A Day of Ideas, Curiosity and Purpose at Lodestone 2026

There are some speaking engagements that leave you with a sense of accomplishment. Then there are those rare occasions that leave you with a sense of hope. My recent interaction with the gifted young participants of Lodestone 2026, organized by the Pravaha Foundation at IIIT Hyderabad, belonged firmly in the latter category.

I am deeply grateful to the Pravaha Foundation for inviting me to contribute to a program that seeks to shape young minds at such a formative stage of life. The very idea of bringing together exceptionally talented students who are just entering their teenage years and exposing them to the principles of design thinking is both visionary and necessary. In a world that increasingly rewards creativity, adaptability and problem-solving, initiatives such as Lodestone play an invaluable role in nurturing the next generation of thinkers and leaders.

What made the experience particularly enriching was the program's emphasis on design thinking—not merely as a methodology for solving technical problems, but as a way of approaching life's challenges with empathy, curiosity and structured reasoning. The participants were encouraged to ask questions, challenge assumptions and imagine alternatives. It was inspiring to witness such intellectual energy in children who are only beginning their journey into adolescence.

My session focused on a seemingly different subject: financial decision-making for life. Yet, as the discussions unfolded, it became evident that financial planning is itself an exercise in design thinking. Every family, irrespective of its income level, must constantly make choices under constraints. Resources are finite, aspirations are infinite and priorities evolve over time. The challenge lies not in having unlimited resources, but in designing the most meaningful life possible with the resources available.

For nearly four hours, we engaged in an exchange of ideas around a thought experiment that invited participants to step into the shoes of parents. The question was simple in its framing but profound in its implications: How would you allocate limited financial resources to raise a child from birth through post-graduation?

The exercise required participants to think beyond immediate gratification and consider the long arc of human development. They had to weigh competing priorities such as education, healthcare, nutrition, extracurricular activities, experiences, technology, financial security and unforeseen emergencies. Every decision involved trade-offs. Every allocation reflected a value system.

What fascinated me was how quickly these young minds grasped concepts that many adults struggle with. They realized that financial decisions are rarely about numbers alone. They are ultimately expressions of priorities. A budget is not merely an accounting document; it is a reflection of what a family believes is important.

The discussions also highlighted a lesson that extends far beyond personal finance. Good decision-making often involves sacrificing attractive short-term options in favor of more meaningful long-term outcomes. The participants began to appreciate that every rupee spent today is a choice about the future. Whether one is building a family, a business or a nation, sustainable success depends upon understanding opportunity costs and making conscious trade-offs.

Another rewarding aspect of the interaction was observing how naturally the students connected financial planning with broader life goals. They did not view education simply as a cost but as an investment. They recognized that health expenditures are not expenses to be minimized but foundations upon which future opportunities are built. They understood that resilience requires preparation for uncertainty. These insights emerged not from lectures but from dialogue, debate and reflection.

Perhaps the most encouraging takeaway for me was the quality of questions raised by the participants. Their inquiries reflected genuine curiosity rather than a desire for predetermined answers. They were willing to challenge assumptions, examine alternative perspectives and defend their reasoning. Such habits of mind are essential not only for future professionals but also for responsible citizens.

I also found myself learning throughout the session. One of the privileges of interacting with gifted students is that they often approach problems without the mental boundaries that adults unconsciously develop over time. Their perspectives are refreshingly original. Questions that may initially appear naïve frequently reveal deeper insights about the assumptions embedded within our conventional thinking. The experience served as a reminder that learning is most powerful when it flows in both directions.

The setting at IIIT Hyderabad further enhanced the experience. As one of India's premier institutions for technology and research, the campus provided an environment that symbolized aspiration, inquiry and intellectual rigor. It was fitting that discussions about designing the future took place in a space dedicated to advancing knowledge and innovation.

Programs such as Lodestone are important because they recognize a fundamental truth: talent alone is not enough. Young people need opportunities to develop judgment, perspective and decision-making abilities. Academic excellence is valuable, but the ability to navigate complex life choices is equally important. By exposing students to multidisciplinary thinking at an early age, the Pravaha Foundation is helping bridge this gap.

In many ways, the session reinforced my belief that financial literacy should not be viewed as a specialized skill reserved for adulthood. It is a life skill. Understanding choices, consequences, trade-offs and priorities equips young people to make better decisions not only about money but about careers, relationships and personal aspirations. Financial thinking, when taught correctly, is really a framework for thoughtful living.

As I reflect on the day, I am filled with gratitude—to the organizers for their trust, to the mentors for their dedication and most importantly to the students for their enthusiasm and engagement. Their energy was contagious, their questions were thought-provoking and their willingness to think deeply about real-world challenges was genuinely heartening.

My sincere thanks to the Pravaha Foundation for creating such a meaningful platform and for inviting me to be a small part of this remarkable journey. If the participants of Lodestone 2026 are any indication, the future is in capable hands. They possess not only intelligence but also curiosity, empathy and the willingness to think critically about the world around them.

And perhaps that is the greatest lesson I carried home from the program: the future is not built merely by those who have the right answers. It is built by those who are willing to ask better questions.