3-day meet hosts over 600 professionals in Manhattan.
AB Wire
NEW YORK: The Network of Indian Professionals, North America (NetIP NA) hosted their annual conference from October 9 – 11, which marked the organization’s 25th silver anniversary, at the Marriott Marquis Hotel, in Manhattan.
Preet Bharara, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, former Miss America Nina Davuluri, comedian Hari Kondabolu, Sree Sreenivasan, Chief Digital Officer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Jimmy Soni, author and former managing editor of The Huffington Post and NetIP founder Dr. Satish Chandra, were some of the notable personalities who gathered at the meet, attended by some 600 professionals from all walks of life, according to a press release.
“It was wonderful to be part of the NetIP silver anniversary conference! What a wonderful group of individuals to share my story about diversity, cultural competency, and Girl Rising. I was so proud to be an integral part of the conversation and connect with future leaders to mobilize our community together,” said Girl Rising advocate Davuluri, in a statement.
NetIP’s annual conference brings together South Asian professionals, empowering them to explore their heritage and move beyond their traditional boundaries. The theme for 2015 “Begin Again” aimed to inspire individuals to reinvest in the organizations and communities in which they live and work.
“Begin Again” signifies that no challenge is too big to overcome and that “you are only as strong as your next move”.
For the first time organizations such as AAPI NYC Metro, SABA NYC, SAJA, TIE and SAALT worked together on such a large platform. These collaborations allowed NetIP to feature panels on health, legal advice, media, technology, unconventional careers, non-profit, cooking and the history of NetIP.
Special events included the screening of Girl Rising – Woh Padegi Woh Udegi, a health fair sponsored by AAPI NYC Metro, a comedy show, a fashion Show by India’s POPUP and a Startup Competition hosted by Sava360. The competition was based on TV’s Shark Tank where creative leads and start-ups were given an opportunity to present their ideas in front of a panel of investors and venture capitalists.
NetIP has 23 chapters across North America with 60% of NetIP members having graduate or professional degrees and over 35% work for Fortune 1000 companies.
“As we look ahead into the next 25 years, NetIP will continue its mission to serve as the unequivocal voice for the South Asian Diaspora by developing and engaging a cohesive network of professionals to benefit the community,” said Dhaval Shah, President of NetIP North America, in a statement.
“We are absolutely thrilled with the response the NetIP Conference has received. We look forward to continuously raising the bar as we did with the Begin Again Conference in our 25th year,” said Dhruv Marwaha, Conference Chair, in a statement.