Learning, Leading, and Living with Purpose

by Aashika Grace Manuel, Grade XII, Good Shepherd International School

On the 16th and 17th of August 2025, Good Shepherd International School proudly hosted the Future is Us – Youth Summit 2025, a two-day event that brought together students, innovators, and thought leaders to envision the future of education, leadership, and purposeful living.

The summit was organized by the Harvard Club of Bengaluru and it was designed to spark dialogue, challenge perspectives, and provide young learners such as the students of our school access to global voices who are shaping change across industries. Through keynotes, panel discussions, and hands-on workshops, the Good Shepherd students, along with fifteen students from Nanjanad Government Higher Secondary School, Vivekananda Memorial school, St Joseph’s Boys Hr. Sec School Ooty, and Christus Rex Higher Secondary school respectively, explored the skills, mindsets, and values needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

The first day of the summit opened up with a warm welcome by Hridaan Dattani, our School Captain, followed by thought-provoking messages from Ms. Meghana Dutta and GSIS alumnus Mr. Shabari Nair, setting the tone for the conversations to follow. Following Mr. Shabari’s message we had a keynote speech delivered by Dr. Gokul Madhavan that challenged students to think beyond success as a metric, and instead focus on building a meaningful legacy. After the riveting keynote there was a dynamic panel discussion featuring Mr. N.S. Ramnath, Mr. Shriank, and Mr. Bhanu Potta, moderated by Mr. Karthik Shenoi, which explored the power of questioning assumptions, embracing change, and cultivating lifelong learning.

As the day progressed the students parted for various breakout sessions taken by our speakers. These sessions revolved around topics ranging from Critical Design Thinking taken by Ms. Meghana Dutta, Passion to Profession by Mr. Nishant Singh and Mr. Shriank, Finance and Economics by Mr. Karthik Shenoi, Green Careers by Mr. Sriram Kuchimanchi, to Entrepreneurial Shifts by Mr. Rohit Shankla.

In the afternoon a second set of breakout sessions was held which deepened our learning. 

With sessions about AI & Growth by Ms. Priyanka Kamath & Mr. Bhanu Potta, Diplomacy and Global Impact by Mr. Shabari Nair, STEM 360 by Dr. Mr. Jeru Manuel, Applied Maths & Philosophy by Dr. Gokul Madhavan, Startup Journeys by Mr. Prashant S & Mr. Shriank, and Storytelling in Business by Ms. Kavita Kurup, Mr. Charles, and Mr. N.S. Ramnath, every student in attendance was left informed and inspired. The day closed with a fireside chat led by Shabari Nair where students voiced their aspirations for shaping India’s future

Day 2 opened with Dr. Naushad Padamsee delivering an inspiring keynote that urged young leaders to connect vision with action. A global panel featuring Mr. Kandeban Balendran, Ms. Leila Khondker, and Ms. Frieda Khan, moderated by Ms. Meghana Dutta and Mr. Shabari Nair, gave students insight into international perspectives, diplomacy, and the importance of collaboration across cultures.The summit concluded with a reflective session and open Q&A led by Mr. Shabari Nair, providing space for students to consolidate their learnings and share their takeaways.

Ultimately, The Future is Us – Youth Summit 2025 served as a powerful catalyst for our generation. The sessions wove together a clear narrative: true success is measured by our legacy, adaptability is our greatest asset, and the tools of innovation, from AI to compelling storytelling, are in our hands to drive sustainable change. We departed not just with new knowledge, but with a sharpened sense of responsibility and a unified purpose. It is now up to us to take these insights and actively construct the future we envision, proving that we’re not just the change makers of today, we are the leaders of tomorrow, and we are the future.