India Rising: Technology, leadership and purpose

By Vish Srivastava ’26 Evening & Weekend MBA 

This past April, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the India Business Conference at Kellogg School of Management. The event was a fantastic day filled with inspiring speakers, brilliant professors and a vibrant student crowd — all sharing thought-provoking stories and insights that made the experience truly special. 

For me, this conference wasn’t just a source of inspiration — it was a recalibration point. It reminded me that while we’re learning frameworks and strategy at Kellogg, we’re also preparing to lead in a world that’s being rapidly reshaped by innovation. 

As an MBA student at Kellogg, I walked away with a deeper appreciation of the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), innovation and leadership in helping shape the future of industries and society. 

India, innovation and the human element in AI

A few themes really resonated with me, particularly around how India is overcoming challenges and making significant strides toward becoming a global economic powerhouse. One key takeaway was the discussion on technology — how it can either be a barrier or a bridge, depending on how we choose to leverage it. It was fascinating to hear diverse perspectives on this topic. The conversation reinforced the idea that while we must address today’s challenges, we also need to anticipate and prepare for the future.  

Technology is evolving rapidly — perhaps faster than society can fully absorb. AI, in particular, is not only transformative — it’s deeply disruptive. It’s reshaping how we live, work and make decisions. It’s changing the way we live and work and with that comes a natural sense of anxiety.  

We don’t yet know how it will fully play out, but what’s clear is that its impact will be profound. One compelling insight shared during the discussion was how AI is leading to an “explosion of information but an implosion of understanding.” In other words, while AI can solve complex problems at scale, the human element remains essential to interpret its output meaningfully and apply it constructively in society. 

Courage, conviction and change — lessons from Smriti Irani’s fireside chat

A standout moment of the event was the fireside chat with Smriti Irani, an Indian politician, former Cabinet Minister, actress, fashion model and television producer. Her journey — both personal and professional — was especially moving and inspirational. She spoke candidly about her struggles in the television industry, particularly around pay disparity. Yet, despite the odds, she did not seek external validation. Instead, through sheer determination and resilience, she rose above the barriers.  

Irani went onto to land the lead role of Tulsi Virani in “Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi,” an Indian Hindi-language soap opera that debuted in 2000. The breakout role made her a household name. Over time, she defied norms by becoming one of the few female TV actors to be paid more than her male counterparts — a reflection of her influence and grit. 

Her transition into politics was equally remarkable. Joining the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2003, she climbed the ranks steadily and earned the trust of both her peers and the public. Contesting against Rahul Gandhi in the 2014 general elections from the Amethi constituency — a region close to my heart due to childhood memories — added a personal connection to her story.  

Later, she became the youngest minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Cabinet, holding key portfolios including Human Resource Development followed by Textiles and others. Her account of the COVID-19 crisis left a lasting impression. As a textile minister, she mobilized efforts not only to meet domestic demands for face masks and protective gear but also ensured that India contributed to global needs through exports. Her leadership during those times exemplified service, resilience and strategic foresight. 

The future of intelligent search 

Listening to Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity AI, was really inspiring because he discussed a new way of web search that challenges traditional Google searches. His innovative approach is definitely one to watch. Aravind emphasized how search relevance must evolve to reflect the end user’s intent not just advertiser-driven content.  

For example, someone searching for “sneakers” today may receive generic, ad-heavy results. But a truly intelligent system would deliver personalized outputs: a CEO with deep pockets might see premium designer sneakers, a professional athlete could be offered performance-optimized gear and a college student on a budget might receive recommendations for affordable running shoes. This kind of contextual search experience marks a shift toward what users actually need rather than what brands want them to see. 

He also explored the issue of privacy in AI, presenting a compelling scenario where AI agents could hypothetically “hallucinate” responses — integrating multiple data sources to generate seemingly accurate but potentially fabricated answers — highlighting both the power and risks of such capabilities.  

Srinivas extended this idea further into the future, where AI agents might autonomously take action. For example, rebalancing portfolio assets based on live market conditions, a concept that merges Agentic AI with real-time financial decision-making. 

Professor Mohanbir Sawhney posed a critical question: How can India reduce costs by an order of magnitude in deploying such technologies? Srinivas pointed to the transformation of the telecom sector as a pivotal example. Data costs have decreased from $15 per GB to just two cents per GB due to mass adoption, reforms and advanced infrastructure. He suggested a similar model could be applied to AI — particularly by leveraging open-source AI models tailored to specific use cases with government support. He cited healthcare as a promising industry where AI could help alleviate systemic strain, especially in regions with low doctor-to-patient ratios. 

Redefining impact — one conversation at a time 

Hearing from industry thought leaders like Aravind Srinivas, Smriti Irani, Prashant Tandon (co-founder of 1mg), Raj Subramaniam (CEO of FedEx) and many others was both inspiring and grounding. Each offered a distinct lens — on reimagining search, expanding healthcare access, reshaping global logistics or driving policy change. Their stories pushed me to reflect on the kind of leader I aspire to be: one who blends innovation with responsibility and strategy with empathy. 

The conference topics resonated with me from my passion for building products that prioritize real human needs —not just algorithmic efficiency — to the power of policy in unlocking human potential at scale. Speaker insights reinforced many of the core lessons we explore at Kellogg — especially around leading with empathy, adaptability and long-term thinking. 

What made the experience even more special were the conversations in between — the spontaneous hallway chats that spark ideas and authentic connections. I met with peers and professionals equally excited about solving real-world problems at the intersection of technology, strategy and impact.   

I walked away with renewed clarity: that true leadership isn’t just about foresight or scale — it’s about building with purpose, serving with empathy and showing up with courage in moments that matter. 

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