Theme: RRR - Run-Down, Resilient, Rising

Every great journey begins with a fall, a struggle, or a setback. Run-Down, Resilient, Rising (RRR) reflects the timeless cycle of challenge, courage, and transformation. It celebrates stories of individuals and ideas that emerge from moments of being worn down, find resilience in adversity, and rise stronger than before. Through this theme, we aim to bring together voices that inspire us to see failures as stepping stones, resilience as strength, and rising as the ultimate expression of human potential.

IFHE Auditorium
ICFAI Business school Hyderabad
Hyderabad, Telangana, 501503
India

Bhooma Veeravalli

Board Member of Indian Railways

Bhooma G. Veeravalli is a senior officer of the Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS), 1987 batch, and currently serves as Board Member (HR) at the Railway Board. With over 36 years of experience across multiple zones of Indian Railways, she has held key positions including Senior Deputy General Manager, Chief Vigilance Officer, and Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of Guntur Division, where she led full electrification, digitization, and sustainability initiatives. She has also served on deputation at ISRO’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre and as Registrar at IIT Madras. Academically accomplished with a Ph.D. from IIT Madras, a Master’s in Industrial Psychology, and a Bachelor’s in Law, Bhooma is renowned for her focus on innovation, modernization, and transformational leadership in public administration.

Dr. Harshul Savla

Advocate, Real Estate Developer, Author, World Record Holder

Dr. Adv. Harshal Savla is the Managing Partner at Suvidha Lifespaces and Managing Director of M Realty. He began his real estate career in 2012 as Executive Assistant to the CEO of JLL India and later co-founded M Realty. He holds multiple degrees—including a Ph.D. (with India’s first thesis on REITs), LL.M, LL.B, MBA, and BMS—and his Ph.D. thesis was published as a book. An Amazon best-selling author, his works include ERA PostRERA and Real Estate Laws. At CREDAI National, he serves as Co-Chairman of Statistics & Standards and National Head of the E-Learning & Masterclass Committee. He is also part of CREDAI-MCHI and NAREDCO committees. A visiting faculty at RICS and REMI, he contributes regularly to industry publications. Recognized with awards such as Young Achiever of the Year and Best Real Estate Author of 2024, Dr. Savla is celebrated as a thought leader, educator, and innovator shaping India’s real estate industry.

Dr. Vanitha Datla

Vice Chairman of Elico

Dr. Vanitha Datla is the Vice Chairperson of Elico Ltd., a pioneering company in the analytical instruments industry with a legacy of over six decades. A seasoned business leader with expertise in finance and strategic management, she has played a key role in Elico’s growth and diversification. She holds an MBA from the University of Mississippi and a Bachelor’s in Management from Wichita State University, USA. Vanitha has also been an active voice in industry forums and policy discussions, serving as the first woman Chairperson of CII – Andhra Pradesh & Telangana (2013–14). A strong advocate for women in leadership, entrepreneurship, and skill development, she continues to inspire through her contributions to corporate strategy, governance, and inclusive growth.

Inder Sethi

Retired Army Officer, Author, Executive Coach, Founder & CEO at Percepta Consulting

Brigadier (Dr) Inder Sethi was commissioned in the Indian Army in 1991 and has served 34 years, including border and counter-insurgency operations. An Ammunition Officer, he has represented India in the UN Mission in Ethiopia-Eritrea and served as an international expert on landmine safety with the German Military School. An alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad with a Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence, he is a certified Design Thinking Coach from the University of Sydney and a member of the Copenhagen Institute of Futures Studies. Founder & CEO of Percepta Consulting, he heads the Defence Advisory Committee at T-Hub and serves on ICFAI’s Innovation Council. A prolific speaker, executive coach, and author of two books on leadership and creativity, he also leads strategy at The Alpha Circle, an HNI members’ club.

Itha Ramalingeswara Rao

Assistant Commissioner, GST & Customs

Itha Ramalingeswara Rao, IRS, is Assistant Commissioner of Customs & GST, Mumbai, and a distinguished civil servant with the Ministry of Finance, Government of India. He has served in the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and the Directorate of GST Intelligence, playing a key role in identifying and recovering crores of government revenue. Honored with the Presidential Award in 2012, he is also a trained teacher and motivational speaker, having taught subjects ranging from English and Arithmetic to GST and Customs to students and departmental officers. Passionate about education, history, and public service, Rao inspires audiences with his leadership, dedication, and commitment to excellence.

Kiran Kalakuntla

CEO and Co-Founder of EkinCare

Kiran Kalakuntla is the Co-Founder and CEO of ekincare, India’s leading integrated health benefits platform, trusted by over 1,000 organisations. With more than 17 years of global experience in telecom, product strategy, and healthtech, he combines strong technical expertise with a people-first vision. His entrepreneurial journey was inspired by a personal challenge of navigating India’s fragmented healthcare system while living abroad, which led him to establish ekincare in 2015. Driven by the mission to make healthcare more connected, predictive, and accessible, Kiran envisions a future where care goes beyond treatment to prevention—shaping healthier, more productive, and resilient workplaces.

Usha Srikanth

Advisor, Board Member of ASIP, ISM

Usha Srikanth is a seasoned technology leader, board member, and consultant with over 37 years of experience in the global software industry. She is the Co-Founder of Divershefy Club (California, USA) and serves on the boards of several companies. Over the years, she has held leadership positions at Hewlett-Packard, Agilent Technologies, EDS, and Approva Systems, leading global R&D, product development, and delivery teams. As an independent consultant, Usha advises startups and enterprises on innovation, agile practices, and emerging technologies. She holds advanced degrees in Electrical Engineering from IIT Delhi, Cornell University, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Passionate about technology, innovation, and empowering diversity in leadership, Usha continues to inspire future leaders worldwide.

V Pattabhi Ram

Author, Founder-Partner, Yoganandh & Ram LLP

V. Pattabhi Ram is a Chartered Accountant, educator, author, and public speaker with 25+ years of experience in valuation, strategy, and financial literacy. He has taught over 76,000 CA students and reached 126,000 learners through his digital course Basics of Managing Money. Author of 35 books spanning career, biography, self-help, and textbooks, he has received shortlistings for the Gaja Capital Prize, Tata Lit Live Award, and the Lifetime Achievement Award by Rotary International in 2024. Founder-Partner at Yoganandh & Ram LLP and Co-founder of Prime Academy, he also serves as Investor at Prime5C and Director at SuccessVerse Ask Foundation. A sought-after speaker in India and abroad, he delivers keynotes on Ethical Leadership, AI, the Future of Work, and India in 2047, inspiring practical action at the intersection of finance, education, and technology.

Vikash Hisariya

Chairman, Vishal Peripherals

Vikas Hisariya is the Managing Director of Vishal Peripherals, a leading IT hardware and software distributor and solutions provider in South India. Since founding the company in 2001, he has driven its growth through business development, key account management, and customer-focused execution. Known for agility and foresight, Vikas has built strong strategic partnerships and navigated fast-changing market dynamics to deliver value across enterprises and consumers. Under his leadership, Vishal Peripherals has expanded into AI solutions, custom-built PCs, and gaming, earning recognition as the Best Retail Store in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, while contributing to India’s digital growth.