‘From India to the World’: Nita Ambani to headline India Conference at Harvard

The India Conference at Harvard (ICH) announced today that Nita Ambani, a trailblazer in philanthropy, education, and culture, will take centre stage at the highly anticipated India Conference at Harvard, scheduled for February 15-16, 2025 in Boston. As one of India’s most influential voices, Nita Ambani has profoundly impacted over 80 million lives through her social equity initiatives and continues to advocate for India’s global potential.

Hosted by students from across graduate and undergraduate schools at Harvard University, the India Conference at Harvard is one of the largest and most influential student-led India-focused conferences in the US. This year’s edition will feature distinguished speakers from diverse fields, exploring how Indian ideas and innovations are reshaping global narratives.

Ambani’s recent achievements, including hosting the International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in India after four decades and championing India’s bid for the 2036 Olympics, symbolise the nation’s growing influence on the global stage. Her keynote aligns perfectly with this year’s conference theme, “From India to the World,” which celebrates India’s emergence as a global leader shaping pathways for peace, prosperity, and innovation.

Also read: Nita Ambani says this century belongs to India and its women

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. 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.”

Also read: Nita Ambani awarded for Outstanding Contribution to Brand India

Key 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 in rural India.
• Startup Pitch Competition, providing a platform for Indian and Indian-origin entrepreneurs to present scalable solutions to India’s unique challenges.

Other speakers at the event will 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. 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. This is exemplified by the increasing representation of Indian-origin leaders within the university. Notably, Srikant Datar, Dean of Harvard Business School, and Rakesh Khurana, the former Dean of Harvard College, have played pivotal roles in shaping Harvard’s leadership and academic culture.

Moreover, this year, former Twitter India head and AI entrepreneur, Manish Maheshwari was selected for the prestigious Mason Fellowship at Harvard Kennedy School, adding to the university’s vibrant community of Indian thought leaders. The conference exemplifies this deep connection, serving as a platform for meaningful discussions on India’s transformative journey.