SATAT - The Rhythm of Constant Progress
Our Speakers
Jai Kelkar
Medical Director (Ophthalmologist) + Marathoner
An Ophthalmologist with over two decades of experience. Currently serving as Medical Director at the National Institute of Ophthalmology (NIO), Pune, one of the very few Joint Commission International (JCI) accredited eye institutes in India. She balances clinical excellence with leadership, teaching, research, and community service. As a mentor she has guided 30+ postgraduate students and fellows, and under the International Council of Ophthalmology Fellowship and trained international fellows from Africa. Her academic contributions include 45+ peer-reviewed papers and case reports in indexed journals, multiple invited lectures at national and international conferences, and the publication of “Eye Care for Kids”, a book designed to raise awareness about children’s eye health. Beyond medicine, she is passionate about sports and fitness – having completed two full marathons, including the Chicago World Major Marathon in 2019 – and finds balance through painting as a creative outlet.
Pramod Athalye
Mindfulness Teacher + Mentor to Social Entrepreneurs.
Pramod Athalye has over 35 years’ experience with US MNCs in finance, strategic marketing, and asset management. His last position was VP, GE Commercial Finance. He co-founded Bourton Consulting India, serving clients in strategy execution and operational excellence. As a member of Pune International Centre (PIC), he has mentored many social innovators over the past eight years. Pramod is a mindfulness teacher certified after a 2-year structured program by two renowned wisdom teachers, Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach through the Greater Good Science Center, UC Berkeley, and Sounds True. He aspires to help others benefit from mindfulness, as he has. He offers talks and short courses based on his own diligent practice and experience over the past ten years. Pramod holds an MBA, UC Berkeley, and BTech, IIT Madras.
Sanjay Phadke
Entrepreneur + Avid Trekker + Voracious Reader
Sanjay is an engineer-turned-entrepreneur with over two decades of experience spanning global finance, technology, and venture innovation. He spent nearly 20 years at leading global institutions such as JPMorgan before transitioning into entrepreneurship, inspired by the transformative potential of technologies like the iPhone, Tesla, and AI. Sanjay has more than a decade of experience in strategizing and building innovative digital products across fintech, healthtech, climate tech, and deep-tech domains. He has been involved early in several breakthrough ventures in areas such as NBFCs, renewable energy, drones, and semiconductors. A global citizen raised in Maharashtra, India, Sanjay is an avid trekker, lifelong learner, and passionate about creating long-term value through technology-driven solutions.
Smita Patil
Fitness Consultant & Pilates Teacher
Smita Patil has 35 years of experience in the fitness and exercise industry. She is a science graduate with a certification from Gopikrishna Piramal Hospital, Mumbai in Sport Science and Exercise Prescription; Health Club Management from Babson University, Boston, USA and Pilates certification from Reebok University. She currently runs her own Pilates Studio, Happilates, in Pune and teaches Fitness for Performing Arts @ Flame University, Lavale, Pune. She takes personal training for people categorized as a "Special Populations” to enhance strength and mobility. Besides this she is a runner and a triathlete, with many podiums to her credit. As a 67-year-old athlete, she has been healthy & strong all her life since she took health as the true wealth. Additionally, spreading this awareness through her work & workshops has also been her endeavour as she lives, talks and walks what she preaches.
Vibhawari Deshpande
Actress + Writer + Director
A versatile and acclaimed Marathi artist celebrated for her significant contributions across theatre, film, and television. Hailing from a family deeply rooted in the arts, her journey began with acting and writing in college drama, with her talents further honed through workshops with the legendary theatre personality, Satyadev Dubey. With a career spanning more than two decades, she is known for her powerful performances in Marathi cinema as well as impactful characterizations in Hindi films and web series, earning both critical acclaim and a dedicated following. Beyond acting, Deshpande is a proficient writer and director across different media, including literature, television, cinema, and OTT platforms and has been associated with theatres in Berlin and Dusseldorf. She spearheads the activities of Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) in India through her organization, the Rainbow Umbrella Foundation.
Koustav Banerjee
PGDM Student + Finance + Cricket Enthusiast
Koustav is currently pursuing Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) at Ramachandran International Institute of Management (RIIM), Pune. He is a first-year student (Batch 2025-27) specializing in the area of Finance. He has a strong interest in understanding how finance influences real-world decisions and long-term value creation. Beyond academics, he is passionate about public speaking, leadership, and self-growth. His hobbies include sports (avid cricket enthusiast since childhood), photography, and writing, which help him stay disciplined, creative, and observant of different perspectives. He enjoys expressing ideas through words and visuals, and believes these interests shape his ability to think critically and communicate effectively. He aspires to grow into a well- rounded professional who combines analytical thinking with creativity and purpose.
Angel Konthoujam
Gender Equality Advisor
Angel Konthoujam is a Gender Equality Advisor at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmBH, with nearly a decade of experience in advancing gender- responsive environmental and development initiatives. Her work spans agricultural resilience, rural development, and immunization programmes. At GIZ, she currently supports two projects: strengthening gender- responsive forest ecosystem management in North India, and a transnational coastal restoration initiative across the Sundarbans delta in India and Bangladesh. Angel holds an MPhil in Development Studies from the University of Cambridge and is a recipient of the Cambridge Chevening Scholarship and the Nehru Trust for Cambridge University Award. Previously, she served as Gender Technical Advisor for India and Bangladesh at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), and as a Gender and Equity Consultant with Gavi in Geneva and UNICEF in New York.
Amresh Pratap Yadav
Employer Branding + Recruitment Marketing + Storyteller
Amresh Pratap Yadav brings over 11 years of experience in Employer Branding, specializing in transforming corporate cultures into engaging and employee-centric workplaces. With a visionary approach, he focuses on enhancing employee experiences and positioning organizations as employers of choice. He holds a Master’s degree from the University of Leicester, UK. Prior to his corporate journey, Amresh founded two startups—Leczon.com and HappyRailing.com—where his entrepreneurial exposure highlighted the need for meaningful cultural change in organizations. His work has earned him recognition as a 40 Under 40 leader by World Brand Affairs, a feature in Forbes India Digital, and the Creative Employer Brand Leadership award by Asia’s Leading Brands & Leaders. Currently, he serves as General Manager – Employer Branding, driving innovative workplace practices.
Sahil Nayar
People & Culture Consultant | Talent Strategy | Storyteller
Sahil Nayar is an HR Leader and Influencer who loves blending data with intuition, strategy with storytelling and innovation with impact. An alumnus of HR College, Mumbai, he has spent a significant part of his career at KPMG, working across Talent Acquisition, Employer Value Proposition (EVP), Early Careers Hiring, and HR Business Partnering. Currently a Consultant in the Human Consulting team, Sahil works closely with organizations to reimagine how they attract, engage, and grow talent. He is a Certified Happiness Coach, NLP, MBTI and Design Thinking Professional. His work is driven by a strong belief in self- reflection, purpose-led growth, and the power of storytelling—ideas that form the foundation of his TEDx talk.
