Years 10 and 11 students were privileged to hear from TKS alumnus Vidit Agarwal (Class of 2011), who returned to TKS last week to share his career journey and offer practical advice for navigating an ever-changing future.
As Founder of Curiosity Centre and host of The High Flyers Podcast, Vidit has spent years interviewing some of the world’s most influential leaders, from Prime Ministers and CEOs to elite athletes and innovators. Drawing on these experiences, he returned to TKS to deliver an engaging and thought-provoking session that challenged students to think differently about success, failure and the pathways that can lead to opportunity.
A key message throughout the presentation was the idea of turning “rejection into redirection.” Reflecting on his own journey, Vidit spoke candidly about career setbacks, difficult decisions and unexpected turning points, including how redundancy became the catalyst for launching his own business. His message encouraged students to view challenges not as roadblocks, but as opportunities to learn, adapt and discover new directions.
Drawing on his experiences across FMCG and retail before founding Curiosity Centre, Vidit shared valuable lessons about entrepreneurship, decision-making and the importance of remaining curious in a rapidly changing world. Students gained firsthand insights into what it takes to build a successful business and navigate an evolving career landscape.
Vidit also offered a unique perspective on emerging technologies and the future workforce. Through Curiosity Centre’s work with organisations including Google, OpenAI, KPMG, Macquarie Capital, the Australian Government and the University of Melbourne, he provided students with a front-row view of how leading institutions are thinking about technology, artificial intelligence and the skills that will be increasingly valuable in the years ahead.
Another highlight of the day came after the presentation when members of the TKS Flight Deck Podcast team sat down with Vidit for a special Q&A interview. The student hosts explored topics ranging from entrepreneurship and leadership to personal growth, career pathways and the future impact of AI. The conversation gave students the opportunity to ask thoughtful questions, gain deeper insights into Vidit’s experiences and put their interviewing skills into practice with a highly accomplished TKS alumnus.
Drawing on more than six years of conversations with high-performing leaders through The High Flyers Podcast, which reaches more than one million listeners, Vidit shared lessons from some of the world’s most influential thinkers, innovators and decision-makers. His stories and insights reinforced the value of remaining open to new experiences and viewing challenges as opportunities for growth.
The session was a powerful reminder of the value of staying curious, pursuing opportunities and remaining resilient when plans do not unfold as expected. Vidit’s return to campus also showcased the strength of the TKS alumni community, with former students continuing to give back by inspiring and mentoring the next generation.
We thank Vidit for generously sharing his time, experiences and expertise with our students. His honest reflections, practical advice and future-focused insights provided an invaluable learning opportunity and left students with an empowering message: sometimes the most meaningful opportunities emerge from the paths we never planned to take.
