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Bollywood to Boardrooms: Hindi’s Rise as a Global Language
February 11, 2025 at 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Powering Bollywood dance numbers and board-room decisions of Indian corporations, Hindi has emerged as a powerful cultural force and a vital global business tool.
Still, the mother tongue of 600 million Indians and thousands of investors and entrepreneurs from an expansive global diaspora is taught only at a handful of American schools. Why this disconnect?
Join the Atlanta Global Studies Center, a collaboration between Georgia Tech and Georgia State University; and the Consulate General of India in Atlanta to explore the cultural weight of Hindi in film and the arts, how achieving proficiency can foster deeper connections with Indian interlocutors, and Hindi’s role in a diverse continental country with 22 official languages.
Over delicious Indian food and delightful cultural performances at the consulate in Sandy Springs, the event will also examine:
- Has Hindi become a victim of India’s post-colonial success instilling English to drive the tech and services sectors?
- Will the country’s rising geopolitical clout and economic power coincide with a push to spread Hindi around the world?
- How are Georgia universities positioned to equip their students with this key skill?
Featured Speakers
Ramesh Babu Lakshmanan, Consul General of India in Atlanta
Stuart Minson,
Associate Director, Atlanta Global Studies Center
Ashish Bisaria,
President/COO,
Trajector
Irene Soteres,
Coordinator,
Heritage Language & Language Club, Atlanta International School
Irene Soteres is an educator and leader with over two decades of teaching experience in both local and international school settings. She is native to Atlanta and is of Greek heritage. She speaks English and Greek and believes that language is critical to keeping heritage alive.
Irene has held various roles with the schools that she has worked. Presently, she is teaching 5th grade at the Atlanta International School. She is a reflective and progressive professional, committed to providing a well balanced, supportive and engaging learning environment for all students. In addition to this role, she coordinates the after school language programs, Heritage Language Program and Language Club. Irene leads 12 teachers and over 90 students in these programs.
As the Coordinator of the Heritage Language Program, Irene designs the curriculum using STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics) to create authentic learning experiences. Through this design students experience the joy of learning in their heritage languages. Through this educational engagement, students develop their identity and culture through language. The Heritage Language Program has included the following languages: Arabic, Dutch, Farsi, Greek, Italian, Hindi, Korean, Portuguese, Russian,Turkish.
Irene received her BA in education from Oglethorpe University and her M.Ed from Georgia State University. She is fluent in English and Greek. Being of Greek heritage, she understands the value of language and culture. Irene is proud of her heritage and lived in Greece for a number of years where she met her husband Gerasimos. They now reside in Atlanta with their two children, Theodora, a senior at North Atlanta High School and Spyros, a junior at North Atlanta High School. Both her children have received the Seal of Biliteracy in the Greek Language from the state of Georgia.
Vicki Flier Hudson,
Chief Collaboration Officer, Executive Coach, Speaker, Mediator
High Road Global Services
Vicki Flier Hudson is the Chief Collaboration Officer of Highroad Global Services,
Inc., a company that exists to release the power of diverse teams. She is also partner and executive coach for the People First Elevation Team where she helps clients transform company-wide events into meaningful, inclusive, values-centered experiences.
Vicki has a strong track record of helping leaders create an inclusive workplace and grow their business. She has brought India-focused training and consulting to companies like Procter & Gamble, General Mills, IHG, UPS, The Home Depot, The Coca Cola Company, NASA, Martin Marietta, and many more.
She is the author of the book Zen and the Art of Offshoring: How to Build a Collaborative and Profitable Team with Your Partners in India, and a recipient of Kennesaw State
University’s Instructor of the Year award for International Programs.
She has traveled in several countries, but India is her primary passion. Since 1997 she has traveled to many regions including Rajasthan, West Bengal, Karnataka, Assam, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and many more. She has a strong track record in building collaborative, cohesive teams between India and the West.
She served on the Board of Directors for the Georgia Indo-American Chamber of Commerce and TAG’s International Business Society. In her spare time, Vicki sings lead vocals in a Rush tribute band, The Spirit of Rush.
