In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

PEC Auditorium
Bangalore Trunk Road. Nazarethpet
Poonamallee
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600123
India

Boominathan Muthuramu

Director – KingMakers IAS Academy

Boominathan Muthuramu is an educationist and Director at KingMakers IAS Academy. With a deep commitment to social justice and community development, he has been instrumental in producing over 1,000 civil servants, including IAS, IPS, IFS, and IRS officers. His work has reached over five lakh youth across Tamil Nadu, raising awareness about government policies, job opportunities, and careers in State and Central Civil Services. Previously, he served as a Senior Superintending Officer in the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation, Government of India, from 1999 to 2020. He specializes in subjects like Indian Economy and History, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Economics. His academic background includes an M.Phil. from the Centre for Research on New International Economic Order, an M.A. from DG Vaishnav College, and a B.A. from Presidency College.

Captain Lovely Feranda M

Senior Captian, IndiGo Airlines

Captain Lovely Feranda M is a commercial airline pilot currently flying as Pilot in Command on the Airbus A320 and A321 fleet with IndiGo Airlines. Originally from Kanyakumari district and raised in Chennai, she holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Applications from Madras Christian College. She began her flying career in the United States, earning her FAA Commercial Pilot License at US Flight Academy in Texas. She returned to India in 2010 to obtain her DGCA license and completed her Airbus A320 type rating at Air India’s training center in Hyderabad. Her professional journey includes flying with Go Airlines as a Junior First Officer, followed by joining IndiGo Airlines in 2015. In 2018, she completed her command training in the UK and has since served as Captain on domestic and international routes. In addition to aviation, she enjoys singing, dancing, and spending time with her family, including her husband—also an airline captain—and their two sons.

Dr. C. Venugopal

Managing Director & CEO, Krysalis Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd.

Dr. Venugopal is a seasoned business leader and management consultant with over 45 years of experience in corporate India. With a rich career spanning 28 years in senior leadership roles across industries, he has led large-scale transformation initiatives including Business Process Reengineering, ERP implementations, and Total Quality Management. In 2004, he co-founded Krysalis Consultancy, a boutique firm specializing in improving organizational performance through strategic and operational interventions. As MD & CEO, he has advised hundreds of companies, helping leadership teams drive change and achieve sustainable growth. An IIT Kharagpur alumnus with an MBA from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute and a Ph.D. from Anna University, Dr. Venugopal is also a prolific writer and speaker on management. He has authored three books on entrepreneurship, self-leadership, and corporate success, and continues to mentor professionals across sectors through his work in consulting and executive coaching.

Dr. Madhan Kumar Srinivasan

CEO & Co-founder, Wise Work

Dr. Madhan Kumar Srinivasan is a seasoned technology leader and entrepreneur with over 21 years of experience spanning cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and innovation strategy. An alumnus of IIM Calcutta with a Ph.D. in Cloud AI, he currently serves as CEO & Co-founder of Wise Work, and Co-founder of Hue Learn Singapore and Longer Life Tech. He has held senior leadership roles at Accenture, Infosys, and GSTF Singapore, where he led large-scale tech transformations and product innovation. He was instrumental in creating India’s first private cloud at Infosys and developed Accenture’s first Cloud AI product. Dr. Madhan has authored over 30 research publications and holds 121 patents, with 83 granted across multiple countries. He serves as Professor of Practice at VIT and SRM and actively advises academic institutions and government initiatives, including Project VisioNxt (Govt. of India). His work bridges enterprise consulting, innovation, and emerging market technologies.

Dr. Sridevi Arunachalam

Founder, IIEC and Indo-UAE Economic Chamber of Commerce

Dr. Sridevi Arunachalam is an entrepreneur and education professional involved in multiple organizations. She is the Founder and Managing Director of IIEC, offering overseas education and career guidance services. She also serves as Founding Chairman and President of the Indo-UAE Economic Chamber of Commerce and is the Regional Director for the Korean Universities Admission Centre (KUAC) in India. She leads Canwon International, a branding agency for educational institutions, and is a director at Millions More International. She advises startups through Vel Tech TBI and St. Peter’s Incubation Centre. Dr. Sridevi has received awards including the Priyadarshini Award, Asia Book of Records recognition, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Dream Trust.

Dr. Sumaiya Tahseen

Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, Panimalar Medical College and Research Institute

Dr. Sumaiya Tahseen is an associate professor of anesthesiology at Panimalar Medical College and Research Institute. With extensive experience in both critical care and anesthesia, she has worked in a wide range of clinical environments—from advanced hospitals to low-resource settings—delivering care in some of the most fragile moments of human life. Her work reflects a deep commitment to patient safety, access to quality care, and the evolving role of anesthesiologists in modern medicine. She is particularly interested in how artificial intelligence, portable medical technologies, and genetics are shaping the future of anesthesia. Through her teaching, clinical practice, and ongoing exploration of innovation in healthcare, Dr. Sumaiya is dedicated to expanding awareness and redefining how critical care and anesthesia are understood and delivered across diverse populations.

M Sesha Sai

Founder of Farm Guru

M. Sesha Sai is an entrepreneur, educator, and diplomat with a diverse professional journey. He pioneered bubble-top canned water in Chennai in 1994 and collaborated with Coca-Cola in 2003 to set up Asia’s largest mineral water factory under the Kinley brand. In 2009, he was recognized as India’s top Nokia distributor. He has served as a professor at the Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, focusing on marketing and rural entrepreneurship. As the founder of Farm Guru, he works to connect urban children with agriculture and sustainability. In public service, he was appointed Honorary Consul in 2007 and now serves as the Honorary Consul General for the Republic of Seychelles. He is currently the Secretary General of the Consular Corps Diplomatic Association. He has delivered over 750 lectures across four countries and was honored with the Medal of Honour by the Governor of Tamil Nadu for his diplomatic service.

Priya Kumari

Student Speaker from Panimalar Engineering College

Priya Kumari is an engineering student at Panimalar Engineering College with a strong interest in cybersecurity. She has completed internships at ShadowFox and Edunet Foundation, where she developed foundational skills in Linux, SQL, Python, and SIEM tools. She is passionate about hands-on learning and is exploring opportunities to deepen her knowledge through real-world projects and mentorship. Priya is particularly interested in threat detection, ethical hacking, and building secure systems. She stays updated on the latest trends in cybersecurity and enjoys collaborating with like-minded peers. Her goal is to contribute to the field through continuous learning, innovation, and practical application.

Priyanka Kucheria

Director of Indowud NFC

Priyanka Kucheria, a qualified Company Secretary and Director at Indowud NFC, is transforming the building materials industry with eco-innovative leadership. Under her guidance, Indowud has pioneered termite-proof, recyclable wood panels made from agricultural waste like rice husk, offering a sustainable and non-toxic alternative to traditional plywood. Headquartered in Chennai, this forward-thinking MSME has gained global recognition, with its products now present across the GCC, USA, UK, and several other countries. Indowud addresses critical challenges like deforestation, air pollution, and carbon emissions, while also creating value for local farmers. With a bold vision for a greener future, Priyanka continues to lead Indowud NFC in redefining industry standards and championing climate-positive construction solutions on a global stage.

R Rafath Fathima

Pesales Engineer, Zoho Corporation

Rafath Fathima works as a Presales Engineer at Zoho, where she helps bridge the gap between technology and people. An engineer by profession and a communicator by passion, she has been active in public speaking from a young age ,earning two state-level awards and recognition across multiple speaking forums. Inquisitive by nature, Rafath finds joy in asking questions, exploring ideas, and learning continuously. She is also a passionate writer who believes in the power of words to reflect, connect, and provoke thought. She finds solace in sketching ,a quiet space where ideas take shape through lines and colors. She values clarity, connection, and lifelong learning and carries those values into every conversation, creation, and challenge she takes on.

Rajalakshmi Srinivasan

Director – Product Management, Zoho Corporation

Rajalakshmi Srinivasan is a seasoned technology leader with over 25 years of experience at Zoho Corporation. As Director of Product Management, she currently heads the Robotic Process Automation (RPA) product line, driving innovation and execution in a competitive tech landscape.Over the years, she has worked across critical domains including database scaling, network monitoring, application performance, and user experience management. Known for her strategic thinking and ability to transform ideas into scalable products, she has played a key role in the evolution of Zoho’s enterprise offerings. Rajalakshmi is also an active public speaker, engaging with academic and professional audiences on topics such as technology leadership, innovation, and women in tech. She holds a degree in Computer Science from the College of Engineering, Guindy (CEG), Chennai, and is widely recognized for her commitment to mentoring and empowering young professionals in the technology space.

Shri. J. Rajesh Kumar

Director, Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE), DRDO

Shri J. Rajesh Kumar, Outstanding Scientist, currently serves as the Director of CVRDE, DRDO. With a distinguished career in defense research, he has led key armored vehicle programs contributing to India’s self-reliance in military technology. Prior to this role, he was the Associate Director of CVRDE for the Main Battle Tank (MBT) Group and served as Project Director for the prestigious Light Tank Project. He played a pivotal role in advancing the Arjun MBT Mk-IA program, facilitating the placement of 118 tanks with the Indian Army—an important milestone in the Make in India initiative. He also led the development of the first prototype of the indigenous Light Tank. Shri Rajesh Kumar holds a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s in Military Vehicle Technology from the Royal Military College of Science (RMCS), Cranfield University, UK. He brings technical depth and leadership to India’s cutting-edge defense innovations.

Varunika V

Young Innovator & Skilled Orator

Varunika V is a 14-year-old student with a strong interest in technology, space science, and sustainability. She holds a world record for creating the first micro forest with robots at Anna University and has been recognized at various national-level events, including IIT Madras and IIT Bombay competitions. She is a member of the Inspire Youth Journal, where she serves as an honorary ambassador and writer. Fluent in five languages, she actively takes part in debates, workshops, and public speaking events. Varunika is also part of her school’s Startup Society and received the Bronze Award in The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition. She served as the Minister of Opposition in the Young Indians Parliament and continues to take part in initiatives that build leadership and critical thinking. She aims to work on projects that bring positive change through science and innovation.