“Perseverance is not one long race; it is many short races one after the other.” — Walter Elliot
The IBDP wing of Delhi Public School, R.K. Puram had the privilege of hosting an interactive Guest Speaker Programme with Mr. Shishir Gupta, CEO of Oakter Smart Appliances, on 2 September 2026. A key figure in the growth of India’s startup ecosystem, Mr. Gupta offered DP1 students a first-hand understanding of entrepreneurship and the world of business innovation.
The session began with Mr. Ajay Goel, Head of Academics IBDP, felicitating Mr. Gupta with a token of appreciation on behalf of the school, acknowledging his valuable insights into the world of entrepreneurship and thanking him for taking the time to connect with the students and bring classroom learning closer to real-world experience. The moment carried special significance, as Mr. Goel had once been Mr. Gupta’s teacher, making the felicitation not just a formal gesture but a quiet, full-circle moment between mentor and former student.
Following the felicitation, Mr. Gupta, an accomplished entrepreneur who has played an integral role in shaping the startup culture in India, took the students through a compelling overview of what it takes to begin a startup of one’s own – walking the audience through the various stages of building a business, from ideation to execution. He ensured the seminar remained a two-way exchange throughout, warmly welcoming questions, reflections, and new ideas not only from students but also from the teachers and faculty present. His candid, down-to-earth approach helped demystify entrepreneurship, encouraging students to think critically about innovation, risk, and resilience in the face of a rapidly evolving business world.
Ms. Sudeepta Chatterjee, Diploma Programme Coordinator, delivered the vote of thanks, expressing the school’s sincere gratitude to Mr. Gupta for generously sharing his time, wisdom, and experience with the students. She thanked him for encouraging students to not merely generate ideas, but to think them through with care, shaped by an understanding of the context and environment around them. She thanked the, Principal, Mr. Anil Kumar for his unwavering support and HOA, Mr. Ajay Goel for his continued encouragement, extending her gratitude as well to the student representatives, teachers, and support staff whose efforts helped make the event possible.
Guest Speaker Programmes like these help students envision a future that is both self-built and fulfilling, reinforcing the IBDP’s emphasis on real-world learning and inquiry beyond the classroom. Mr. Shishir Gupta’s visit left students inspired and better equipped to imagine possibilities beyond the conventional, enriching their understanding of the knowledge and craftsmanship that trade and enterprise demand.