In a landmark move to redefine how Indian students approach career exploration, Expify, a leading career readiness platform based in Mumbai, hosted the Principals’ Conclave at The Westin Goregaon on April 26, 2025. The event brought together over 30 esteemed principals and educators from top schools across Mumbai and Pune to initiate the creation of India’s first white paper on Experiential Counseling.
The conclave focused on addressing critical gaps in traditional career guidance systems. The event featured a thought-provoking panel discussion titled “Reimagining Career Readiness through Experiential Counseling”, moderated by Mukti Bajaria, a respected corporate and educational trainer affiliated with the Indo-American Society.
The panel featured Dr. Rishi S. Kapal, a LinkedIn Top Voice and former CXO of companies like Sony, Qualcomm, and Ericsson; Pooja Gupta, an accomplished career coach and college admissions expert; and Anuradha Sinha, Principal of Manav Mandir High School and a distinguished educationist. Together, they discussed how experiential learning, mentorship, and direct industry exposure are essential for today’s students, offering insights rooted in both educational practice and professional experience.
“One who hasn’t experienced a career shouldn’t guide students,” remarked Dr. Kapal, challenging the conventional models of career counseling that rely heavily on theoretical knowledge. Gupta emphasized that students often rely on peer influence or parental pressure when making life-altering career decisions. “Students deserve access to professionals who’ve lived the career they’re considering,” she noted. Sinha added that while schools attempt to offer support, they often lack the resources and frameworks needed for immersive, real-world guidance.
Following the panel, principals and educators engaged in an intensive roundtable conference exploring systemic gaps in the current approach to career guidance. Discussions focused on the influence of parental expectations, the lack of career mentorship in schools, and the pressing need for more industry-academia collaboration. The insights gathered are now being compiled as part of a rigorous primary research initiative that will inform India’s inaugural white paper on experiential counseling.
The day concluded with a dynamic presentation by Vedant Bajaria, Co-founder and Director of Expify, who showcased how Expify is bridging the gap between classroom learning and career exploration. Expify’s flagship programs—Mentor Fair, Experiential Counseling, and Outstation Experiences—are tailored to help students from grades 8 to 12, experience their dream careers before making commitments.
The Mentor Fair allows students to interact with professionals across various domains, while the Experiential Counseling program offers hands-on sessions in diverse career fields. The Outstation Experience takes students on immersive week-long journeys to institutions like MIT Manipal, enabling them to explore over 20 engineering fields and experience college life firsthand. These programs are designed to be accessible, with offerings starting at just ₹600 per student, making them viable for a wide range of schools.
Based in Mumbai, and co-founded by Vedant Bajaria, Tanay Makhecha, and Mihir Rambhiya, Expify has already partnered with premier institutions like MIT Manipal, Ecole Intuit Lab, and KRVIA to offer authentic career experiences. With a mission to empower every learner to make informed decisions, Expify is revolutionizing how schools approach career readiness.
The Principals’ Conclave marks a major milestone in this journey. It was not just a conference but a collaborative effort that brought together voices from academia and industry to work towards a common goal: equipping students with the tools, exposure, and confidence to shape their own futures.
For queries, collaborations, or further information about Expify’s programs, please contact: Email: [email protected] | Phone: +91 7977179874
Website: http://www.expify.in/ Instagram: @expify.in LinkedIn: Expify on LinkedIn
The conclave was curated by T. Aswini Patro of Sanaj Ventures reachable at [email protected]
