A Different Kind of Arrival
Landing in Delhi is an experience that’s hard to capture in words, though many try. There’s an immediate, heavy energy that hits you the moment you step out, a combination of the heat, a constant layer of sound, and a sense that everything and everyone is in a state of perpetual motion. I knew this six-week journey as part of the Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Asia (PMSA) would be intense, but I don’t think anything quite prepares you for the sheer scale of India.
As a student ambassador for my university, I’ve spent my first few days thinking about what my role actually means here. It isn’t just about observing from the sidelines or taking photos; it’s about trying to get under the hood of a country that is rapidly becoming the world’s engine for digital innovation. My first week coincided perfectly with India’s National Startup Day, giving me a front-row seat to an entrepreneurial ecosystem that feels fundamentally different from the one we have in New Zealand.
Grit and Scale
One of the most grounding experiences of my first few days was visiting the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. We talk about the “hustle” in tech circles back home, but at IIT, you see the literal version of it. Meeting students who seem to operate without sleep, driven by a singular focus on solving massive problems, was eye-opening. There is a palpable grit here, a sense that failure isn’t an option because the stakes are so high.
That energy followed us into the National Startup Day celebrations. It was a surreal “pinch-me” moment to be in the same room as the people shaping modern India. We attended a fireside chat featuring some of the country’s most influential figures: Mohit Yadav of Minimalist, Aman Gupta (a name many will recognise from Shark Tank India and the brand boAt), and Ritesh Agarwal, the founder of OYO. We also heard from government leaders like Shri Piyush Goyal and Shri Amardeep Singh Bhatia. To top it off, the Special Chief Guest was the Prime Minister himself, Shri Narendra Modi.
Beyond the big names, it was the specific innovations that stuck with me. As someone interested in how tech intersects with the human experience, BrainSightAI was a standout. Their Co-Founder, Laina Emmanuel, gave a speech that really resonated with me. They’ve essentially built a “Google Maps” for the human brain, allowing neurosurgeons to navigate complex surgeries with a level of precision that minimises damage to the patient. It’s a brilliant collaboration between software engineering and medicine. It made me realise that here, innovation isn’t just science, but about solving real, urgent problems.
We also explored the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative. One standout part of the experience was seeing how interactive technologies; including a flight simulation used in the exhibition space to immerse visitors in regional crafts, such as Jaipur’s blue pottery. While ODOP’s core focus is on promoting district-level products, these tech-enabled showcases demonstrated how traditional Indian heritage can be re-imagined and presented to a global, digital audience.
Connecting the Classroom to the Real World
As I moved through these events, I kept viewing everything through the lens of my Information Systems and Marketing degree. In my papers back at university, we spend a lot of time discussing “digital transformation,” “database systems,” and “platform ecosystems.” In a lecture theatre, those terms can feel a bit abstract. Here, they are woven into everyday life.
I spent time looking into the growth of The Minimalist, which has seen huge success on Nykaa (India’s Sephora). From a marketing perspective, it’s a perfect case study in customer-centric design. They aren’t just selling skincare; they are using data and sophisticated digital platforms to reach a massive, diverse audience that traditional retail simply couldn’t touch.
What struck me most was how these startups navigate the complexity of the Indian market. It’s a reminder that a good marketing strategy isn’t just about a pretty campaign; it’s about understanding the underlying infrastructure of the digital economy and finding the exact points where technology can make a customer’s life easier.
Finding a Rhythm in the Chaos
It would be impossible to talk about Delhi without mentioning the traffic. It is a total culture shock; the constant honking, the rickshaws weaving through gaps that don’t seem to exist, and the fact that road lanes are treated more like suggestions than rules. At first, it feels like pure chaos. But after a few days, you start to see the rhythm. It’s a self-organising system that somehow works perfectly despite the lack of “order” we’re used to in New Zealand.
To process everything, I’ve been using a reflection framework we were taught called the Describe-Interpret-Evaluate (DIE) model.
- What I see (Describe): A rickshaw driver navigating a chaotic intersection with zero clear lanes, inches away from other vehicles.
- What I think (Interpret): This isn’t just bad driving; it’s a reflection of a broader cultural trait. There is a deep-seated adaptability and fluidity here. People don’t wait for the system to be perfect; they find a way to move forward within it.
- How I feel (Evaluate): While it was stressful at first, I now find it incredibly impressive. It’s a constant reminder that things don’t have to be “neat” to be functional. In fact, sometimes the most efficient systems are the ones that look the most chaotic from the outside.
This contrast between peace and intensity followed us everywhere. One day we were at the Lotus Temple, surrounded by stunning architecture and the harmonic, echoing sounds of multi-faith prayer – a moment of total stillness. The next, we were at a charity school for children from low-socioeconomic backgrounds. Seeing how bright and happy those kids are, despite their circumstances, was incredibly heartwarming. It made me feel a deep sense of gratitude for my own education and reinforced why I’m interested in technology: its power to create social mobility and provide quality tools to those who need them most.
Lessons from the First Week
Reflecting on this first week, my ideas about entrepreneurship are already shifting. In New Zealand, we often talk about “disruption” in a very clinical, business-school sense. In India, entrepreneurship feels more like an act of resilience. Whether it’s a billionaire founder or a student at IIT, there is a shared understanding that challenges are just variables to be managed, not roadblocks to stop you.
This aligns with the values we hold back home: leadership, global citizenship, and adaptability. Being a PMSA ambassador is teaching me that leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about being willing to sit in the “chaos” of a new culture, being open-minded, and truly listening before you try to interpret what you’re seeing. It’s about appreciating ways of living and thinking that are completely foreign to you.
Looking Forward
As I wrap up Week 1, I’m feeling a mix of exhaustion and genuine excitement. I’ve barely scratched the surface of what India has to offer, but the lessons I’ve learned about the intersection of technology, industry, and human resilience are already more valuable than I ever expected.
I’m so grateful to the Prime Minister’s Scholarship program and my university for supporting this trip. It is a privilege to be here, and I can’t wait to see how the next five weeks continue to challenge my perspective on where the digital world is headed.
