At a time when technology, policy, and culture are reshaping the world of work, Lead Beyond Limits: Disability and the New World of Work brought together a powerful cross-section of changemakers at International Purple Fest 2025 to reimagine what inclusive employment, business and leadership really looks like. Over 200 persons with and without disabilities from across 6 countries joined in this day long convention, organised by us in collaboration with the UN in India, and Godrej Industries Group on October 10, 2025 from 9 am to 5 pm at Entertainment Society of Goa. With 3 impactful sessions, a powerful fireside chat and of course an enterprising pitch fest, the convention featured bold conversations, lived experience, and actionable ideas to break down systemic barriers and build an employment ecosystem that is ambitious, accessible, and driven by disabled leadership.
Inaugural Session
Our inaugural session set the stage for a shared commitment to inclusive economic growth and empowerment. Our fantastic speakers on this session included Pulakita Mayekar, Executive, Research & Media at Godej DEI Lab, our very own Founder and Executive Director, Nidhi Goyal; Shri Pravimal Abhishek, Managing Director of the Goa Industrial Development Corporation, Mr. Shombi Sharp, the UN Resident Coordinator in India; and Shri Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.
The speakers added their own unique perspectives to how they believe both private and governmental institutions in India are implementing inclusive frameworks to empower persons with disabilities and what are some good practices others can replicate.
Session 1: The Inclusive Workplace
In our first session: The Inclusive Workplace, we began by turning the lens inward — into the workplace itself. The goal was to reimagine the Indian workplace as an inclusive, rights-based, and productivity-driven space where persons with disabilities are valued as professionals, leaders, and decision-makers — not just as beneficiaries of token inclusion.
The panel featured Preetham Gandhi Sunkavalli, Deputy General Manager, Brand, Godrej Consumer Products Limited; Rajasekharan Pazhaniappan, Co-founder, v-shesh; Akshay Tyagi, DGM – Talent Management and DEl, The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group; Founding Member, Keshav Suri Foundation; Reem Khalifa Al Ajmi, Director, Community Care Department, Ministry of Social Development and Family, Government of Qatar; and was moderated by Mikiko Tanaka, Director, South and Southwest Asia Sub-regional Office, United Nations ESCAP.
Each of the panellists shared how their organisations are embedding inclusion in policy, culture, and daily practice. In this discussion, we learned that in order for an organisation to claim inclusivity, disabled individuals have to truly feel seen and heard. And that doesn’t happen only once people are past the hiring stage — it should start with placing inclusion at the forefront through the promotional material, hiring processes, and by engaging with the community and channelling their lived experiences to refine the system from the ground up.
Session 2: Work Unplugged: Breaking Barriers, Building
Futures with AI
In the second session, Work Unplugged, we spoke to the transformative potential of AI in reshaping the world of work for disabled people: by removing barriers, enabling independence, and amplifying innovation. This session centred lived experience, practical use cases, ethical questions, and the need for inclusive design in AI systems and innovative problem-solving by disabled individuals.
Panellists Prateek Madhav, Co-Founder & CEO, AssisTech Foundation (ATF); Sunil Abraham, Public Policy Director – Data Economy and Emerging Tech, Meta India; and Ketan Kothari, Managing Consultant Programmes, XRCVC (Xavier’s Resource Centre for the Visually Challenged), with moderator Tshering Dema, Business Operations Specialist (Asia Pacific and Arab States Region), United Nations Development Coordination Office (UNDCO), unpacked both the promise and the tension of artificial intelligence in the world of work.
From understanding how disabled individuals currently use AI tools in their daily lives or businesses, and the most impactful tools, to how AI can bridge accessibility gaps in the workplace while also being safe and inclusive, our panellists explored various aspects of this conversation.
Fireside Chat: From Sidelines to Headlines: Disabled
Entrepreneurs Steal the Show
In the fireside chat between two powerful voices speaking at the intersection of inclusion and business innovation, we saw the conversation move beyond charity narratives and showcase the leadership, power, ambition, and innovation of disabled entrepreneurs driving real economic and social impact.
For this session, our fireside speaker was Surashree Rahane, Founder and CEO, Yearbook Canvas, a popular yearbook and merchandise company for educational institutions based in India and beyond. The chat was facilitated by Nipun Malhotra, Co-Founder and CEO, Nipman Foundation, and Director, The Quantum Hub (TQH).
Together, the duo shared their personal journeys as successful entrepreneurs while also tackling crucial topics — the systems and supports disabled entrepreneurs need to thrive, and what barriers need urgent action. The floor was later opened up to the audience, including disabled entrepreneurs, during which our speaker Surashree offered detailed responses to every question posed.
Pitch Fest: Disabled. Driven. Defining the Future
Through Work
The second half of the convention had the highly anticipated Pitch Fest. Earlier this year, we received 36 applications from across the country. From those, eight entrepreneurs were shortlisted through a careful selection process.
At the Pitch Fest, these entrepreneurs presented their ventures to our jury — sharing how their ideas are transforming accessibility, bringing stories alive, growing a business, nurturing employment for persons with disabilities, and building inclusion.
Our incredible jury was made up of Pichmony Thay, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Lead, Impact Hub Phnom Penh, Madhumitha Venkataraman, DEI professional, Former DEI lead Netflix; and Sanjana Gaind, Advocacy & Strategic Partnerships, Women’s Fund Asia.
And here are our winners!
🥇 1st place: Raghu D of Kaiteki Innovations for his disabled-friendly bidet (₹80,000 monetary award)
🥈 2nd place: Sourabh Yadav for picstry AI, a photo gallery app for the visually impaired or blind and low vision users (₹60,000 monetary award)
🥉 3rd place: Shraddha Agarwal for SignSetu, which positions itself as a Duolingo for the deaf (₹50,000 monetary award)
