Gayaji: The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bodh Gaya recently hosted TEDxIIMBG, a powerful event that brought together students, teachers, industry leaders and young changemakers under one roof. The theme of the event, “Unfollow the Trend,” focused on encouraging people to question popular beliefs about success, careers and leadership. The programme created an open space where ideas were shared, stories were told and new ways of thinking were explored.
The event began with the traditional lighting of the lamp and was inaugurated by Dr Vinita S. Sahay, Director of IIM Bodh Gaya, and Dr Deepika R. Gupta, Chairperson of the Entrepreneurship and Industrial Relations Cell. They welcomed the audience and spoke about the importance of independent thinking in today’s fast-changing world. The stage then featured several well-known speakers from different fields, including Ameya V. Karrambe from LEAP India, Dhananjay Ganjoo from The Akshaya Patra Foundation, Bhavesh Jain of TransUnion CIBIL, Formula 4 racer Shriya Lohia, Dr Shrikant Vadapalli from Jio Platforms, Yogesh Sharma from eClerx, Nikhil Garg from ArcelorMittal, and Rishav Agarwal, founder of Picxele.
Each speaker shared personal stories and life lessons connected to the event’s theme. Shriya Lohia spoke about her journey in professional racing and explained how success often begins even when the path is not clear. She encouraged students to stay disciplined, work consistently and trust their instincts. Dr Shrikant Vadapalli spoke about personal character and responsibility, explaining how small daily choices slowly shape a person’s future. Nikhil Garg spoke about problems in modern workplaces, saying that many employees feel disconnected not because they lack interest, but because organisations fail to design supportive systems.
The event reminded everyone that learning does not happen only inside classrooms. TEDxIIMBG showed how sharing real-life experiences can help students understand the world better and prepare for the future. The discussions encouraged participants to reflect on their own goals, question routine thinking and become more confident in their decisions.
IIM Bodh Gaya, now in its tenth year, continues to grow as a leading management institute in India. It focuses on creating socially responsible managers and emotionally strong leaders through a mix of classroom learning, live projects and industry exposure. With events like TEDxIIMBG, the institute proves its commitment to shaping thoughtful leaders who are ready to create positive change in society.
