporations such as Castrol, Star TV, Morepen and now the Mahindra Group. Recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award in HR in 2015, Prince will bring his tremendous experience in talent allocation and leadership to Bridge’s Colloquy on Measuring Impact: Waiting For Godot.
NAMITA
DALMIA
PARTNER,
ENZIA VENTURES
Currently Partner at Enzia Ventures that invests in healthcare, education and environment, Namita is passionate about education technology and learning impact through innovation. She is a Board Member for several non-profit organizations as well as for-profit organizations in edtech including WhiteHat Jr and Vedantu, and has worked with Omidyar Network India, Central Square Foundation, Education Elements, and the National Knowledge Commission. Her in-depth knowledge of the sector brings her to Bridge’s exciting Colloquy, Dizzying EdTech Heights: Profit, Scale, Impact?
ANUPAL
BANERJEE
CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER, TATA TECHNOLOGIES
Currently at TATA Technologies, Anupal has led HR functions at several renowned organizations globally, including Viacom18, Infosys, WNS and Capgemini. He was part of the core team responsible for setting up the Infosys Mexico subsidiary and headed performance management, talent acquisition and organization effectiveness at Viacom18.
At Bridge, Anupal joins the Huddle, The Final Mile: Company As College.
AMITABH
SINGH
HEAD, BUSINESS HR, PEOPLE & LEADERSHIP CAPABILITY, ICICI BANK
Amitabh is a veteran HR leader with extensive experience in leadership development, L&D and HR service delivery. He has worked with ICICI Bank for over eight years now and holds a postgraduate degree in Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration from Xavier Institute of Social Services.
At Bridge, Amitabh joins a panel of expert industry leaders and academics on the Huddle, The Final Mile: Company As College.
PRABHU
AGGARWAL
VICE CHANCELLOR,
BENNETT UNIVERSITY
Prabhu comes with over three decades of global expertise in engineering, process management, education and leadership development. Before joining the leadership at Bennett University, he had served as President and Vice Chancellor at NIIT University, and also led the Center for Professional Development Programs for working professionals at Mason School of Business in Virginia, USA. At Bridge, he will share his experiential insights at a Huddle on Reimagining Faculty: Beyond PhDs & Tenures.
VEENA
VOHRA
ASSOCIATE DEAN & PROFESSOR, HUMAN RESOURCES & BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES,
SBM, NMIMS
Veena is uniquely well-versed in both academia and industry challenges, as Associate Dean and Professor at NMIMS School of Business Management following 7 years of corporate work experience. Her research interests lie in Leadership, Emotional Intelligence, Appreciative Inquiry, and Human Resource Management. Veena will offer her scholarly insights at Bridge’s exclusive Solution Room, EdTech To LearnTech: What Will It Take?
Shobhini
Mukerji
Executive Director,
Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab, South Asia
Supervising over 40+ pan-India research projects and policy engagements, Shobhini’s work ranges from managing and designing large-scale data collection and analysis, to advising organizations and governments on research design, monitoring, and evaluation strategies. She works closely with donors, policymakers and research institutions and has helped successfully scale many social programs. At Bridge, Shobhini brings her experience of transforming research into action to the Colloquy, Measuring Impact: Waiting For Godot.
Manika
Sharma
Director,
The Shri Ram Schools
In a career spanning three decades as an educator, Manika has inherent knowledge on subjects such as instructional leadership, working in teams, critical thinking and more. She is passionate about education and continues to positively impact the lives of students. Manika has conducted leadership and motivational teacher training sessions across India. At Bridge, she will be joining the Huddle on Preparing Gen Z & Gen Alpha.
SUSAN
CHEN
DIRECTOR, HEAD OF PEOPLE,
HK & SG GAME DEVELOPMENT STUDIOS, RIOT GAMES
A strong advocate for financial and educational inclusion, Susan has worked and lived in Taiwan, New Zealand, UK, Norway, Singapore and Indonesia. She holds a PhD with a focus on knowledge management and is pursuing a program in educational psychology. Susan works with teams and leaders to develop talent strategies and interventions to build capabilities for sustainable growth in organizations. Her work has been covered in a variety of industry journals that focus on challenges organizations and the global workforce face. At Bridge, Susan will join a Huddle on Covid-19: Work, Worker & Woes.
Jeff
BUENING
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER,
OUTLIER.ORG
Jeff leads Outlier in its mission of building a more accessible, equitable, and affordable future for higher education. An On Deck Fellow, he was the founding executive at Brightwheel, a leading childcare and pre-school management software. Jeff spent his early career at NBC Universal in a variety of finance, strategy, and business development roles and was a pre-launch member of the Hulu venture team. At Bridge, we’re delighted to host Jeff at the Huddle: Content Is King, Context Is God.
SHANKAR
VANAVARAYAR
PRESIDENT,
KUMARAGURU INSTITUTIONS
Educationist and entrepreneur Shankar leads multiple businesses, educational institutions and social development organizations within the multinational conglomerate, Sakthi Group. He also holds distinguished positions at Young Indians, the Vanavarayar Foundation and the Aspen Global Leadership Network. He is currently President of nine educational institutions including schools and colleges under NIA, a not-for-profit with a modern outlook on education.
At Bridge, Shankar will speak at the Huddle on Reimagining Faculty: Beyond PhDs & Tenures.
NEHA
BAGARIA
FOUNDER & CEO,
JOBSFORHER
Soon after graduating from the Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania, Neha founded her first company Paragon, an education startup introducing the Advanced Placement Program in Indian high schools. Following a three and half year career break to look after her family, she founded JobsForHer, an online portal enabling women to find job opportunities and restart their careers after a break. She has been featured on Forbes India’s WPower Trailblazers list of groundbreaking women achievers for her game-changing work in innovation and breaking stereotypes.
At Bridge, Neha brings her entrepreneurial wisdom to the Huddle, The New Age Resume.
PRATHAM
MITTAL
DIRECTOR,
MASTERS’ UNION
Pratham is currently Director of Masters' Union, a unique practitioner-led higher education institution; and Cofounder of Outgrow.co, one of the world's most popular polling technology companies and interactive content platform. An alumnus of the University of Pennsylvania, he brings his experience in digital platforms to a Bridge Solution Room on EdTech To LearnTech: What Will It Take?
NEHA
KIRPAL
COFOUNDER,
INNERHOUR
For over a decade, Neha worked at the intersection of the creative and social sectors. As founder of India’s first international art fair, she ran it successfully for ten years moving her focus entirely to the marginalized mental health sector. In 2019, Neha joined Dr. Amit Malik as Cofounder at InnerHour, a tech-led mental health platform that delivers omni-channel products and services for a range of mental health conditions. Neha will be a part of Bridge’s exclusive Colloquy on The Real Crisis: Mental Health.
HARPREET S.
GROVER
COFOUNDER,
COCUBES.COM
Harpreet founded CoCubes.com with his batchmate Vibhore Goyal in 2007, soon after graduating from IIT Delhi. The online platform for assessments and hiring was acquired by Aon Hewitt in an all-cash deal in 2016. Harpreet co-authored Let’s Build A Company with Vibhore based on their entrepreneurship experiences. Passionate about education and building careers, Harpreet is an angel investor with many high-profile startups including Chaayos, ShopKirana and Avail Finance.
At Bridge, Harpreet joins an innovative Huddle on The New Age Resume.
Ali
Imran
Vice President, External Engagement,
Ashoka University
An established expert in communications and innovation, Ali has 25 years of leadership experience in strategy, marketing, branding and advertising. He worked as Head of Marketing at Samsung Mobiles, Bacardi India and UTV Television, Branch Head of Leo Burnett Advertising, and Associate Vice President at Lowe Lintas. Currently at Ashoka University, he leads Communications & PR, admissions and outreach, and international partnerships.
At Bridge, Ali brings years of insight in communications and academia to the Huddle,The New Age Resume.
Mukta
Nakra
Head, Human Resources & Sustainability, Marks and Spencer, Reliance India Ltd.
Mukta has diversified experience in all business aspects of human resources across sectors, and has managed high-impact change management initiatives for large global organizations involving multi-cultural and matrix environments. She is passionate about D&I, and launched 'Women in Retail' program to promote gender diversity across stores in Walmart India. Mukta also led ‘Reach Out’ - a development initiative for senior women leaders at Amex in partnership with Pepsico, PwC, Microsoft, Tata Group and RB. She has also been instrumental in the launch of Pride Chapter at AmEx.
At Bridge, Mukta brings experiential insights to the Huddle: Covid-19: Work, Worker & Woes.
MODERATORS
ANUSTUP
NAYAK
PROJECT DIRECTOR,
CENTRAL SQUARE FOUNDATION
Anustup gave up a corporate career spanning consulting, strategy, IT and policy in the United States to pursue his interest in education. He now leads the Classroom Instruction & Practice team at Central Square Foundation, a non-profit that ensures high-quality school education for all children in India. Over the last decade, he has played key roles in building various aspects of XSEED Education's work spanning advocacy, assessment, product development and talent management. He brings 20 years of on-ground experience in education reform to Bridge’s Huddle on Preparing Gen Z & Gen Alpha.
DEBABRAT
MISHRA
SENIOR PARTNER, EMA DECISION DYNAMICS & ADVISOR, SHRM
Debabrat is a seasoned consulting leader with three decades of experience
in helping business founders and leaders create lasting legacies across industries including management, consulting and media. He is currently Sr Partner at EMA Decision Dynamics, which helps executives find pathways to increase individual and team effectiveness. Debabrat is also an Advisor for SHRM – Asia Pacific and MENA. He is currently working on the relevance of neuroscience to aspects of leadership. At Bridge, Debabrat will steer an engaging Huddle on Covid-19: Work, Worker & Woes.
SEEMA
BANSAL
PARTNER & DIRECTOR,
SOCIAL IMPACT, BCG
Seema Bansal leads Boston Consulting Group’s Social Impact practice in Asia Pacific and is a member of the firm’s People & Organization and Public Sector practices. She has worked extensively in financial services and telecommunications, focusing primarily on strategy, operational excellence, culture, and organization design. She has also spear-headed a public education reform project for 15,000 schools in Haryana, India. With her significant expertise in learning and organization-related topics, Seema will moderate Bridge’s Solution Room on EdTech To LearnTech: What Will It Take?
TANMOY
GOSWAMI
FOUNDING EDITOR,
SANITY BY TANMOY
With years of journalistic and entrepreneurial experience behind him, Tanmoy founded Sanity by Tanmoy, an independent platform on the politics, economics, and culture of mental health. He pivoted to writing about the global mental-health movement after a long career in business journalism, at establishments like ET Prime, Fortune India and Spenta Multimedia. At Bridge, Tanmoy will chair an expert Colloquy that discusses The Real Crisis: Mental Health.
SRIKANT
SASTRI
PRESIDENT, TiE DELHI-NCR; CHAIRMAN,
IIM CALCUTTA INNOVATION PARK
Srikant plays the role of mentor and advisor for countless corporations on accelerated business transformation, based on his extremely successful entrepreneurial history. He is Cofounder of CrayonData, and Chairman of I3G Advisory Network and IIM Calcutta Innovation Park, alongside leading various incubator projects. His first book The Ventilator Project is an inspiring saga of conceptualizing and scaling a business during an unprecedented crisis. At Bridge, Srikant will lead an insightful Huddle on Reimagining Faculty: Beyond PhDs & Tenures.
Dheeraj
Sanghi
VC Designate,
JK Lakshmipat University
Dheeraj is a seasoned educationist who has led curriculum design projects, addressed faculty and student bodies at various institutions. He was previously Director, Punjab Engineering College and Dean of Academic Affairs and External Relations, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. He is a guest lecturer at IIT Kanpur and IIT Gandhinagar. He showcases a strong passion for pedagogy styles and his experiences substantiate this further. At Bridge, Dheeraj brings his vast experience of working with premiere engineering institutions to the Colloquy, Measuring Impact: Waiting For Godot.
VENKATESH
SARVASIDDHI
SENIOR HEAD, DIGITAL SKILLS, INNOVATION, INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS & CSR, NATIONAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Venkatesh was featured as the Youngest AVP of Corporate India in Business India at the age of 27, and starred on CNBC Young Turks for leading entrepreneurship and skilling innovation in India. At NSDC, he heads eSkill India under Digital India initiatives to empower youth and works with corporates to develop scalable, sustainable technology skilling platforms under the national Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY). Before NSDC, he worked at Deloitte heading Deloitte Skill Academy, which focuses on bridging the gap between industry and academia.
At Bridge, Venkatesh turns moderator at the Huddle, The Final Mile: Company As College.
NIKHIL
GUMBHIR
VICE PRESIDENT, ENGAGEMENT & CUSTOMER SUCCESS, HARAPPA
Nikhil Gumbhir has set up the B2B business vertical at Harappa and is currently Vice President of Engagement & Customer Success. Nikhil oversees learning operations for 150+ corporate and campus accounts at Harappa. He has 10 years of experience working in EdTech and in his past avatar has been an entrepreneur, setting up online STEM experiential learning for India’s largest education group spanning 400,000 learners. Nikhil is an avid online learner, has an MBA from the Indian School of Business and an innovation fellowship from Stanford.
Nikhil will bring his expertise to the debate format Encounter on Do Internships Matter and Unemployable Graduates: Who’s to Blame?
SEEMA
CHOWDHRY
VICE PRESIDENT, CURRICULUM & PROGRAMS,
HARAPPA
Seema Chowdhry is Vice President, Curriculum at Harappa. Prior to joining Harappa, Seema was the Associate Editor, Mint and part of the Leadership team. She edited the Business of Life, Philanthropy and Corporate Social Responsibility sections as well as Lounge, the saturday magazine. Previously, she has worked at India Today and the Times of India. Seema has a Master's Degree in Public Administration from the National University of Singapore. She has conducted workshops for postgraduate students on Media and Public Policy at the Indian School of Public Policy, Azim Premji University and the Naropa Fellowship.
Seema will lead an engaging Huddle on Content is King, Context is God.
VIPUL
RATHORE
CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER,
HARAPPA
As Chief Content Officer, Vipul leads Harappa’s curriculum. He has more than two decades of experience in designing and running learning initiatives and academies, across companies such as Genpact, Accenture, and KPMG. Vipul is an expert in learning design, delivery, and program management and is a storyteller at heart. Vipul will moderate a captivating Colloquy on Secret Superpowers: Habits & Behaviors.
KANIKA
SINGAL
VICE PRESIDENT, SPECIAL PROJECTS,
HARAPPA
Kanika handles a number of Harappa's strategic initiatives and special projects. She is the author of a best seller—How To Survive The Boss (Harper Collins) and has also been the co-founder of Jadooz Media Solution Private Limited, Homeenergysaver, Board Observer/ Member of multiple companies. She started her career with McKinsey & Company, later led Global Strategy at Levi Strauss & Co., and was the Director and India Lead for CEB, now Gartner's Sales Marketing practice. She has 15 years of rich experience as a skilled entrepreneur for large organizations, with a proven track record of launching businesses across global markets in business services, fashion, retail, and education sectors. Kanika is a part of Yale School of Management's GELP program and holds an MBA from the Department of Management Studies, IIT Delhi, and a BArch from SPA, New Delhi.
Kanika will moderate an innovative Huddle on the New Age Resume.
ANUSTUP
NAYAK
PROJECT DIRECTOR,
CENTRAL SQUARE FOUNDATION
Anustup gave up a corporate career spanning consulting, strategy, IT and policy in the United States to pursue his interest in education. He now leads the Classroom Instruction & Practice team at Central Square Foundation, a non-profit that ensures high-quality school education for all children in India. Over the last decade, he has played key roles in building various aspects of XSEED Education's work spanning advocacy, assessment, product development and talent management. He brings 20 years of on-ground experience in education reform to Bridge’s Huddle on Preparing Gen Z & Gen Alpha.
DEBABRAT
MISHRA
SENIOR PARTNER, EMA DECISION DYNAMICS & ADVISOR, SHRM
Debabrat is a seasoned consulting leader with three decades of experience
in helping business founders and leaders create lasting legacies across industries including management, consulting and media. He is currently Sr Partner at EMA Decision Dynamics, which helps executives find pathways to increase individual and team effectiveness. Debabrat is also an Advisor for SHRM – Asia Pacific and MENA. He is currently working on the relevance of neuroscience to aspects of leadership. At Bridge, Debabrat will steer an engaging Huddle on Covid-19: Work, Worker & Woes.
SEEMA
BANSAL
PARTNER & DIRECTOR,
SOCIAL IMPACT, BCG
Seema Bansal leads Boston Consulting Group’s Social Impact practice in Asia Pacific and is a member of the firm’s People & Organization and Public Sector practices. She has worked extensively in financial services and telecommunications, focusing primarily on strategy, operational excellence, culture, and organization design. She has also spear-headed a public education reform project for 15,000 schools in Haryana, India. With her significant expertise in learning and organization-related topics, Seema will moderate Bridge’s Solution Room on EdTech To LearnTech: What Will It Take?
TANMOY
GOSWAMI
FOUNDING EDITOR,
SANITY BY TANMOY
With years of journalistic and entrepreneurial experience behind him, Tanmoy founded Sanity by Tanmoy, an independent platform on the politics, economics, and culture of mental health. He pivoted to writing about the global mental-health movement after a long career in business journalism, at establishments like ET Prime, Fortune India and Spenta Multimedia. At Bridge, Tanmoy will chair an expert Colloquy that discusses The Real Crisis: Mental Health.
SRIKANT
SASTRI
PRESIDENT, TiE DELHI-NCR; CHAIRMAN,
IIM CALCUTTA INNOVATION PARK
Srikant plays the role of mentor and advisor for countless corporations on accelerated business transformation, based on his extremely successful entrepreneurial history. He is Cofounder of CrayonData, and Chairman of I3G Advisory Network and IIM Calcutta Innovation Park, alongside leading various incubator projects. His first book The Ventilator Project is an inspiring saga of conceptualizing and scaling a business during an unprecedented crisis. At Bridge, Srikant will lead an insightful Huddle on Reimagining Faculty: Beyond PhDs & Tenures.
Dheeraj
Sanghi
VC Designate,
JK Lakshmipat University
Dheeraj is a seasoned educationist who has led curriculum design projects, addressed faculty and student bodies at various institutions. He was previously Director, Punjab Engineering College and Dean of Academic Affairs and External Relations, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. He is a guest lecturer at IIT Kanpur and IIT Gandhinagar. He showcases a strong passion for pedagogy styles and his experiences substantiate this further. At Bridge, Dheeraj brings his vast experience of working with premiere engineering institutions to the Colloquy, Measuring Impact: Waiting For Godot.
VENKATESH
SARVASIDDHI
SENIOR HEAD, DIGITAL SKILLS, INNOVATION, INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS & CSR, NATIONAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Venkatesh was featured as the Youngest AVP of Corporate India in Business India at the age of 27, and starred on CNBC Young Turks for leading entrepreneurship and skilling innovation in India. At NSDC, he heads eSkill India under Digital India initiatives to empower youth and works with corporates to develop scalable, sustainable technology skilling platforms under the national Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY). Before NSDC, he worked at Deloitte heading Deloitte Skill Academy, which focuses on bridging the gap between industry and academia.
At Bridge, Venkatesh turns moderator at the Huddle, The Final Mile: Company As College.
NIKHIL
GUMBHIR
VICE PRESIDENT, ENGAGEMENT & CUSTOMER SUCCESS, HARAPPA
Nikhil Gumbhir has set up the B2B business vertical at Harappa and is currently Vice President of Engagement & Customer Success. Nikhil oversees learning operations for 150+ corporate and campus accounts at Harappa. He has 10 years of experience working in EdTech and in his past avatar has been an entrepreneur, setting up online STEM experiential learning for India’s largest education group spanning 400,000 learners. Nikhil is an avid online learner, has an MBA from the Indian School of Business and an innovation fellowship from Stanford.
Nikhil will bring his expertise to the debate format Encounter on Do Internships Matter and Unemployable Graduates: Who’s to Blame?
SEEMA
CHOWDHRY
VICE PRESIDENT, CURRICULUM & PROGRAMS,
HARAPPA
Seema Chowdhry is Vice President, Curriculum at Harappa. Prior to joining Harappa, Seema was the Associate Editor, Mint and part of the Leadership team. She edited the Business of Life, Philanthropy and Corporate Social Responsibility sections as well as Lounge, the saturday magazine. Previously, she has worked at India Today and the Times of India. Seema has a Master's Degree in Public Administration from the National University of Singapore. She has conducted workshops for postgraduate students on Media and Public Policy at the Indian School of Public Policy, Azim Premji University and the Naropa Fellowship.
Seema will lead an engaging Huddle on Content is King, Context is God.
VIPUL
RATHORE
CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER,
HARAPPA
As Chief Content Officer, Vipul leads Harappa’s curriculum. He has more than two decades of experience in designing and running learning initiatives and academies, across companies such as Genpact, Accenture, and KPMG. Vipul is an expert in learning design, delivery, and program management and is a storyteller at heart. Vipul will moderate a captivating Colloquy on Secret Superpowers: Habits & Behaviors.
KANIKA
SINGAL
VICE PRESIDENT, SPECIAL PROJECTS,
HARAPPA
Kanika handles a number of Harappa's strategic initiatives and special projects. She is the author of a best seller—How To Survive The Boss (Harper Collins) and has also been the co-founder of Jadooz Media Solution Private Limited, Homeenergysaver, Board Observer/ Member of multiple companies. She started her career with McKinsey & Company, later led Global Strategy at Levi Strauss & Co., and was the Director and India Lead for CEB, now Gartner's Sales Marketing practice. She has 15 years of rich experience as a skilled entrepreneur for large organizations, with a proven track record of launching businesses across global markets in business services, fashion, retail, and education sectors. Kanika is a part of Yale School of Management's GELP program and holds an MBA from the Department of Management Studies, IIT Delhi, and a BArch from SPA, New Delhi.
Kanika will moderate an innovative Huddle on the New Age Resume.
HOSTS
PRAMATH RAJ
SINHA
Founder & Chairman,
Harappa
I have been part of the higher education landscape for many years now and we have countless conversations about why disruption and innovation are so important and necessary. Bridge has been an idea Shreyasi and I have discussed ever since Harappa launched—we have always wanted to create a platform that brings together the audiences we work with; academia and industry. We are uniquely placed to do this and I am personally honored to introduce you to this first-of-its-kind event.
SHREYASI
SINGH
Founder & CEO,
Harappa
For far too long, academia and industry have operated in silos, with little to no consensus on how to impactfully skill young talent for the workforce. As is signature Harappa, the highlight of this invite-only event will be incredible, engaging and articulate speakers who are unafraid to speak their mind, on the most crucial topics connecting the futures of work and education. I couldn’t be more excited for us to open up this much-needed conversation that everyone’s thinking about but no one is having!
PRAMATH RAJ
SINHA
Founder & Chairman,
Harappa
I have been part of the higher education landscape for many years now and we have countless conversations about why disruption and innovation are so important and necessary. Bridge has been an idea Shreyasi and I have discussed ever since Harappa launched—we have always wanted to create a platform that brings together the audiences we work with; academia and industry. We are uniquely placed to do this and I am personally honored to introduce you to this first-of-its-kind event.
SHREYASI
SINGH
Founder & CEO,
Harappa
For far too long, academia and industry have operated in silos, with little to no consensus on how to impactfully skill young talent for the workforce. As is signature Harappa, the highlight of this invite-only event will be incredible, engaging and articulate speakers who are unafraid to speak their mind, on the most crucial topics connecting the futures of work and education. I couldn’t be more excited for us to open up this much-needed conversation that everyone’s thinking about but no one is having!
AGENDA
TRACK 1
The
College-Workplace Continuum
Before our graduates can be productive, industry often needs to invest in significant training or wait for on-the-job experience to make people role-ready. There also isn’t a collective responsibility, both for an individual, or for the human capital needs of a large population and a national economy with the potential for high growth and increasing global significance.
-
KEYNOTE
A True Unicorn: Who Is The 21st Century Employee?
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ENCOUNTER
Unemployable Graduates: Who's To Blame?
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MASTERCLASS
The 60-Year Curriculum
TRACK 2
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Huddle
Covid-19: Work, Worker & Woes
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Colloquy
Measuring Impact: Waiting for Godot?
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MASTERCLASS
How People Learn
The Art & Science
Of Learning
Learning is a complex process, converging principles from sciences like psychology, cognitive theories and behaviorism. Far more than “education”, it’s the discipline of learning and the application of learning that will bring us the impact we seek.
TRACK 3
The Education
Enterprise
To truly make a dent in the education-employability challenge, our talent custodians–academics and employers–will have to forge innovative partnerships that address learning needs in efficient, impactful ways.
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KEYNOTE
Philanthropy, Legacy & Impact
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HUDDLE
Reimagining Faculty: Beyond PhDs & Tenures
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COLLOQUY
Private Capital’s Role: Where Money Meets Talent
FORMAT
Bridge will be delivered in innovative, intimate formats such as:
HUDDLE
Moderated discussion of a group of peers
MASTERCLASS
Expert-led talk on understanding of a concept
COLLOQUY
Facilitated, freewheeling Q&A session
KEYNOTE
Big-picture address on defining themes and trends
ENCOUNTER
Debate format to surface contrasting views
SOLUTION ROOM
War room style, problem-solving forum
HUDDLE
Moderated discussion of a group of peers
MASTERCLASS
Expert-led talk on understanding of a concept
COLLOQUY
Facilitated, freewheeling Q&A session
KEYNOTE
Big-picture address on defining themes and trends
ENCOUNTER
Debate format to surface contrasting views
SOLUTION ROOM
War room style, problem-solving forum
HUDDLE
Moderated discussion of a group of peers
MASTERCLASS
Expert-led talk on understanding of a concept
COLLOQUY
Facilitated, freewheeling Q&A session
KEYNOTE
Big-picture address on defining themes and trends
ENCOUNTER
Debate format to surface contrasting views
SOLUTION ROOM
War room style, problem-solving forum
SCHEDULE
Choose The Day
Choose The Track
2:30 PM
2:40 pm
Welcome Address
2:30 PM
2:40 pm
SPEAKER
Shreyasi Singh
2:40 PM
3:10 pm
Keynote
Future Proofing Our Workforce: How To Thrive, Not Survive
2:40 PM
3:10 pm
SPEAKER
Ajay Piramal
Pramath Raj Sinha
Moderator
Pramath Raj Sinha
Track 1
3:10 PM
4:00 pm
ENCOUNTER
Unemployable Graduates: Who's To Blame?
3:10 PM
4:00 pm
SPEAKER
Rishikesha Krishnan, Rohit Kapoor
Nikhil Gumbhir
Moderator
Nikhil Gumbhir
Track 1
HUDDLE
Covid-19: Work, Worker & Woes
3:10 PM
4:00 pm
SPEAKER
Anil Santhapuri, Susan Chen, Mukta Nakra
Debabrat Mishra
Moderator
Debabrat Mishra
Track 2
Solution Room
EdTech To LearnTech: What Will It Take?
3:10 PM
4:00 pm
SPEAKER
Pratham Mittal, Veena Vohra, Mayank Kumar
Moderator
Seema Bansal
Track 3
4:00 PM
4:10 pm
Break
4:10 PM
5:00 pm
Huddle
The New Age Resume
5:00 PM
5:30 pm
SPEAKER
Vishnu Iruvanti, Neha Bagaria, Harpreet S. Grover, Ali Imran
Kanika Singal
Moderator
Kanika Singal
Track 1
5:00 PM
5:30 pm
MASTERCLASS
How People Learn
5:00 PM
5:30 pm
SPEAKER
Julie Dirksen
Shreyasi Singh
Moderator
Shreyasi Singh
Track 2
5:30 PM
5:45 pm
Break
5:45 PM
6:30 pm
Huddle
Preparing Gen Z & Gen Alpha
5:45 PM
06:30 pm
SPEAKER
Parmesh Shahani, Neharika Vohra, Manika Sharma
Anustup Nayak
Moderator
Anustup Nayak
Track 1
6:30 PM
7:00 pm
Masterclass
Higher Ed’s Future: Complementing Work & Life
6:30 PM
7:00 pm
SPEAKER
Vijay Kumar
Pramath Raj Sinha
Moderator
Pramath Raj Sinha
Track 1
Colloquy
Dizzying EdTech Heights: Impact, Profit, Scale?
6:30 PM
7:00 pm
SPEAKER
Namita Dalmia, GV Ravishankar
Shreyasi Singh
Moderator
Shreyasi Singh
Track 3
7:00 PM
7:30 pm
Keynote
A True Unicorn: Who Is The 21st Century Employee?
7:00 PM
7:30 pm
SPEAKER
Laxman Narasimhan
Pramath Raj Sinha
Moderator
Pramath Raj Sinha
Track 1
2:30 PM
2:40 pm
Welcome Address
2:30 PM
2:40 pm
SPEAKER
Nikhil Gumbhir
2:40 PM
3:10pm
Keynote
Philanthropy, Legacy & Impact
2:40 PM
3:10 pm
SPEAKER
Kumar Mangalam Birla
Pramath Raj Sinha
Moderator
Pramath Raj Sinha
Track 3
3:10 PM
4:00 pm
Huddle
The Final Mile: Company As College
3:10 PM
4:00 pm
SPEAKER
Rajendran Dandapani, Anupal Banerjee, Amitabh Singh
Venkatesh Sarvasidhhi
Moderator
Venkatesh Sarvasidhhi
Track 1
Colloquy
Measuring Impact: Waiting For Godot?
3:10 PM
4:00 pm
SPEAKER
Shobhini Mukerji, Prince Augustin
Dheeraj Sanghi
Moderator
Dheeraj Sanghi
Track 2
4:00 PM
4:10 pm
Break
4:10 PM
4:50 pm
ENCOUNTER
Do Internships Matter?
4:10 PM
4:50 pm
SPEAKER
Sudhir Jain, Swati Rustagi
Nikhil Gumbhir
Moderator
Nikhil Gumbhir
Track 1
Colloquy
The Real Crisis: Mental Health
4:10 PM
4:50 pm
SPEAKER
Neha Kirpal, Shubhrata Prakash
Tanmoy Goswami
Moderator
Tanmoy Goswami
Track 2
4:50 PM
5:40 pm
Huddle
Reimagining Faculty: Beyond PhDs & Tenures
4:50 PM
5:40 pm
SPEAKER
Prabhu Aggarwal, Aniha Brar, Krishna Kumar, Shankar Vanavarayar
Srikant Sastri
Moderator
Srikant Sastri
Track 3
5:40 PM
6:15 pm
Masterclass
The 60-Year Curriculum
5:40 PM
6:15 pm
SPEAKER
Christopher Dede
Pramath Raj Sinha
Moderator
Pramath Raj Sinha
Track 1
6:15 PM
7:00 pm
Huddle
Content Is King, Context Is God
6:15 PM
7:00 pm
SPEAKER
Jeff Buening, Betty Vandenbosch, Kirti Seth
Seema Chowdhry
Moderator
Seema Chowdhry
Track 3
6:30 PM
7:00 pm
Colloquy
Secret Superpower: Habits & Behaviors
6:30 PM
7:00 pm
SPEAKER
Neela Saldanha
Vipul Rathore
Moderator
Vipul Rathore
Track 2
7:00 PM
7:30 pm
Keynote
Private Capital's Role: Where Money Meets Talent
7:00 PM
7:30 pm
SPEAKER
Deborah Quazzo
Pramath Raj Sinha
Moderator
Pramath Raj Sinha
Track 3