I was given the opportunity to
deliver the keynote address and moderate a panel discussion at the Economic Times
Future of Learning Conference hosted at the Plaza Hotel in Vasant Kunj. The
topic was entitled, “Education through Sport,” was one which I’m extremely
passionate about given the fact that education and sport have been constant
themes in my life since I was 4 years of age.
deliver the keynote address and moderate a panel discussion at the Economic Times
Future of Learning Conference hosted at the Plaza Hotel in Vasant Kunj. The
topic was entitled, “Education through Sport,” was one which I’m extremely
passionate about given the fact that education and sport have been constant
themes in my life since I was 4 years of age.
I put together a panel of friends
who also happen to be influencers in the education through sport industry:
Yannick Colaco (Managing Director – NBA India), Saumil Majmudar (Founder,
Edusports), MA Ashit (Head of Sports, The Heritage School) and Sujit Panigrahi
(Founder, Fitness365). The room was full of administers, teachers, principals
and others representing the industry and I was not quite sure how receptive
they would be to the “sports” conversation however I was excited to have the
opportunity to share my story and moderate a discussion with other experts in
the field.
who also happen to be influencers in the education through sport industry:
Yannick Colaco (Managing Director – NBA India), Saumil Majmudar (Founder,
Edusports), MA Ashit (Head of Sports, The Heritage School) and Sujit Panigrahi
(Founder, Fitness365). The room was full of administers, teachers, principals
and others representing the industry and I was not quite sure how receptive
they would be to the “sports” conversation however I was excited to have the
opportunity to share my story and moderate a discussion with other experts in
the field.
The 1.5 hour session was thrilling
(yes I know how sad it is that I’m calling a panel discussion “thrilling”). As
I was delivering the keynote, I became more and more clear about the fact that
my whole education was guided and enhanced through sport: elementary and middle
school sports, High School sports committee, minor in Sports Management,
countless internships with sports companies, MBA in Sports Management and long
stints in NYC and now Delhi where sport served and serves as the primary
purpose of my engagement with these places. At 34 years of age I can proudly
say that I’m a shining example of how the power of sport can shape an
individual.
(yes I know how sad it is that I’m calling a panel discussion “thrilling”). As
I was delivering the keynote, I became more and more clear about the fact that
my whole education was guided and enhanced through sport: elementary and middle
school sports, High School sports committee, minor in Sports Management,
countless internships with sports companies, MBA in Sports Management and long
stints in NYC and now Delhi where sport served and serves as the primary
purpose of my engagement with these places. At 34 years of age I can proudly
say that I’m a shining example of how the power of sport can shape an
individual.
The best part of the session was
when one of the members of the audience asked a question to the panel about
what to do if her son wants to play sport instead of study. MA Ashit brilliantly put the question back to
the audience which led to a 25 minute interactive conversation where it became
clear to me that the collective conscious of an important sector within Indian
society (educators) are becoming more open to the idea that sport can actually
contribute to a child’s education vs. detract from it.
when one of the members of the audience asked a question to the panel about
what to do if her son wants to play sport instead of study. MA Ashit brilliantly put the question back to
the audience which led to a 25 minute interactive conversation where it became
clear to me that the collective conscious of an important sector within Indian
society (educators) are becoming more open to the idea that sport can actually
contribute to a child’s education vs. detract from it.
