Forbes India celebrated disruptors and pathbreakers under the age of 30 at the Forbes India 30 Under 30 Soirée. The event took place on 2nd December at Taj Palace New Delhi.
The ceremony kick-started with a glamorous red-carpet event, followed by keynote address, ‘Real talk with Ananth Narayanan, Founder, Mensa Brands & Former CEO, Myntra’, and a Q&A session with the audience.
Sharing about his journey in Myntra, Ananth said, “When I decided to join Myntra, my fashion closet was like 4 grey suits, 4 black suits, and 1-2 jackets of different colours. E-commerce was here to stay and fashion, as an e-commerce category, was large and profitable. I did Myntra for 4 years and the most interesting thing was how to use fashion and technology together.” He added that the three most important things in life are reputation, being a lifelong learner, and always accompanying smarter people. Commenting on the event he further added, “It’s terrific to be at Forbes India 30 under 30 soiree and the fact that it is on ground makes it more exciting. Love the energy in the room and the profiles that have made it to the list this year, which is true testimonial to the potential of India.”
The evening continued with the second keynote address titled “Own Your Identity” by Dr. Trinetra Haldar Gummaraju, the first openly transgender doctor and an activist who advocates for the LGBTQIA+ community. Gummaraju shared her struggles with not identifying as male since childhood. “As the first-born son in my family, I couldn’t say I want to be a princess!” said Gummaraju.
“Despite coming from such diverse backgrounds and identities, we are all here together because we have something in common. I think, at some point, we have all been told that our ideas are delusional and unrealistic. I have been told that I don’t belong in a room like this, but here we are!” Gummaraju concluded.
Furthermore, there was a panel discussion consisting of prominent panellists such as Pooja Dhingra, Founder, Le15 Patisserie; Dhruvil Sanghvi, Founder, LogiNext; and Roopa Kumar, Founder & CEO, Purple Quarter who shared thoughts and opinions on ‘How Gen-Z and Millennials are Redefining Work Trends.’
Apart from the awardees, the evening was also graced by chef and actor Ranveer Brar, who has also been a prominent jury member for this year’s Forbes India 30 under 30 List. Commenting on the occasion he said, “I have been a part of Forbes India 30 under 30 lists jury for a while now and it is always so much fun to meet such young energetic people, the new India. The entries class of Forbes India 30 under 30, since its inception, has always broken barriers. Congratulations to all those who have made it to this year’s list!”
Raju Kendre, Founder & CEO, Eklavya India, said, “Around 700 people are studying in our university. After being featured in the Forbes India 30 under 30 lists- class of 2022, our work has gained momentum and we are expanding. We are thankful to Forbes India.”
Pooja Dhingra, Founder & CEO, Le15 Patisserie, commented, “I was part of the first Forbes India 30 under 30 list in 2014. It proved to be very beneficial for me in my career and now it has become the place for me to interact with like-minded people. Witnessing such amazing talents get featured year after year is an inspiring experience in itself.”
Shlok Srivastava, Tech Burner, said, “We make technology available to everyone in a layman and entertaining manner. I feel very energetic to be a part of the Forbes India 30 under 30 list this year.”
Akshay, Anuj & Aditya, Beco team, commented, “Humbled and grateful to the entire Forbes India team for featuring us in the 30 under 30 list this year. Being an entrepreneur is all about getting recognition from our customers, but getting it from such a prestigious platform motivates our brand.”
Addressing the audience and giving the welcome address on the occasion, Naandika Tripathi, Forbes India, said, “It’s the 9th edition of Forbes India 30 under 30 lists, which have narrated stories of determination and success that inspire us throughout the year. We take pride in the young workforce of Forbes India. Our work on curating such a list and felicitating them every year not only inspires us, but also motivates us to do our best every moment. My heartiest congratulations to all the winners. May they continue to achieve new heights in life with such zeal.”
