ASU+GSV & Emeritus Summit Explores Future of Learning and Work

Annual ASU+GSV & Emeritus Summit convened today, gathering prominent global leaders, thought leaders, and innovators from across sectors to explore transformative solutions for education and the future of work in a world increasingly shaped by generative AI. Running from February 3-5 at The Oberoi, the summit draws attention to the urgent need for innovation across the entire education spectrum—from "Pre-K to Gray"—amid technological advances that are changing how we learn and work.

The second day of the Summit featured an impressive lineup of speakers and esteemed guests, including Charge D’Affaires Jorgan K. Andrews from the US Embassy in New Delhi, Michael M. Crow – President, Arizona State University (ASU), former Union Minister Suresh Prabhu, Sanjeev Sanyal – a Member of Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM), Ved Mani Tiwari – CEO, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), Deborah Quazzo – Managing Partner at GSV Ventures, as well as other leaders and investors from the education and the edtech ecosystem across the world.

The event kicked off with a keynote address by Michael M. Crow, President, ASU, emphasizing the criticality of innovation in preparing students for the workforce. He stated, "We have an unbelievably complicated environment, and yet we are helping 40,000 students, both online and offline, graduate with degrees at par with the best colleges in the United States. The employability of our students is 97%, meaning they find themselves either employed or in grad school within a year of studying at ASU. Our faculty is able to do this incredibly difficult task because of the technologies we are absorbing."

Former Union Minister and Chancellor at Rishihood University, Suresh Prabhu, delivered a powerful message on the need for a cultural shift to promote innovation in India. He emphasized that although change can happen overnight,  inaction is not the answer. "It starts with a cultural shift—respect for researchers drives innovation. The government can support R&D with tax breaks, but corporate commitment is key. Just as ESG compliance influences investment, why not R&D compliance? A strong research pipeline is essential, as breakthroughs take time and resources. If investors reward innovation, businesses will prioritize it. Real progress needs collaboration between government, corporates, and investors to make R&D a fundamental driver of growth,” he added.

Rahul Bothra, CFO of Swiggy and Ashwin Damera, Co-Founder & CEO, Emeritus, engaged in a thought-provoking dialogue about Swiggy’s journey to the public markets. Bothra emphasized the importance of long-term shareholder value, governance, and solid investor relationships in building a sustainable public market presence. He said, "The IPO journey doesn't start with appointing bankers; it begins years earlier by building trust with investors and strengthening corporate governance. Despite a tough market environment, our strong institutional support and long-term relationships helped us navigate the listing successfully. An IPO isn't just a financial event—it's the biggest marketing event for a company, enhancing consumer awareness and credibility in the public markets."

A highlight of the day was a riveting fireside chat between Pragya Misra, Public Policy and Partnerships Lead for India, OpenAI and Claire Zau, Partner and AI Lead, GSV Ventures. Delving into OpenAI's journey, Pragya Misra said, "OpenAI’s mission is to develop Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) for all of humanity, and with India being a significant part of the global population, the company sees the country as pivotal to its global success. OpenAI aims to work collaboratively with the Indian ecosystem, considering local linguistic and cultural diversity when developing AI features.” Misra emphasized that multi-modality AI will play a crucial role in democratizing access to knowledge, particularly in education and healthcare, where AI can make high-quality education more affordable and personalized.

The event also included a series of dynamic panel discussions on topics including: The Edtech Edge - How Student Impact Fuels Business Success, Governing AI in the World's Largest Democracy, Beyond the Blueprint: Building India’s Universities of Tomorrow, AI in EdTech: Building Tomorrow's Learning Reality, From Classroom to Capital Markets: Scaling Up Education Companies, Generative AI and the Evolution of Edtech: Transforming Pedagogical Approaches, The Impact of Government Regulations on Transnational Education and more.

The 3rd Annual ASU+GSV & Emeritus Summit is a testament to the power of collaboration and dialogue in advancing education and skills development worldwide.