Anindya Kundu

Anindya Kundu’s TED Talks have been viewed more than six million times — not because he tells inspiring stories, but because he tells the truth about why some students succeed against the odds and what institutions can do to stop leaving the rest behind.

Researcher, Author, and Two-Time TED Speaker

Dr. Kundu is a sociologist who studies the contexts that allow young people to thrive. His award-winning book, The Power of Student Agency: Looking Beyond Grit to Close the Opportunity Gap, reframes the education equity conversation around what systems owe students rather than what students must overcome on their own. A second book, The Power of Educational Leadership, is forthcoming from Oxford University Press. He earned his PhD at New York University and has taught courses on race, inequality, and urban education.

From Research to Real-World Application

Since 2020, Dr. Kundu has delivered presentations to audiences spanning K-12, higher education, education technology, and workforce development. His work has been featured on NPR Education and MSNBC, and his research consistently centers student voice as the most underutilized tool for building more equitable systems. His expertise spans K-12 achievement, higher education equity, educational psychology, and inclusive workforce development.

His keynote programs help institutions translate research into practical strategies that improve student success, close opportunity gaps, and build environments where every learner can thrive.

What does Anindya Kundu speak about?

Anindya Kundu speaks on educational equity and student success, helping institutions understand what actually helps first-generation and underrepresented students complete college and thrive. His keynotes translate education research into practical strategy for institutions and employers.

What is Anindya Kundu’s background?

Kundu is an education researcher and a recognized authority on first-generation college students and educational equity.

Who books Anindya Kundu to speak?

Meeting planners book Anindya Kundu for education conferences, DEI events, and corporate audiences focused on equity and student success.

How to Develop Agency & Grit

Anindya’s most popularly requested keynote topic, this session offers primers on the concepts of grit and agency, showcasing how our psychological traits are cultivated through the right social, cultural, and environmental contexts. Anindya describes how organizations can create these contexts through culture building and learning from the lessons of underrepresented individuals who have achieved amazing things.

How Achievement is Actually About Our Positive Impacts on Others:

Anindya can help audiences work through the idea that our achievements are amplified with and through other people. Sharing unique stories of those who overcame immense obstacles, Anindya persuasively argues that true achievement and living up to our potential requires making a positive difference in others’ lives. This session involves big picture takeaways on how our efforts can help to improve our social cohesion, reminding audiences of their inherent power to make change, even as individuals.

Culturally Competent Leadership & Conditions for Achievement:

What does cultural competency look like and how can we embody it as leadership practice?

How can we build buy-in among stakeholders to promote the achievement of all students, staff, and service recipients?

How can we support public education in modern contexts?

Supporting Students & Staff with Diverse Backgrounds

Anindya shares the message that uplifting those who need the most help strengthens our social safety net. He shares stories from his qualitative research on how individuals have beat the odds stacked against them, through social support and cultural resources. An inspiring session, Anindya helps all of us to remember our commonality, while celebrating our differences.