Dr. Srikumar Rao is an esteemed educator, bestselling author, and a global expert on Creativity and Personal Mastery, celebrated for helping thousands of executives discover deep meaning and achieve quantum leaps in effectiveness. His work is a unique synthesis of the world's greatest wisdom traditions with practical business application, focusing on the belief that a deeply fulfilling life is achievable for leaders in any field.
Dr. Rao’s influence is centered around his innovative course, “Creativity and Personal Mastery,” which remains the only business school course in the world to have its own alumni association—a testament to its transformative power. He taught at elite institutions, including Columbia Business School, London Business School, and the Kellogg School of Management. His research examines why most attempts at profound change fail due to a reliance on sheer effort, demonstrating instead how to change the underlying mental models that dictate success.
He is the author of the best-selling books Are You Ready to Succeed: Unconventional Strategies for Achieving Personal Mastery in Business and Life and Happiness at Work: Be Resilient, Motivated and Successful – No Matter What. This body of work provides resilient, motivated, and successful strategies for life and business. A former executive with Warner Communications and McGraw-Hill, he has consulted for corporate programs at companies such as Verizon and General Instruments.
As a speaker, Dr. Rao discusses achieving goals, creating a successful business environment, and how individuals can become inspiring leaders. His talks illuminate the path to achieving an inner serenity that stems from the confidence to appropriately handle any challenge, be it a "small wave or a tsunami." He provides audiences with a clear understanding of their mental models and the tactical, often unconventional, steps necessary to become truly resilient and creative leaders.
