In a stirring session that celebrated passion, resilience and the power of purposeful youth, FICCI FLO Chennai hosted two extraordinary young trailblazers – Prasiddhi Singh, environmental activist and founder of the Prasiddhi Forest Foundation, and Kaamya Karthikeyan, record-breaking mountaineer and the youngest girl in the world to complete the Seven Summits.
Held at MMA – Madras Management Association, this session titled ‘Trailblazers Who Scale Heights & Sow Hope’ reflected FLO’s commitment to spotlighting real-world change-makers and fostering a culture of inspiration and leadership among its members.
FLO Chennai Chairperson Niyati A. Mehta, welcoming guests to the event, shared the spirit behind the session:
“This year, our theme is SPARKLE – Strength, Passion, Ambition, Resilience, Knowledge, Leadership, and Excellence , and every event we host is aligned with this vision. Kaamya and Prasiddhi embody this in the most exceptional way. Their stories moved me personally, and I felt a deep responsibility to bring their journeys to our FLO community. This is what FLO Chennai stands for – meaningful conversations and inspiration that drives real-world change.”
Inspiring Words from the Icons
Prasiddhi Singh, now just 12, has already planted over 1.5 lakh trees, created fruit forests across India, and represented the country at COP28 and COP29. At the event, she challenged the audience to act with urgency and hope:
“Don’t just think out of the box , ACT out of the box. Climate change is real, and reality is coming fast. But if we stand together with hope, responsibility and courage, we can make a huge difference. You might be a 4mm seed, but you have the power to grow into a 400-ft tree. Believe in yourself.”
Speaking of her challenges, Prasiddhi added, “Raising funds, being taken seriously as a young girl, ensuring sustainability, these have all been difficult. But I see every challenge as a chance to learn. Even if just one person out of a hundred joins in, I know I’ve made a difference.”
Kaamya Karthikeyan, 17, has summited the highest peaks on every continent, including Mount Everest and Mount Vinson, and urged attendees to define success on their own terms:
“You don’t need to be a mountaineer or climb Everest. Just find that one thing you’re truly passionate about and keep climbing your own Everest. One step at a time , that’s all it takes to reach your summit.”
FLO Chennai: A Year to SPARKLE
With over 1,350 members and in its 32nd year, FICCI FLO Chennai under Niyati A. Mehta’s leadership continues to go beyond business networking to address real societal needs. This year, its initiatives include:
- Health & Hygiene education
- STEM outreach in rural communities
- Crèche setups in SIPCOT parks (in collaboration with the TN Government)
- Livelihood generation through tailoring and embroidery training
- Digital literacy & interview readiness
- Upcycling and sustainability programs
- FLO Kavach: Legal and health support for members
As Niyati affirms,
“SPARKLE is not just our theme—it’s our spirit. We want to ignite every woman’s inner light so she can shine unapologetically and impactfully.”
FLO Chennai’s calendar continues with sessions featuring Captain Yashika Hatwal Tyagi, a Kargil War veteran, and Dr. Tessy Thomas, India’s renowned ‘Missile Woman’, offering members a year filled with knowledge, strength, and bold conversations.
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