- Don’t ape the West, now the time is ripe for Indian dreams, Aman Gupta to wannabe entrepreneurs
- GLS is a promise—a promise of quality education rooted in integrity, discipline, and excellence: Sudhir Nanavati, President of GLS University
- The Launch of the GLS Anthem and GLS Tune, symbolizes unity, innovation, and the indomitable spirit of GLS students
NE EDUCATION BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, APR 15
GLS University, a beacon of academic excellence and innovation, proudly celebrated its 10-year journey on Tuesday with the event titled “GLSU@10 – Celebrating Legacy, Inspiring Future.”
The grand celebration began with a warm Welcome & Opening Address, followed by an electrifying session featuring Aman Gupta, Co-Founder & CMO of boAt lifestyle and a household name through his presence on Shark Tank India. The session was moderated by Dr. Chandni Kapadia, Executive Director of GLS University, who skilfully steered a conversation that blended entrepreneurial insights with humour, candid reflections, and relatable anecdotes.
What’s in a name?
Answering the first salvo of Dr. Chandni Kapadia, “Why did he name his brand as boAt?” Aman Gupta replied that “while there were many “music-friendly” names for the brand, they wanted to create an enduring image on the customers. As a result, they just chose the first word that sprang to mind from the second letter, ‘B’ (since A for Apple was already taken). This is how boAt was born.”
Quality and branding are two sides of a coin
When an 18-year-old student-entrepreneur has raised the issue of pricing his product, Gupta advised him to concentrate on quality and branding, which will help him to penetrate the market. And Gupta said that he is having 18 brand ambassadors for his products.
Don’t ape the West, now the time is ripe for Indian dreams
Stating that ‘we, Indians, are working for Microsoft, Google, Amazon etc, which have been ruling the roost’, Gupta advised the students that ‘don’t ape the West, now the time is ripe for Indian dreams.’ With Start-up India, Make in India and Semiconductor policies, and easy funding for new ventures, our country is the land of opportunities for wannabe entrepreneurs.
Embrace failures and learn from mistakes
Quoting the failures of many corporates and his earlier ventures, Gupta exhorted the students to embrace the failures, learn from the mistakes and persevere with confidence in you, success will kiss you. Further, with the advent of AI, one should adopt technology to stay ahead of the competitors.
From discussing the origin story of boAt lifestyle to sharing behind-the-scenes tales from Shark Tank India, Aman Gupta captivated the audience with his unfiltered perspectives. The lively Q&A session with students, followed by a Selfie, highlighted the deep resonance Aman’s journey had with young, aspiring entrepreneurs.
This was followed by a Felicitation Ceremony, honouring Aman Gupta’s contributions to India’s entrepreneurial landscape.
In the official commemorative segment, Dr. Chandni Kapadia took the stage again for the Welcome Address, reflecting on the university’s transformative decade. She recalled the university’s founding vision, milestones achieved, and its journey towards global academic relevance while upholding its cultural core. “GLS University has not only grown in numbers but in values, impact, and ambition,” she remarked, emphasizing future-forward initiatives while acknowledging the legacy of visionaries like Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Shri I.M. Nanavati.
Sudhir Nanavati, President of GLS University, then addressed the gathering. With passion and pride, he chronicled the evolution of GLS from a modest academic trust into a thriving multidisciplinary university. “GLS is a promise—a promise of quality education rooted in integrity, discipline, and excellence,” he stated, expressing gratitude to faculty, students, alumni, and trustees for their unwavering support over the years.
The celebration continued with the Launch of the GLS Anthem and GLS Tune, symbolizing unity, innovation, and the indomitable spirit of GLS students. Students waving GLS flags to the new tune created a moving spectacle, followed by a visually enchanting encore performance with flashlights.
With over a decade of excellence, GLS University remains committed to inspiring the future while honouring its storied past.
