Career success is often associated with following conventional paths, pursuing popular professions, or replicating the journeys of those who appear successful. At TEDx KDI School of Public Policy and Management, Abhijit Bhand, Intellectual Property Consultant, entrepreneur, and researcher, challenged this belief through his TEDx talk titled "Be Yourself to Be Different." Delivered before an audience of nearly 200 students, researchers, faculty members, and professionals from across the world, the talk explored how embracing one's genuine strengths can lead to a career that is both meaningful and impactful.
Beginning with an intriguing question, Mr. Bhand highlighted that India produces nearly 2.6 million STEM graduates every year, yet awareness of intellectual property remains surprisingly limited. He explained how intellectual property is one of the most powerful drivers of technological and economic development, illustrating the gap between India's enormous technical talent and its relatively modest patenting activity. Drawing from his own professional experience, he shared common misconceptions surrounding patents, trademarks, copyrights, and industrial designs, emphasizing the need for greater intellectual property literacy among innovators and technology professionals.
The talk then shifted from policy to personal experience. Mr. Bhand reflected on how his journey into intellectual property began during the first year of his engineering studies after developing an improved heat detection technology and attempting to patent his own invention. At a time when access to intellectual property guidance was limited, he independently studied patent law to understand the process, unknowingly taking the first step toward a career that would eventually define his professional life.
One of the most compelling moments of the talk was his candid account of entrepreneurial failure. After completing engineering, instead of accepting a conventional technical career, he co-founded a doorstep car-washing startup. Although the venture generated revenue, it eventually closed because of operational challenges, financial constraints, and a lack of alignment with his natural interests and abilities. Looking back, he described this experience not as a failure but as a turning point that taught him an invaluable lesson: trying to imitate someone else's success often distances us from our own strengths. It was this realization that ultimately redirected him towards intellectual property, a field that better matched his aptitude, curiosity, and long-term aspirations.
The audience also heard how a seemingly ordinary opportunity changed the course of his career. When a mentor invited him to deliver an awareness session on intellectual property to a group of entrepreneurs, he discovered not only his passion for educating innovators but also his ability to communicate complex legal and technological concepts in an accessible manner. That single experience eventually led to the establishment of Kanadlab Institute of Intellectual Property and Research in 2017, with a vision of helping innovators create, protect, and commercialize their intellectual property.
Mr. Bhand also spoke openly about the challenges of choosing an unconventional profession. As an engineering graduate entering the niche field of intellectual property law, he often faced confusion and skepticism from society. Many people mistakenly believed he worked in the real estate sector because of the word "property," while others questioned his decision to pursue a career outside mainstream engineering. Rather than discouraging him, these experiences reinforced his conviction that meaningful careers are often built by creating new paths instead of following existing ones.
Supporting his message with tangible outcomes, Mr. Bhand shared how sustained efforts in intellectual property awareness enabled him to train more than 50,000 individuals through over 300 workshops and seminars conducted across universities, research institutions, startups, and industry organizations. He also discussed how his firm has assisted more than 30 startups in protecting and commercializing their innovations, including an indigenous onion transplanter that addressed India's agricultural labour shortage while helping establish a commercially successful technology-based enterprise. Through this example, the audience witnessed how intellectual property can directly contribute to innovation, entrepreneurship, employment generation, and societal development.
The talk concluded with a simple yet profound message. According to Mr. Bhand, every individual possesses a unique combination of abilities, interests, and experiences. Rather than attempting to imitate others, lasting success emerges at the intersection of what we enjoy doing, what we are genuinely capable of doing, and what society needs us to do. Authenticity, he argued, is not merely a personal value—it is a long-term competitive advantage in an increasingly complex and competitive world.
Through his TEDx presentation, "Be Yourself to Be Different," Mr. Abhijit Bhand encouraged the audience to redefine success, not as conformity to established career paths, but as the courage to pursue one's genuine calling. The message resonated across cultures and professions, reminding listeners that the most meaningful journeys often begin when individuals choose to embrace their individuality rather than imitate the success of others.
