The Office of Corporate Relations & Alumni at I.K. Gujral Punjab Technical University successfully organized a TED-Style Alumni Talk titled “Build While You Learn. Ship While You Grow.” at Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji Auditorium, IKG PTU Main Campus, Kapurthala on March 25, 2026.
The session commenced with a keynote address by Dr. Navdeep K. Sandhu, Registrar & Head (CR&A), who welcomed the guest and encouraged students to actively engage in such interactive sessions that bridge the gap between academic learning and professional exposure.
The Alumni Talk was delivered by Mr. Kiran Kumar, Software Engineer at Oracle, Gen AI Engineer, and Founder of Codingmuggers. An accomplished professional and lifelong learner, he shared deep insights from his journey, offering students a practical perspective on navigating careers in technology while continuously evolving as individuals.
During the session, he emphasized the importance of cultivating the identity of a learner before specializing in any domain. He highlighted that discipline plays a more crucial role than motivation and encouraged students to dedicate at least one focused hour daily towards consistent growth.
He further motivated students to take ownership of their journey, stressing that success is not defined by the institution but by one’s commitment and efforts. He urged students to avoid comparison and instead focus on building meaningful skills from their current environment.
A key highlight of the session was his perspective on emotional awareness, where he encouraged students not to suppress emotions but to channel that energy constructively into personal and professional growth. He also spoke about the importance of resilience, urging students to remain determined, face challenges with courage, and take responsibility for their own paths.
He introduced his initiative, Codingmuggers, encouraging students to build in public, share their learning, and contribute to the community. He emphasized that documenting one’s journey not only strengthens understanding but also builds visibility and opportunities.
“The topper has many things to lose — but a failure has a universe to achieve.”
— Kiran Kumar
The session concluded with an engaging Q&A interaction, followed by a felicitation ceremony. The formal proceedings ended with a vote of thanks delivered by Er. Mohit Jain, Assistant Registrar (CR&A).
