A Storytelling Retreat for Women:
Step into your next chapter

Lakshmi Pratury is a multi-faceted entrepreneur, public speaker, master interviewer, and writer. She is the founder and CEO of INKTalks, a transformative platform and community launched in 2010, where she curates stories and a community of global thought-leaders and game-changers.

Lakshmi is a sought-after public speaker and curator – addressing a wide range of leadership topics, including redefining success, future technologies and their role in shaping the workforce, women’s roles in the workplace, and the transformative power of storytelling in business. Alongside her speaking engagements, Lakshmi writes on a range of topics spanning business and life, and has contributed to several leading publications. She is on the board of several startups and initiatives, shaping and guiding teams on scaling globally and building communities. 

With over two decades of experience in the United States, Lakshmi held pivotal roles at Intel, where she helped shape the tech giant’s foray into end user marketing and business development. She worked in venture capital with Global Catalyst Partners and drove impactful projects in leadership roles for the non-profit American India Foundation.

Lakshmi is credited for co-hosting TED’s first and only conference in India in 2009 and bringing Singularity University’s international summit to India in 2015. Continuing her mission with INK and the non-profit INK Global Foundation (IGF), Lakshmi is committed to amplifying India’s narrative on the global stage, bringing the best of the world to India, and vice versa. She champions the power of interdisciplinary collaboration and storytelling to ignite innovation, foster resilience, and shape our collective destiny. Her journey from mathematics gold medalist to business and theater graduate underscores her multifaceted expertise and passion for driving change.

As CEO of INK Women, Archana Dutta leads a dynamic platform dedicated to empowering women leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers. INK Women fosters mentorship, networking, and knowledge-sharing, creating a thriving ecosystem where women can connect, collaborate, and thrive. Under Archana’s leadership, the platform champions visibility, inclusion, and growth, ensuring more women have access to opportunities that help them excel.

Before INK Women, Archana spent 28 years in leadership roles at Hyatt Hotels and Lufthansa German Airlines. She then founded SecondAct, a platform for personal and professional transformation, and hosts the Discover Your SecondAct podcast, featuring over 150 inspiring stories. Her social impact initiative, Pedal On, focuses on skill-building and sustainable livelihoods for underprivileged women, creating over 10,000 eco-friendly products. Across all her ventures, Archana remains committed to driving meaningful change, empowering individuals to embrace reinvention and step into their next act with purpose.

Kirthiga Reddy is a seasoned entrepreneur and investor at the forefront of technological innovation. Currently serving as the CEO of Verix, she spearheads a pioneering platform driven by GenAI and blockchain technology, focusing on authentication, engagement, and monetization across various sectors, including events, awards, creators, brands, and sports. With her extensive experience, Kirthiga brings strategic vision and leadership to Verix, driving its growth and impact in the digital landscape.

Prior to her current role, Kirthiga held significant positions at renowned organizations. She served as a Partner at SoftBank Vision Fund, contributing to investment strategies and fostering innovation in the technology sector. Kirthiga made history as Facebook’s inaugural employee in India and later served as the Managing Director for Facebook India & South Asia, playing a pivotal role in expanding the platform’s reach and engagement across the region.

Committed to social impact, Kirthiga co-founded Liftery, a groundbreaking initiative empowering mothers in their careers. She has also championed women-led initiatives as a Founding Investment Partner of the F7 seed fund and President of Athena Tech II, facilitating access to capital markets and promoting diversity in the tech industry.

Kirthiga’s contributions have earned her widespread recognition, including accolades such as Fast Company’s 100 Most Creative People in Business 2013, Business Today’s Hottest Young Executives, Fortune India’s Top 50 Most Powerful Women in India, and the top position in IMPACT’s 50 Most Influential Women list in media, marketing, and advertising 2015. Her remarkable journey continues to inspire and shape the landscape of technology and entrepreneurship in India and beyond.

I’m the Founder of The School of Experiences—a creative education company that brings leaders together through content, workshops, events, and retreats to learn, share, and grow as a community. I wear many hats: writer, facilitator, curator, and coach. At the heart of it all, I believe stories have the power to stir emotions and transform the ordinary into something extraordinary.

Over the past 15+ years, I’ve explored storytelling through many lenses. I began my career as a TV journalist, transitioned into the digital space, and eventually found my way into coaching founders to shape and share their stories on stage. Along the way, I’ve had the opportunity to work with inspiring brands like NDTV, 22feet, NCPA, TEDx, and INKtalks.

I hold a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from Jamia Millia Islamia and have also studied at the Creative and Cultural Businesses Programme at IIM Ahmedabad. Outside of work, I’m a curious student of music, meditation, and astronomy.