champion that’s a word that I grew up with my dad would come home from the
with my dad would come home from the
with my dad would come home from the office and I’d charge you know running
office and I’d charge you know running
office and I’d charge you know running into him being a tiny tot play a game
into him being a tiny tot play a game
into him being a tiny tot play a game called hips with him he would lift me up
called hips with him he would lift me up
called hips with him he would lift me up settle me down take me by the shoulders
settle me down take me by the shoulders
settle me down take me by the shoulders and say champion I didn’t really know
and say champion I didn’t really know
and say champion I didn’t really know what the definition of champion was and
what the definition of champion was and
what the definition of champion was and what he was getting at but I felt a
what he was getting at but I felt a
what he was getting at but I felt a sense of pride I said I felt a sense of
sense of pride I said I felt a sense of
sense of pride I said I felt a sense of empowerment and a limitless ability when
empowerment and a limitless ability when
empowerment and a limitless ability when he used that word with me I went on and
he used that word with me I went on and
he used that word with me I went on and my entire family went on to pursue
my entire family went on to pursue
my entire family went on to pursue professional tennis
professional tennis
professional tennis I grew up between Mumbai India and
I grew up between Mumbai India and
I grew up between Mumbai India and Princeton New Jersey and then we did the
Princeton New Jersey and then we did the
Princeton New Jersey and then we did the big plunge and went for those tennis
big plunge and went for those tennis
big plunge and went for those tennis academies in Florida splitting our
academies in Florida splitting our
academies in Florida splitting our family between two different homes five
family between two different homes five
family between two different homes five girls two parents two different homes
girls two parents two different homes
girls two parents two different homes the family committed just making sure
the family committed just making sure
the family committed just making sure that my younger sister Nia and I
that my younger sister Nia and I
that my younger sister Nia and I succeeded in playing world-class
succeeded in playing world-class
succeeded in playing world-class professional tennis so naturally I
professional tennis so naturally I
professional tennis so naturally I thought champion meant champion and
thought champion meant champion and
thought champion meant champion and tennis therefore I could equated my
tennis therefore I could equated my
tennis therefore I could equated my success with tennis and that I had to
success with tennis and that I had to
success with tennis and that I had to win a Grand Slam and that I had to be
win a Grand Slam and that I had to be
win a Grand Slam and that I had to be number one in the world to fulfill the
number one in the world to fulfill the
number one in the world to fulfill the definition my father lovingly called me
definition my father lovingly called me
definition my father lovingly called me champion through a lot of downs and ups
champion through a lot of downs and ups
champion through a lot of downs and ups and downs again I tried I sincerely
and downs again I tried I sincerely
and downs again I tried I sincerely tried I got to top 100 in the world I
tried I got to top 100 in the world I
tried I got to top 100 in the world I won us a silver medal at Asian Games in
won us a silver medal at Asian Games in
won us a silver medal at Asian Games in 2006 and then started to slow down
2006 and then started to slow down
2006 and then started to slow down things weren’t feeling right I didn’t
things weren’t feeling right I didn’t
things weren’t feeling right I didn’t necessarily have that burning desire to
necessarily have that burning desire to
necessarily have that burning desire to want to win anymore
want to win anymore
want to win anymore chasing a fuzzy yellow tennis ball got
chasing a fuzzy yellow tennis ball got
chasing a fuzzy yellow tennis ball got very redundant
very redundant
very redundant playing the same girls over and over
playing the same girls over and over
playing the same girls over and over again in various glamorous locations
again in various glamorous locations
again in various glamorous locations actually got boring from the outside it
actually got boring from the outside it
actually got boring from the outside it might seem beautiful and might seem
might seem beautiful and might seem
might seem beautiful and might seem really romantic big lights big stadiums
really romantic big lights big stadiums
really romantic big lights big stadiums a celebrity lifestyle but it does get
a celebrity lifestyle but it does get
a celebrity lifestyle but it does get redundant and for someone like me who
redundant and for someone like me who
redundant and for someone like me who felt that I wasn’t a part of the larger
felt that I wasn’t a part of the larger
felt that I wasn’t a part of the larger conversation who wasn’t a part of the
conversation who wasn’t a part of the
conversation who wasn’t a part of the world on some level and really had a lot
world on some level and really had a lot
world on some level and really had a lot more to give I started to find out that
more to give I started to find out that
more to give I started to find out that that definition of champion was no
that definition of champion was no
that definition of champion was no longer mine and mind you it wasn’t easy
longer mine and mind you it wasn’t easy
longer mine and mind you it wasn’t easy you know we did the big shift the whole
you know we did the big shift the whole
you know we did the big shift the whole family got involved and now for me to
family got involved and now for me to
family got involved and now for me to betray this whole mission and vision
betray this whole mission and vision
betray this whole mission and vision took a long time for me to really own
took a long time for me to really own
took a long time for me to really own and I believe it was on one of my
and I believe it was on one of my
and I believe it was on one of my comeback matches and hot El Paso
comeback matches and hot El Paso
comeback matches and hot El Paso like 140 degree weather in a small ITF
like 140 degree weather in a small ITF
like 140 degree weather in a small ITF tournament that goes parallel to
tournament that goes parallel to
tournament that goes parallel to Wimbledon which I was just playing two
Wimbledon which I was just playing two
Wimbledon which I was just playing two years before but I had to make a
years before but I had to make a
years before but I had to make a comeback because I lost my ranking
comeback because I lost my ranking
comeback because I lost my ranking starting all over again and extremely
starting all over again and extremely
starting all over again and extremely bored on the court bored angry
bored on the court bored angry
bored on the court bored angry frustrated and in those backhand down
frustrated and in those backhand down
frustrated and in those backhand down the lines and they didn’t give me that
the lines and they didn’t give me that
the lines and they didn’t give me that pleasure that they used to I realized it
pleasure that they used to I realized it
pleasure that they used to I realized it was time to change it was time to
was time to change it was time to
was time to change it was time to transition as painful as it was going to
transition as painful as it was going to
transition as painful as it was going to be I had to move on I did my freshman
be I had to move on I did my freshman
be I had to move on I did my freshman year at Princeton University in 2000
year at Princeton University in 2000
year at Princeton University in 2000 2001 then took a decade off to pursue
2001 then took a decade off to pursue
2001 then took a decade off to pursue professional tennis and had to make the
professional tennis and had to make the
professional tennis and had to make the difficult decision that it was time to
difficult decision that it was time to
difficult decision that it was time to go back
go back
go back lucky for me I already knew what I
lucky for me I already knew what I
lucky for me I already knew what I wanted to do because there was another
wanted to do because there was another
wanted to do because there was another passion that was burning inside and
passion that was burning inside and
passion that was burning inside and keeping me up at night and waking me up
keeping me up at night and waking me up
keeping me up at night and waking me up in the morning early to journal my ideas
in the morning early to journal my ideas
in the morning early to journal my ideas wanting to create purposeful programming
wanting to create purposeful programming
wanting to create purposeful programming that catalyze change in a hurting world
that catalyze change in a hurting world
that catalyze change in a hurting world in a world where Millennials were
in a world where Millennials were
in a world where Millennials were feeling passionate but a little bit lost
feeling passionate but a little bit lost
feeling passionate but a little bit lost under
under
under where they were supposed to go and how
where they were supposed to go and how
where they were supposed to go and how they were supposed to achieve this cheat
they were supposed to achieve this cheat
they were supposed to achieve this cheat excuse me this change that we need I
excuse me this change that we need I
excuse me this change that we need I told my younger sister Nia who was also
told my younger sister Nia who was also
told my younger sister Nia who was also on the tour with me at that time and
on the tour with me at that time and
on the tour with me at that time and went back and was already in college as
went back and was already in college as
went back and was already in college as she decided to retire from the tour and
she decided to retire from the tour and
she decided to retire from the tour and I said Nia I want to create and really
I said Nia I want to create and really
I said Nia I want to create and really change the world through the medium of
change the world through the medium of
change the world through the medium of television and digital formats and I
television and digital formats and I
television and digital formats and I don’t mind hosting one or two of them
don’t mind hosting one or two of them
don’t mind hosting one or two of them either so she’s a tall you want to be
either so she’s a tall you want to be
either so she’s a tall you want to be like the Oprah of India I said sure
like the Oprah of India I said sure
like the Oprah of India I said sure she’s okay she could Edie you’re going
she’s okay she could Edie you’re going
she’s okay she could Edie you’re going to be Oprah Chopra let’s do this so I
to be Oprah Chopra let’s do this so I
to be Oprah Chopra let’s do this so I decided to go back to college and going
decided to go back to college and going
decided to go back to college and going back as a 27 year old was not exactly
back as a 27 year old was not exactly
back as a 27 year old was not exactly easy when my classmates were about 17
easy when my classmates were about 17
easy when my classmates were about 17 and 18 and it was extra tough when my
and 18 and it was extra tough when my
and 18 and it was extra tough when my sophomore year they called me chica dee
sophomore year they called me chica dee
sophomore year they called me chica dee dee then my junior year they were
dee then my junior year they were
dee then my junior year they were calling me Chacon auntie and then by
calling me Chacon auntie and then by
calling me Chacon auntie and then by senior year I became da dee I don’t know
senior year I became da dee I don’t know
senior year I became da dee I don’t know how I aged that fast but they were
how I aged that fast but they were
how I aged that fast but they were always teasing me but during my three
always teasing me but during my three
always teasing me but during my three years the second part of my career at
years the second part of my career at
years the second part of my career at Princeton I explored everything I didn’t
Princeton I explored everything I didn’t
Princeton I explored everything I didn’t have to take six classes I only had to
have to take six classes I only had to
have to take six classes I only had to take three or four but I did I didn’t
take three or four but I did I didn’t
take three or four but I did I didn’t have to run for president I didn’t have
have to run for president I didn’t have
have to run for president I didn’t have to start clubs and really stretch my
to start clubs and really stretch my
to start clubs and really stretch my mind and go beyond knowing the world
mind and go beyond knowing the world
mind and go beyond knowing the world that I knew with these blinders in this
that I knew with these blinders in this
that I knew with these blinders in this myopic view of what I was supposed to be
myopic view of what I was supposed to be
myopic view of what I was supposed to be as a tennis player and on that Princeton
as a tennis player and on that Princeton
as a tennis player and on that Princeton campus and everything it gave me and
campus and everything it gave me and
campus and everything it gave me and everything I gave back to it I became a
everything I gave back to it I became a
everything I gave back to it I became a champion more so there than on a tennis
champion more so there than on a tennis
champion more so there than on a tennis court I wrote my thesis on Satyamev
court I wrote my thesis on Satyamev
court I wrote my thesis on Satyamev Jayate day I made six short documentary
Jayate day I made six short documentary
Jayate day I made six short documentary films as well on unsung heroes and made
films as well on unsung heroes and made
films as well on unsung heroes and made the show that originally was called
the show that originally was called
the show that originally was called world heroes and the India launch was
world heroes and the India launch was
world heroes and the India launch was called gone Banega hero which then
called gone Banega hero which then
called gone Banega hero which then turned into the real deal the real deal
turned into the real deal the real deal
turned into the real deal the real deal for me was one of the most defining
for me was one of the most defining
for me was one of the most defining moments of fulfillment that I’ve ever
moments of fulfillment that I’ve ever
moments of fulfillment that I’ve ever felt in my life it was a show on social
felt in my life it was a show on social
felt in my life it was a show on social entrepreneurs one of who you’ll be
entrepreneurs one of who you’ll be
entrepreneurs one of who you’ll be hearing from later today
hearing from later today
hearing from later today start on the show as well and it was
start on the show as well and it was
start on the show as well and it was about finding them featuring them and
about finding them featuring them and
about finding them featuring them and funding them but more importantly I was
funding them but more importantly I was
funding them but more importantly I was able to enable them I was enabled I was
able to enable them I was enabled I was
able to enable them I was enabled I was able to enable an ecosystem that was so
able to enable an ecosystem that was so
able to enable an ecosystem that was so powerful and so meaningful and so needed
powerful and so meaningful and so needed
powerful and so meaningful and so needed it was everything I wanted to do and be
it was everything I wanted to do and be
it was everything I wanted to do and be side by side with that an opportunity to
side by side with that an opportunity to
side by side with that an opportunity to co-found a tech startup and mind you I
co-found a tech startup and mind you I
co-found a tech startup and mind you I didn’t do very well in technology
didn’t do very well in technology
didn’t do very well in technology classes at Princeton but the point was
classes at Princeton but the point was
classes at Princeton but the point was that I believed that I could do
that I believed that I could do
that I believed that I could do everything and anything I wanted to be
everything and anything I wanted to be
everything and anything I wanted to be and do and I started to understand what
and do and I started to understand what
and do and I started to understand what my father when we played hips together
my father when we played hips together
my father when we played hips together and we did all these fun games together
and we did all these fun games together
and we did all these fun games together he was talking about champion right he
he was talking about champion right he
he was talking about champion right he wasn’t necessarily talking about tennis
wasn’t necessarily talking about tennis
wasn’t necessarily talking about tennis he was talking about empowering telling
he was talking about empowering telling
he was talking about empowering telling me Shikha you can do and be anything you
me Shikha you can do and be anything you
me Shikha you can do and be anything you want to be luckily as Ajith was saying
want to be luckily as Ajith was saying
want to be luckily as Ajith was saying earlier I was born into the parent
earlier I was born into the parent
earlier I was born into the parent lottery so being able to transition from
lottery so being able to transition from
lottery so being able to transition from professional tennis to Princeton
professional tennis to Princeton
professional tennis to Princeton University to making TV shows and now
University to making TV shows and now
University to making TV shows and now co-founding a tech startup called Indy
co-founding a tech startup called Indy
co-founding a tech startup called Indy comm has been I would say significantly
comm has been I would say significantly
comm has been I would say significantly easier for me than it is for someone
easier for me than it is for someone
easier for me than it is for someone maybe coming from India unincorporated I
maybe coming from India unincorporated I
maybe coming from India unincorporated I get asked a lot how did you transition
get asked a lot how did you transition
get asked a lot how did you transition from tennis to entrepreneurship and I
from tennis to entrepreneurship and I
from tennis to entrepreneurship and I don’t think it’s quite as big a leap as
don’t think it’s quite as big a leap as
don’t think it’s quite as big a leap as people might think it is the values a
people might think it is the values a
people might think it is the values a professional tennis player takes on from
professional tennis player takes on from
professional tennis player takes on from hard work and resilience and persistence
hard work and resilience and persistence
hard work and resilience and persistence and a lot of losing a lot of innovation
and a lot of losing a lot of innovation
and a lot of losing a lot of innovation on the ground quickly moving and
on the ground quickly moving and
on the ground quickly moving and hustling being the product and the CEO
hustling being the product and the CEO
hustling being the product and the CEO of your very own company which is you
of your very own company which is you
of your very own company which is you and the team around you your coaches
and the team around you your coaches
and the team around you your coaches your nutritionists and what not really
your nutritionists and what not really
your nutritionists and what not really our micro examples of what an enterprise
our micro examples of what an enterprise
our micro examples of what an enterprise looks today for me to be able to
looks today for me to be able to
looks today for me to be able to confidently apply decades of being a
confidently apply decades of being a
confidently apply decades of being a professional tennis player and an
professional tennis player and an
professional tennis player and an aspiring professional tennis player into
aspiring professional tennis player into
aspiring professional tennis player into Indicom has actually been a little bit
Indicom has actually been a little bit
Indicom has actually been a little bit of a seamless transition
of a seamless transition
of a seamless transition I think to wrap up it’s important that I
I think to wrap up it’s important that I
I think to wrap up it’s important that I express that not everybody as Emily WAP
express that not everybody as Emily WAP
express that not everybody as Emily WAP Nick says she’s a multi potential ID and
Nick says she’s a multi potential ID and
Nick says she’s a multi potential ID and she somebody I learned from on a TED
she somebody I learned from on a TED
she somebody I learned from on a TED talk I didn’t realize there was such a
talk I didn’t realize there was such a
talk I didn’t realize there was such a thing but I like to call myself a
thing but I like to call myself a
thing but I like to call myself a multipotentialite because I’m able to do
multipotentialite because I’m able to do
multipotentialite because I’m able to do various things and express myself to
various things and express myself to
various things and express myself to fulfill my entire personhood knowing
fulfill my entire personhood knowing
fulfill my entire personhood knowing full well that I’m more than just a
full well that I’m more than just a
full well that I’m more than just a tennis player despite it being 25 years
tennis player despite it being 25 years
tennis player despite it being 25 years of my life if I can leave you with one
of my life if I can leave you with one
of my life if I can leave you with one message it’s about defining your own
message it’s about defining your own
message it’s about defining your own champion being a champion is about
champion being a champion is about
champion being a champion is about defining who you are with the passions
defining who you are with the passions
defining who you are with the passions and limitless expressions of yourselves
and limitless expressions of yourselves
and limitless expressions of yourselves create your own champion in you be
create your own champion in you be
create your own champion in you be yourself and victory to you thank you
yourself and victory to you thank you
yourself and victory to you thank you [Applause]
”
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