Nita Ambani, a trailblazer in philanthropy, education, and culture, will take center stage at the highly anticipated India Conference at Harvard (ICH), scheduled for February 15 and 16, 2025, in Boston.
The event is one of the largest and most influential student-led India-focused conferences in the United States. An annual event hosted jointly at Harvard Business School and Harvard Kennedy School, it fosters dialogue on India’s evolving role in global affairs, bringing together thought leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and cultural icons.
The American Bazaar is a media partner of the event.
As one of India’s most influential voices, Ambani has profoundly impacted over 80 million lives through her social equity initiatives and continues to advocate for India’s global potential, noted an ICH press release. Her recent achievements, including hosting the International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in India after four decades and championing India’s bid for the 2036 Olympics, symbolize the nation’s growing influence on the global stage.
Ambani’s keynote aligns perfectly with this year’s theme, “From India to the World,” which celebrates India’s emergence as a global leader shaping pathways for peace, prosperity, and innovation, the release stated.
Ayush Shukla, one of the Conference Co-Chairs, commented, “The India Conference has always strived to push the boundaries of dialogue around India’s growth story. This year’s theme ‘From India to the World’ captures the essence of India’s transformative journey—where local ingenuity meets global impact. I think…this theme celebrates not only the success stories of our technological prowess and development growth that have emerged from India, but also showcases the lessons Indians offer about collaborative communities, vibrant culture, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit.”This year, the ICH is chaired by Arpit Garg (HBS 2025), Sanchie Shroff (HBS 2025), Kartik Sahni (HBS, HKS 2025) and Ayush Shukla (HKS 2025) leading a team of ~100 students from across Harvard University.
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The conference will feature more than 80 distinguished speakers from diverse fields over two days, exploring how Indian ideas and innovations are reshaping global narratives.
Highlights of the Conference include:
● A Fireside Chat with Nita Ambani, showcasing her vision for India’s role on the world stage.
● A Policy Hackathon, in collaboration with the Indian School of Business and GDi Partners, addressing climate challenges and financial inclusion in rural India. Winning teams receive $10K in prize money.
● A Startup Pitch Competition, providing a platform for Indian and Indian-origin entrepreneurs to present innovative solutions to India’s unique challenges and win over $20K in prizes.
Prominent speakers include Pramath Raj Sinha, Founding Dean of the Indian School of Business and Ashoka University; Ashish Chauhan, CEO and MD of the National Stock Exchange of India; Anjali Bansal, Founding Partner of Avaana Climate and Sustainability Fund; and Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Iconic fashion designer and founder of Sabyasachi
Harvard’s association with India has grown stronger over the years, reflecting India’s ascent as a global thought leader, according to the release. This is exemplified by the increasing representation of Indian-origin leaders within the university.
Notably, Srikant Datar, Dean of Harvard Business School, Nitin Nohria, former Dean of Harvard Business School and Rakesh Khurana, Dean of Harvard College, have played pivotal roles in shaping Harvard’s leadership and academic culture. The conference exemplifies this deep connection, serving as a platform for meaningful discussions on India’s transformative journey, according to the release.
For more details on the India Conference’s programming and registration, visit indiaconferenceharvard.com.