When Sujith Kumar took part as a speaker in the first edition of The Glassbox’s Meraki this September, he didn’t expect to be back at the event so soon. This time, though, he’s moderating a discussion between a brewmaster, a composer, an animal-assisted psychotherapist, and the CEO of a vertical farming enterprise.
“The idea is to get a diverse set of people to share their experiences and talk about how they overcame their obstacles,” he tells us. As an HR professional, he hopes to draw out the best from their unique stories.
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All of them have travelled off the beaten path, exploring entrepreneurship in their own ways. For Anjana Thampy, a psychotherapist specialising in animal-assisted treatment services, her exploration into alternative psychotherapy is what she brings to the table. “My job is all about having the animal be an integral part of the person’s therapy journey. We help people change themselves first, through the relationships they create with the animals, and eventually apply the same with the people around them,” she explains. The newfangled approach, Thampy says, is even more relevant in the current digitalised world, though the lack of awareness in the city is a huge barrier.
It’s the same barrier that Vidya Kubher faces. The chief brewmaster at Bengaluru’s Geist brewery, with six years of experience, she says the Indian scene is still finding its footing. “There isn’t a craft brewing movement in Chennai yet. I hope that changes fast because city residents are really missing out on something amazing,” she says.
She hopes that beginning a discourse about brewmaking through a platform like Meraki will warm people to the idea. “Integrating social drinking in the city would go a long way towards enhancing the hospitality and vibrancy that Chennai is already known for.”
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Dream catchers
Also featuring Jerry Silvester “Vincent,” composer and music programmer, and Sriram Gopal, CEO, vertical farming company ‘Future Farms,’ the folks at The Glassbox hope that the stories will serve as encouragement to the many hidden entrepreneurs in the city.
“Meraki, a word with Greek origins, meaning doing something with creativity, passion, and love. It’s something we find in common with all of our speakers,” shares Sonali Kuruvilla, co-founder of The Glassbox.
The desire to chase their dreams is something she anticipates will guide audience members as well. “These individuals have bucked the trend and challenged the norm in remarkable ways. For us, they stand testament to what can be achieved when you let your passion guide you.”
The second edition of Meraki will take place today, at 6.30 pm, at the Audi Showroom, 535, Anna Salai, Nandanam. To RSVP, call 7397364842