TEDxGulshan 2023 was held in Dhaka on Saturday. Under the theme “Innovation for Equality,” this independently organised TED event featured 16 TEDx talks that delved into groundbreaking ideas, challenging the status quo and setting new standards for transformative discussions, according to a press release.
Attendees had the privilege of hearing from renowned speakers, each of whom brought their unique perspective, it said.
Among the notable speakers, Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury shared her remarkable journey to becoming the first female speaker of the country. Her story served as an example of how innovation and equality can be embraced in the public sector.
“Innovation is not confined to the private sector alone; it is a driving force that can transform the public sector and empower women in leadership roles,” she said.
Praveena Yagnambhat, chief of Staff of Boeing India, flew high the audience with her story, leaving a lasting impression: “Innovation is the key to unlocking equality, and my journey is proof that individuals can drive change.”
Former principal secretary Abul Kalam Azad also added, “Innovation should be the driving force in our efforts to achieve equality, and TEDxGulshan has once again demonstrated its power in spreading this message.”
Ankita Bakshi, content strategist, APAC, BBC StoryWorks, spoke passionately about the power of storytelling: “Through our stories, we can break down barriers and unite people from all walks of life.”
Md Abdul Quayyum, head of communications at UNDP Bangladesh, highlighted the collective responsibility to promote equality through innovation, saying, “TEDxGulshan has been a catalyst for transformative conversations.”
The event also featured a performance musician, Ritu Raj and an acoustic storytelling by Shayan Chowdhury Arnob, added the release.
What set TEDxGulshan 2023 apart was its unwavering commitment to inclusivity and accessibility. The event was an open door for individuals with disabilities, embodying the principle that true innovation is inclusive, and that everyone’s voice matters, it said.
“The success of TEDxGulshan 2023 can be attributed to the dedicated team and the inspiring speakers who shared their incredible stories and insights. The talks are the best way to showcase richness of our culture, innovations from our grassroot and inclusive harmony of our communities to the global community,” said the Curator Ashfaq Zaman.
At this year’s TEDxGulshan, speakers also included Dr Syed Muntasir Mamun, director general (International Trade, Investment, and ICT) of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rubana Huq, vice chancellor of Asian University For Women; Musucian Shayan Chowdhury Arnob, Abeer Rajbeen, head of marketing, The Coca-Cola Company, Bangladesh; Vashkar Bhattacharjee, national consultant accessibility at a2i; Kebria Sarkar, radio jockey and television presenter; Iftekhar Rafsan, youtuber and content creator; Imtiaz Ilahi, former army commando and Triathlete, and Moutushi Kabir, senior director, People, Culture and Communications at BRAC.
LEAD Academy, the knowledge partner and facilitator of TEDxGulshan 2023, played a pivotal role in thought leadership of the event. LEAD Academy is a learning platform that offers the best learning technology with the most advanced education tools and empowering the nation builders with STEM and future ready skills
The TEDx talks will be featured on the official TEDx website and YouTube channels with 53 millions viewers and we will be presenting the stories of our country to the world.
TEDxGulshan 2023 had the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh as the Strategic Partner and The Coca-Cola Company Bangladesh as the Gold Sponsor. The Silver Sponsors were Green Delta Life Insurance Ltd., Dan Foods Limited, and Prime Bank Ltd.; Ice Cream Partner – Polar Ice Cream; PR Partner – Backpage PR and Ticketing Partner – Tickify. The event also had YSSE as Youth Engagement Partner, added the release.