The Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC) of St. Agnes College (Autonomous) organised a session on 27 November 2025, open to all interested students of the St. Agnes College, on ‘The Power of Starting Small, How Big Ideas Really Grow – straight talk on the discipline, grit and mindset behind meaningful innovation’, as part of its upcoming campus entrepreneurship challenge – ‘Innovate and Elevate’.
The session began at 2:15 pm with Mrs. Akshatha Shetty, the Assistant Professor of the Department of MCA and the Innovation co-ordinator of IIC, conducting the session. Dr. Mallika Shetty, Assistant Professor of the Department of MBA and the convenor of IIC, escorted the guests, the resource person Mr. Johnson Tellis, the CEO of Sahyadri College of Engineering & Management, also the Co-Founder and CEO of InUnity, and Sr. Dr. M. Venissa A.C, the Principal of St. Agnes College to the stage. This was followed by a warm welcome and introduction of the speaker delivered by Dr. Mallika Shetty.
The Principal then addressed the gathering, sharing words of encouragement and appreciation, after which a green welcome was extended to Mr. Johnson Tellis.
Following this, resource person Mr. Johnson began his talk, sharing his life journey and how he kept hope and determination alive despite challenges. He highlighted his first invention—a plane—which became a milestone that shaped his entrepreneurial mindset.
Mr. Johnson also explained how he encourages students to think creatively, fostering an environment that supports experimentation and originality. He introduced two metaphorical cages: the Golden Cage – representing comfort zones that restrict growth, and the Cage of Resistance – symbolizing self‑imposed limitations. This was followed by a Q&A session where students asked insightful questions about developing ideas and pursuing innovation. He recommended several books to help them navigate a competitive world and shift perspectives on life, stressing that education broadens horizons — not only through textbooks but also through real‑world experiences and exposure beyond the classroom
The session officially concluded with a vote of thanks.
