Making the World Easier to Open: Rethinking Physical Accessibility | Uma Girkar, MBA ’26

Everyday products and spaces — from water bottles to airplane bathrooms — can determine whether someone can do something on their own or has to ask for help. For over one billion people with disabilities, many of these ordinary experiences are harder than they need to be — and any of us could face the same barriers at any time. This talk challenges us to rethink physical accessibility not as a special accommodation, but as the future of design — and a responsibility we all share. Speaker: Uma Girkar, MBA '26 The LOWkeynotes Program features a series of nine-minute 'keynote-style' presentations from Stanford Graduate School of Business students about an idea they think could change lives, organizations, and the world. This presentation was delivered for the March 2026 LOWkeynotes season.