TEDx - Sashvatam Navachetanam

Hyderabad, 23rd February 2025: Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Hyderabad hosted its 8th edition of the TEDx event on 23rd February 2025. This year’s theme, “Sashvatam Navachetanam” (Eternal Innovation), celebrated the fearless ideas of the future and the timeless wisdom of the past, signifying a fusion of tradition and modernity to create something extraordinary.

Prachi Tehlan, former national netball and basketball player, actress, entrepreneur, and social activist, commenced the event. She spoke about awareness through transformation, sharing her journey of resilience and self-discovery. Despite having no background in sports or acting, she overcame challenges to become a national-level athlete and actress. Her story of perseverance and reinvention continues to inspire across sports, entertainment, and business.

Daksh Sethi, Founder & CEO of Guby Rogers, took the stage next. Known as the "Wolf of Job Street," he emphasized three key life principles, working with honesty and integrity, striving for excellence without settling for mediocrity, and making independent decisions without external influence. He connected these values to the vision of New Bharat and the next generation, inspiring the audience to embrace a future built on strong ethics and self-determination.

Khushboo Patani, a retired Major from the Indian Army, took the stage as the third speaker and began her talk with the Gayatri Mantra, emphasizing the essence of being a good human. She shared three key principles for a meaningful life, Kratagyata - the power of gratitude, Daan - true donation without expecting anything in return, and Surrender - having faith in the process. Her insights encouraged the audience to embrace patience, generosity, and gratitude.

The second session began with a melodious performance by professional singers Shravani Ankala, Udit Chettri, and musician Deepesh Aaytee.

Rohith Reji, Co-founder and CEO of Neokred and a recipient of Entrepreneur 30 Under 30 (2023), took the stage as the fourth speaker. He discussed digital fraud and data privacy, shedding light on the algorithmic gaze and the power imbalance dominated by tech giants. He emphasized the need for a new framework focused on meaningful consent, granular control, and data literacy. Calling for a future built on ethical data sharing and privacy protection, he urged policymakers, businesses, and individuals to act responsibly.

Siddharth Mandala, a social innovator, TEDx speaker, and entrepreneur, took the stage next and introduced his electro-shoe invention designed to prevent sexual assault, featured in over 300 international news outlets. He shared his experience of founding Cognizance Welfare after witnessing a primary school dropout despite adequate funding. Highlighting inefficiencies in CSR funding, he proposed Game Theory as a strategy to maximize ROI and drive impactful social change.

Ritesh Mastipuram, a visionary entrepreneur and wellness industry innovator, took the stage next and shared his transformative journey. During the COVID-19 crisis, his business faced collapse, leading him to pioneer "Wellness as a Service," integrating deep technology with holistic living. He introduced a resort-oriented wellness model merging real estate with well-being. Highlighting the eight dimensions of wellness - physical, emotional, intellectual, social, spiritual, environmental, occupational, and financial - he inspired the audience to embrace wellness as a way of life.

Vishal Malhotra, a seasoned actor, entrepreneur, and director with over 28+ years in entertainment, concluded the speaker lineup. He shared his journey from a breakthrough at Disney to navigating setbacks in acting and transitioning into anchoring. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish an advertising agency and pioneer NFT-funded films, including ILM on Jio Hotstar. His parting words emphasized honesty, sincerity, and relentless pursuit of dreams.

The event concluded with a vote of thanks extended to Dr. K M Baharul Islam, Director and Professor at IMT Hyderabad, Prof (Dr) Venkata Chaturvedula C, Dean Academics, and Prof (Dr) Tulika Sharma, Assistant Professor and Mentor of TEDx at IMT Hyderabad. The speakers were also felicitated after their respective talks. With innovation and inspiration at its core, TEDx IMT Hyderabad 2025 left an enduring impact, igniting ideas that will shape the future.