
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


DEBORAH
QUAZZO
MANAGING PARTNER,
GSV VENTURES


LAXMAN
NARASIMHAN
GLOBAL CEO,
RECKITT


BETTY
VANDENBOSCH
CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER,
COURSERA


AJAY
PIRAMAL
CHAIRMAN,
PIRAMAL GROUP


NEHARIKA
VOHRA
VICE CHANCELLOR,
DELHI SKILL AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP UNIVERSITY


CHRISTOPHER
DEDE
PROFESSOR, LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES,
HARVARD UNIVERSITY


NEELA
SALDANHA
BEHAVIOR SCIENTIST & BOARD MEMBER,
GRAMEEN FOUNDATION


VIJAY
KUMAR
DEAN, ENGINEERING,
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA


JULIE
DIRKSEN
E-LEARNING, INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN,
BEHAVIOR CHANGE EXPERT & AUTHOR


RISHIKESHA
KRISHNAN
DIRECTOR,
IIM BANGALORE


SUDHIR
JAIN
DIRECTOR,
IIT GANDHINAGAR


PARMESH
SHAHANI
AUTHOR, QUEERISTAN & CORPORATE LGBTQ INCLUSION ADVOCATE


MAYANK
KUMAR
COFOUNDER & MD,
UPGRAD


ANIHA
BRAR
Dean, YOUNG INDIA FELLOWSHIP,
ASHOKA UNIVERSITY


ANIL
SANTHAPURI
DIRECTOR OF LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT,
CGI


GV
RAVISHANKAR
MANAGING DIRECTOR,
SEQUOIA CAPITAL


KIRTI
SETH
CEO (INTERIM), IT-ITES SECTOR SKILL COUNCIL, NASSCOM


RAJENDRAN
DANDAPANI
BUSINESS SOLUTIONS EVANGELIST, ZOHO CORP; PRESIDENT, ZOHO SCHOOLS OF LEARNING


MADAN
PILLUTLA
DEAN,
INDIAN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS (ISB)


Swati
Rustagi
Director, Human Resources,
Amazon India


Krishna
Kumar
FOUNDER & CEO,
SimpliLearn


ROHIT
KAPOOR
CEO, INDIA & SOUTH-EAST ASIA (INSEA),
OYO


VISHNU
IRUVANTI
HEAD, PEOPLE PRACTICE,
CLEARTAX INDIA


SHUBHRATA
PRAKASH
DIRECTOR, NITI AAYOG; AUTHOR, THE D WORD


Prince
Augustin
EVP, Group Human Capital & Leadership Development,
Mahindra & Mahindra


NAMITA
DALMIA
PARTNER,
ENZIA VENTURES


ANUPAL
BANERJEE
CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER, TATA TECHNOLOGIES


AMITABH
SINGH
HEAD, BUSINESS HR, PEOPLE & LEADERSHIP CAPABILITY, ICICI BANK


PRABHU
AGGARWAL
VICE CHANCELLOR,
BENNETT UNIVERSITY


VEENA
VOHRA
ASSOCIATE DEAN & PROFESSOR, HUMAN RESOURCES & BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES,
SBM, NMIMS


Shobhini
Mukerji
Executive Director,
Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab, South Asia


Manika
Sharma
Director,
The Shri Ram Schools


SUSAN
CHEN
DIRECTOR, HEAD OF PEOPLE,
HK & SG GAME DEVELOPMENT STUDIOS, RIOT GAMES


Jeff
BUENING
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER,
OUTLIER.ORG


SHANKAR
VANAVARAYAR
PRESIDENT,
KUMARAGURU INSTITUTIONS


NEHA
BAGARIA
FOUNDER & CEO,
JOBSFORHER


PRATHAM
MITTAL
DIRECTOR,
MASTERS’ UNION


NEHA
KIRPAL
COFOUNDER,
INNERHOUR


HARPREET S.
GROVER
COFOUNDER,
COCUBES.COM


Ali
Imran
Vice President, External Engagement,
Ashoka University


Mukta
Nakra
Head, Human Resources & Sustainability, Marks and Spencer, Reliance India Ltd.

MODERATORS

ANUSTUP
NAYAK
PROJECT DIRECTOR,
CENTRAL SQUARE FOUNDATION


DEBABRAT
MISHRA
SENIOR PARTNER, EMA DECISION DYNAMICS & ADVISOR, SHRM


SEEMA
BANSAL
PARTNER & DIRECTOR,
SOCIAL IMPACT, BCG


TANMOY
GOSWAMI
FOUNDING EDITOR,
SANITY BY TANMOY


SRIKANT
SASTRI
PRESIDENT, TiE DELHI-NCR; CHAIRMAN,
IIM CALCUTTA INNOVATION PARK


Dheeraj
Sanghi
VC Designate,
JK Lakshmipat University


VENKATESH
SARVASIDDHI
SENIOR HEAD, DIGITAL SKILLS, INNOVATION, INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS & CSR, NATIONAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION


NIKHIL
GUMBHIR
VICE PRESIDENT, ENGAGEMENT & CUSTOMER SUCCESS, HARAPPA


SEEMA
CHOWDHRY
VICE PRESIDENT, CURRICULUM & PROGRAMS,
HARAPPA


VIPUL
RATHORE
CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER,
HARAPPA


KANIKA
SINGAL
VICE PRESIDENT, SPECIAL PROJECTS,
HARAPPA

HOSTS

PRAMATH RAJ
SINHA
Founder & Chairman,
Harappa


SHREYASI
SINGH
Founder & CEO,
Harappa

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?
-
ENCOUNTER
Unemployable Graduates: Who's To Blame?
-
MASTERCLASS
The 60-Year Curriculum
TRACK 2
-
Huddle
Covid-19: Work, Worker & Woes
-
Colloquy
Measuring Impact: Waiting for Godot?
-
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.
-
KEYNOTE
Philanthropy, Legacy & Impact
-
HUDDLE
Reimagining Faculty: Beyond PhDs & Tenures
-
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

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
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
HUDDLE
Covid-19: Work, Worker & Woes
3:10 PM
4:00 pm
SPEAKER
Anil Santhapuri, Susan Chen, Mukta Nakra
Debabrat Mishra
Moderator
Debabrat Mishra
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
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
5:00 PM
5:30 pm
MASTERCLASS
How People Learn
5:00 PM
5:30 pm
SPEAKER
Julie Dirksen
Shreyasi Singh
Moderator
Shreyasi Singh
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
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
Colloquy
Dizzying EdTech Heights: Impact, Profit, Scale?
6:30 PM
7:00 pm
SPEAKER
Namita Dalmia, GV Ravishankar
Shreyasi Singh
Moderator
Shreyasi Singh
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
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
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
Colloquy
Measuring Impact: Waiting For Godot?
3:10 PM
4:00 pm
SPEAKER
Shobhini Mukerji, Prince Augustin
Dheeraj Sanghi
Moderator
Dheeraj Sanghi
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
Colloquy
The Real Crisis: Mental Health
4:10 PM
4:50 pm
SPEAKER
Neha Kirpal, Shubhrata Prakash
Tanmoy Goswami
Moderator
Tanmoy Goswami
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
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
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
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
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